One of my favorite sayings is “When words fail, music takes over”. This book takes us on a journey through the playlist of the author. That is one of the most amazing aspects of music. Music can speak to your soul in ways no words can touch it. P.A. Kane takes us through playlists to show how it can be humorous, sad, romantic, and frightening. Kane takes you through different essays and you can see how music has a special place in your life.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Erica Fishhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngErica Fish2020-12-18 13:49:442020-12-18 13:49:44The Last Playlist: A Sonic Epitaph by P.A. Kane – Review by Erica Fish
The Last Playlist: A Sonic Epitaph by P.A. Kane. This book is about music and music being the playlist of your life. Music gets us thru life, there is music that makes you happy, music that makes you sad, music that brings back memories and music that brings us all together. Its a collection of essays about event and times in P.A Kane’s life while music is at its core and the playlist of his life. This book made me realize that music at its core brings us all together whether we have political differences, monetary differences, or genetic differences. This book encourages us to make playlists for our lives about your thoughts, your emotions, your loves and losses. It teaches us that music is the ultimate healer if you accept it. This book will make you think, teach you things and help you learn to let music heal you.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Tausha Treadwayhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngTausha Treadway2020-12-18 10:47:012020-12-18 10:47:01The Last Playlist: A Sonic Epitaph by P.A. Kane – Review by Tausha Treadway
Music plays such a large part in our lives. I really found this book to be fascinating and emotional as I dove into the individual thoughts/essays and explored the music that “played” throughout. Kane does a beautiful job putting this work together. I appreciate the introspection and emotion that obviously went into crafting this work. This memoir is definitely worthwhile.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Heather Lovelacehttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngHeather Lovelace2020-12-16 21:39:362020-12-16 21:39:36The Last Playlist: A Sonic Epitaph by P.A. Kane – Review by Heather Lovelace
What can I say about The Last Playlist: A Sonic Epitaph by P.A. Kane? There is so much boiling around in me right now. First and foremost, I loved it. I’m about five years older than Mr. Kane and I am a child of the sixties. So much of the music he uses flowed through my head. I was right back there, in that time, I could feel the sun on my face, smell the newly mown grass, and hear the children playing in the background. That’s the magic of music, it defines us in ways we cannot express, although Mr. Kane does an excellent job in this novel. I have to say, and you whoever you are can have your own opinion, Mr. Kane is a liberal and I am a conservative. What struck me most about this novel is how much alike we actually are. We recognize the same problems, we want solutions, we want justice for all, and we want freedom for all. But in this chaotic, super overcharged political climate we can’t listen to each other long enough to see how very similar we are. Our methods and theories on solving the problems are shaped by our life experiences. Mr. Kane doesn’t offer solutions in this book; he expresses what is in his heart and how his life experiences have shaped him. Oh, how I wish we could all just listen to each other and actually hear what is being said. Excellent job Mr. Kane, I wish I could give you more than five stars.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Jonell Collinshttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngJonell Collins2020-12-16 13:23:062020-12-16 13:23:06The Last Playlist: A Sonic Epitaph by P.A. Kane – Review by Jonell Collins
Takes us through the journey of music. This book is a collection of information it read like a dairy. I enjoyed reading about the song and how they were put together the experience which were given you can tell are personal. There is a lot of emotion and feelings written into this memior which fetches the audience in more.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Piperhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngPiper2020-12-16 13:22:342020-12-16 13:22:34The Last Playlist: A Sonic Epitaph by P.A. Kane – Review by Piper Foster
The Last Playlist: A Sonic Epitaph by P.A. Kane is a non-fictitious memoir of the author’s life played by music. He uses words and music to weave his story and the essence of his life. We all tend to see; smell hear something that reminds us of certain events in our lives and that is what PA has done with his story. It is an intriguing way to tell a story and he invites us to write our own stories in the same way. It is easy to see that his life is one of looking inward and reflection. Truly finding oneself is never easy but there is also so much more room for growth as we continue to reflect and age.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Jenni Bishophttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngJenni Bishop2020-12-16 13:19:302020-12-16 13:19:30The Last Playlist: A Sonic Epitaph by P.A. Kane – Review by Jenni Bishop
5 Star The Last Playlist: A Sonic Epitaph by P.A. Kane is a very inspiring story made up of several essays that shows us details of the authors life and how music helped shape it. I’m a huge fan of all sorts of music so I was very intrigued to read this book. I found myself lost in the pages and going along on this journey with the author. I lost all track of time and read in one afternoon. I truly enjoyed reading and I highly recommend reading it.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Dawn Daughenbaughhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngDawn Daughenbaugh2020-12-16 09:18:182020-12-16 09:18:18The Last Playlist: A Sonic Epitaph by P.A. Kane – Review by Dawn Daughenbaugh
The Last Playlist: A Sonic Epitaph by P.A. Kane is a great book made up of a collection of essays detailing the authors review into his own life and how it has been shaped through music. I loved how this whole book had a unique feel about it. It is completely different to everything I have read before and I really feel like it gave me a great insight into the person behind it. I loved how it was shaped based on music and playlists – being a big music fan this whole concept appealed to me and really piqued my interest more. I think this is a brilliant collection and is one of those books I enjoyed way more than I thought I would. I would definitely recommend picking this one up today!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Kerry Bakerhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngKerry Baker2020-12-15 15:38:362020-12-16 09:47:41The Last Playlist: A Sonic Epitaph by P.A. Kane – Review by Kerry Baker
This was a really interesting read. After reading the synopsis I was intrigued by what I would read and I was looking for something different so thought I would give it a go – overall I really enjoyed it. I think going in have no preconceived idea about what the book would entail meant I had a complete blank mind about it. The author definitely captured my interest form the beginning and the way in which the memoirs were presented made it really easy to read. I really felt like I knew the author after finishing to book. There was emotion in what I was reading and it definitely made it different knowing it was about the author’s life/feelings/emotions and not fiction. Overall a really interesting and different read and I would recommend it to others.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Katie Matthewshttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngKatie Matthews2020-12-10 11:33:322020-12-10 11:33:32The Last Playlist: A Sonic Epitaph by P.A. Kane – Review by Katie Matthews
“I get a little excited when I start talking about playlists. In these pages you won’t find any transformational religious, political, or sexual experiences. You also won’t find a life-changing symbolic event resulting from a windy or tempestuous day. What you will find is a thoughtful rendering and reasonable analysis of some of the situations and events of my life along with a really good playlist.”
“Make your playlist personal. You are the artist here telling your story through music that has meaning to you. These mixes should be a collection of your thoughts and feelings and evoke memories of all that you’ve won and all that you’ve lost.”
“…music is everywhere. It’s in the grocery store and the dentist’s office as background noise. At a party or in a bar it’s part of the celebration. When a break-up or death occurs, it adds poignancy to pain. It’s everywhere. And as I’ve said, music is the prism through which I see life. You will soon learn as you go forward with this reading experience absent music, I could not form these letters, words, and concepts. Without judgment or recrimination, music has been my best teacher and friend. Life is always hard, sometimes unjust and often devoid of meaning, but it is my hope that in these pages you will feel the power of music to teach, heal and be a friend.”
The Last Playlist (A Sonic Epitaph) by P.A Kaneis the author’s story- a journey through his life- with music at its core. This book is a collection of essays about events/periods of P.A Kane’s life which he then links to a song/music. He uses the song to partially narrate the essay and link the two together. The essays cover many different periods in the author’s life, and many different topics- from growing up, to a social commentary of the times- with history, politics, life, death, humor, challenges, family, race, and much more- this book provided an interesting journey. P.A Kane also provides some basic rules for making your own playlist- encouraging you to create something that speaks to you and reflects your life and feelings. His simple steps make it all seem quite easy- and had me itching to shuffle through my own collection of songs and albums. A thought-provoking read.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Angela Hayeshttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngAngela Hayes2020-12-01 14:19:402020-12-01 14:19:40The Last Playlist: A Sonic Epitaph by P.A. Kane – Review by Angela Hayes
The Last Playlist: A Sonic Epitaph By P.A. Kane 5 out of 5 stars
I enjoyed reading the book The Last Playlist: A Sonic Epitaph by P.A. Kane. I found it to be an intriguing story and I enjoyed the way that the author put together his last playlist while telling about what the songs are about and what they meant to him. I also enjoyed the personal experiences that are given. Some moments are heartbreaking, sad, heartwarming, as well as humorous. Some experiences must have been hard to write about. This is a story that had me thinking about it even after I had finished the final page. The author has a love of creating playlists that can’t be denied. I know a few of the songs on the playlist and by the end of the book, I found myself wanting to go to my favorite music site to listen to the ones that I didn’t. Don’t miss out on a story that has you taking a journey that is both musical and personal. I highly recommend reading it.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Laura Furutahttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngLaura Furuta2020-11-26 16:22:402020-11-26 22:03:52The Last Playlist: A Sonic Epitaph by P.A. Kane – Review by Laura Furuta
I enjoyed this book. This is a collection of essays by this author that can be seen as inspiration and also sadness. The collection goes through this author’s life such as humor, romance and so much more. They are interesting and easy to read for the most part. Each essay is unique and different from each other. This is a great way to look at and learn about this author’s life. I highly recommend this book.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Bobbi Wagnerhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngBobbi Wagner2020-11-25 09:02:382020-11-25 09:02:38The Last Playlist: A Sonic Epitaph by P.A. Kane – Review by Bobbi Wagner
When my mom passed, I found I didn’t know her beyond a typical child/parent relationship. I didn’t want that for my own children and since we always bonded over music, I thought to write some stories about my life linked to songs I found meaningful. In addition to telling stories about my life, I also relate some of the formative experiences that shaped me, as well as providing lighthearted instructions for my funeral party, at which there is to be no white wine/white claw and the music is the eighteen songs profiled in The Last Playlist.
Growing up in a three bed/one bath house with nine siblings in Buffalo, New York it was a just the facts, assembly-line type of childhood. However, one day during my tumultuous teen years in the late seventies that all changed when my exhausted mom uncharacteristically asked several probing questions about how I was doing, what I wanted of life and how I was going to get there . . . totally confounding me. She was supposed to dish out commands and make declarative statements—take out the trash, don’t come home unless you’re bleeding, every time you masturbate it’s a hundred-years in purgatory. She wasn’t supposed ask articulate, inward looking questions. Self-examination and contemplation, was light years beyond my transactional existence.
Eventually, though, due to a certain amount of aimlessness and failure I did come to consider my mom’s questions and many more which led me to writing. Presently, I am the author of two novels Written In The Stars: The Book Of Molly (2016) and Leaving Jackson Wolf (2018) and now a book of essays, The LastPlaylist: A Sonic Epitaph.
Presently I live in West Seneca, New York with my wife and my son, who is taking his good ole time finishing his bachelor’s degree. I have a State University of New York background in English and I love trade paperbacks, quiet black mornings and The Ramones.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/The-Last-2.jpg1200752itsybitsybookbitshttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngitsybitsybookbits2020-11-21 00:03:352020-12-26 15:12:07The Last Playlist: A Sonic Epitaph by P.A. Kane
Wow, this was an emotional read made even more poignant by the fact that it is written by the author, Cynthia who is Ruth’s daughter. Part memoir and part fictionalised biography, ‘Finding Ruth’ tells the story of Ruth’s life. Ruth was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and so was unable to provide any insight into her life before she became ‘Mom’, and so the author literally turned detective to discover what her mothers life had been like before, as Cynthia says, “Alzheimer’s stole her memories”. The author begins the book by explaining how she came to write this novel and it was all down to the discovery of the eye catching photograph of Ruth taken in 1949 which is on the front cover of the book. The author had never seen this photo before and it only came to light as she was going through her mother’s possessions prior to her moving into a skilled nursing facility. This beautiful photo of a very glamorous looking young Ruth got her daughter thinking how little she knew of her mother’s life and being an author she did was she does best and put pen to paper to fill in the missing memories. The photograph had me intrigued before I had even opened the book and then once I began reading Ruth and Cynthia’s story I was hooked from beginning to the very last page. You can tell how much research has gone into this book, in reconstructing her mother’s life the author looked at photos, letters, public records and firsthand memories but you can also feel how much love and emotion has gone into this original and unique story. Ruth’s life reads as a novel, having dealt with ill fated relationships, heartbreak and also high points in her life. Remembering that the main character, Ruth, is actually a real person just makes the story all that more remarkable as is the women herself. As her daughter writes, Ruth always stayed strong and survived what ever life through at her even Alzheimer’s. The book covers sixty years of a life well lived and not only is it a wonderful story and a fitting memoir but both the reader and the author gain a much better understanding of Ruth herself. This is a heartwarming read and I recommend you have a box of tissues handy, but it is also inspirational and empowering and I can not recommend it highly enough.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Jennifer Gordonhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngJennifer Gordon2020-09-05 16:33:492020-09-05 23:19:05Finding Ruth: A Daughter’s Quest to Discover Her Mother’s Past by Cynthia Hamilton – Review by Jennifer Gordon
Finding Ruth: A Daughter’s Quest to Discover Her Mother’s Past by Cynthia Hamilton 4 Stars!!!!
I really found that I went through a roller coaster of emotions reading this book. I think that the author did a wonderful job of dealing with a very sensitive subject. There are many families out in the world that I am sure are dealing with different stages of this very scenario.
I found that I really got grabbed by this book and although not in my regular favourite genre really enjoyed it. The emotions that it brings to the surface really tug at your heartstrings. Alzheimers is a very viscous disease and this book really portrays how difficult and uncertain things can be when dealing with a relative with this illness. I like how the author was able to navigate the twists and turns that can be dealt with. I would definitely read more from this author in the future. Reviewed by @caraleeloonat View all my reviews
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Caralee Loonathttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngCaralee Loonat2020-09-05 16:06:152020-09-05 23:18:36Finding Ruth: A Daughter’s Quest to Discover Her Mother’s Past by Cynthia Hamilton – Review by Caralee Loonat
Wow! What a great job Cynthia Hamilton has done with her mother’s story! I was glued to the pages and I could feel the emotions in her words as I read. Alzheimer’s is a very difficult disease to watch someone you love struggle with this there are no words. I commend Cynthia Hamilton for doing research and piecing together her mother’s story I truly hope it helped her during her time of dealing with an emotional roller coaster.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Heather Harmonhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngHeather Harmon2020-09-05 11:41:452020-09-05 23:14:48Finding Ruth: A Daughter’s Quest to Discover Her Mother’s Past by Cynthia Hamilton – Review by Heather Harmon
Finding Ruth is heartfelt story it is very engaging but can take time to get into. Ruth is a very strong woman and very independent. Very well written biography after witnesding many of her mother hardships of Ruth’s life. Her mother developed a disease later and this then changes her behaviors
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Piperhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngPiper2020-09-02 14:49:212020-09-02 15:35:29Finding Ruth: A Daughter’s Quest to Discover Her Mother’s Past by Cynthia Hamilton – Review by Piper Foster
Finding Ruth is a very different book than I’m used to from Cynthia Hamilton. Cynthia delves into her mother’s past to discover the memories that Alzheimer’s has blurred, altered and in some cases removed completely.
Ruth’s story is a rollercoaster ride spanning over sixty years. The emotions bounce off the page through Cynthia’s writing and you want nothing more than for Ruth’s story to be a happy one. I found myself hooked, needing to know what happened next, so I can only imagine what this must have been like for the author to have been piecing together pictures and clues and memories to try and discover who her mother really was. The outcome of this is an emotional memoir about a real woman who made some difficult choices throughout her life. If you enjoy memoirs or non fiction stories then I would recommend this.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Lianne Proberthttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngLianne Probert2020-08-31 12:11:372020-08-31 14:34:09Finding Ruth: A Daughter’s Quest to Discover Her Mother’s Past by Cynthia Hamilton – Review by Lianne Probert
This was an emotional book for me. It was a very heartfelt and emotional story. This could not have been an easy story to write but I appreciate and applaud Ms. Hamilton for allowing us all into her most precious work. Writing about family can be emotional to begin with but when it is about your mother that takes it to another level of personal. Ms. Hamilton takes us on the journey that she and her mother went on with horrible dementia. You can not help but get emotional while reading and you will have tears. Thank you for allowing us into your life!!!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Lucy Bersonhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngLucy Berson2020-08-29 00:12:392020-08-29 00:12:39Finding Ruth: A Daughter’s Quest to Discover Her Mother’s Past by Cynthia Hamilton – Review by Lucy Berson
Cynthia Hamilton has once again transported us into another world with this read. I love following her crime thriller reads and this read just shows us another level of this author’s writing. This read was real, raw and totally heartfelt, heart-wrenching and heart-warming read all at the same time. This book showed the relationship and bond between mother and daughters, the ups and downs and the journeys they take. To know this read is based on this author’s own mother, it really makes you connect on a deeper level with the thoughts and feelings that are throughout this book. I loved following the journey our main character takes finding out all the ups and downs, trials and tribulations that her mother goes through in her lifetime. This read will hit you and take you on a never-ending emotional rollercoaster. I’m so glad I picked up this read, and can’t wait to read more from this author!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Chantelle Smithhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngChantelle Smith2020-08-28 04:50:502020-08-28 09:40:22Finding Ruth: A Daughter’s Quest to Discover Her Mother’s Past by Cynthia Hamilton – Review by Chantelle Smith
This was an amazing and emotional read. It was heartbreaking and inspiring reading Ruths story. It follows the story of Ruth who has always been a independent and strong women.
As she gets older and suffering from Alzheimer’s she finds life getting harder. Her daughter Cynthia supports her and doesn’t want to put her mum into a home. Upon searching through some old photographs they bring up question about Ruth in her younger years.
Cynthia wants to know who her mum actually is. The person she was and the things that happened in her life to make her the person Cynthia knows and loves. With Ruth memory failing Cynthia needs to dig through her memories and keepsakes to discover her mums past.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Kerry Carrhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngKerry Carr2020-08-26 13:40:032020-08-26 15:02:30Finding Ruth: A Daughter’s Quest to Discover Her Mother’s Past by Cynthia Hamilton – Review by Kerry Carr
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I love Cynthia Hamilton. This book was so unlike anything I’ve read from her, I wasn’t sure how I would feel. The raw emotion portrayed in this book was heartwarming. It made for a fantastic read. I loved learning how a writer can go from one genre to another without any transition. It was flawless just as her other books are. This is a phenomenal story that is mostly factual but written as fiction as the way she writes. I can not wait for another book from Cynthia Hamilton- bring. It on.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Meg Tyrrellhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngMeg Tyrrell2020-08-25 20:42:222020-08-25 22:34:42Finding Ruth: A Daughter’s Quest to Discover Her Mother’s Past by Cynthia Hamilton – Review by Meg Tyrrell
This book served as a love letter to the author’s mother’s life and it’s so beautifully written as she makes her mother human. A human and mother I could relate to. As a nurse, we know how the disease affects others but not quite sure how a person’s life was until we look into their life stories and this book paints a vivid picture Ruth left behind. I would highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to take a trip back in time, especially women who want to know how to overcome so much while balancing being mothers and in relationships. Great read!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Faith Jacksonhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngFaith Jackson2020-08-25 19:24:332020-08-25 22:31:49Finding Ruth: A Daughter’s Quest to Discover Her Mother’s Past by Cynthia Hamilton – Review by Faith Jackson
Finding Ruth: A Daughter’s Quest to Discover Her Mother’s Past by Cynthia Hamilton
This is the first book I’ve read by the author and I’ve got to say that I really enjoyed this. This won’t be the last book I’ll read by Hamilton.
This follows Cindy in her mom’s journey. She goes through her mother’s things to find who her mom was in the past. This hit close to home as a family member went down the same path Ruth did.
Ruth can no longer remember anything of who she once was. Finding herself over the years has stopped as she depends on her kids. Her past is no longer there and there are days she doesn’t know who she is. The quote I choose for Ruth is: “Do you see those trees right there? Would you believe, every day when I walked to school, I’d walk right by those trees…and here they are!”
I do highly recommend this for anyone who loves an emotional read.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Amanda Kimblehttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngAmanda Kimble2020-08-21 17:55:152020-08-21 21:20:56Finding Ruth: A Daughter’s Quest to Discover Her Mother’s Past by Cynthia Hamilton – Review by Amanda Kimble
As fiercely independent Ruth struggles to stay self-reliant at the age of 86, each day brings her closer to an event that will alter her life forever. While her author daughter shifts through Ruth’s possessions prior to her move into a skilled nursing facility, she discovers a previously unseen photo from 1949 and realizes how little she knows of her mother’s life.
As Alzheimer’s continues to warp Ruth’s once sharp mind, she can no longer shed any light on the past. Yearning to know who her mother was as a person in her own right, the author painstakingly reconstructs Ruth’s life from photos, letters, public records and firsthand memories.
What emerges is a portrait of a bright, beautiful woman who is propelled through decades of broken promises and heartache, bouncing from one ill-fated relationship to the next, but always staying strong, always surviving. Through a timeline going back sixty years, the author gleans a much better understanding of the woman she had known only as Mom.
Though I was always an ardent reader, I was convinced I couldn’t string sentences together if my life depended on it. Fortunately for me, when I was looking for something creative I could do from bed—if my mystery illness progressed to that point—I decided to try my hand at it. No pressure, no expectations. I didn’t tell anyone what I was up to. I just wanted to see if I could string sentences together and tell an interesting story.
I remembered a quote by Hemingway, “Write about what you know.” With this mandate, I chose the time spent living with my husband in the French Quarter of New Orleans as the backdrop for my story. I typed out my first two paragraphs on my forty-third birthday. I finished that book on my next birthday, and started my second the same day. I now consider those my “practice books”.
As my still-nameless illness progressed, I continued running the family business and continued to write. Nine years after my symptoms began, I finally received a correct diagnosis: Lyme disease, and more specifically, late-stage Lyme, because it had been allowed to progress untreated for so long.
Though the pain was almost unendurable, I clung to my writing like a life preserver. It allowed me to crawl up inside my head, out of my body, giving me brief respites from the vast array of pains.
Though I would never wish this disease on anyone, I can honestly say I am grateful for the path my life took, for it gave me the gift of writing. I now have nine published books, all of which have special significance for me. I write general fiction, mysteries and some nonfiction.
Once Upon a Lyme: The Tale of Two Journeys, is the detailed account of the path my mystery illness led me down as I sought help from over two-dozen doctors, and the gift of writing that was the unexpected upside of being so hopeless ill.
Finding Ruth was inspired by a previously unseen photograph of my mother taken when she was nineteen. I found it as I was going through her things prior to her move into a skilled nursing hospital. That gorgeous photograph of her looking so happy and full of promise made me realize how little I knew about her life before I came along. Because Alzheimer’s has taken away all her memories, I painstakingly reconstructed her life from public records, thousands of photographs, and what my brother, sister and I could remember. The message in the tribute to my mom is Ask while you have the chance.
As of this writing, I have just completed the fourth book in the Madeline Dawkins mystery series. I’m still in love with writing and I still squeal with joy to think that I’ve written eleven books and self-published nine of them. If there is a message in this, it’s Never discount what you are capable of achieving.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Finding-Ruth-cover-for-Amazon-scaled.jpg1200800itsybitsybookbitshttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngitsybitsybookbits2020-08-05 14:10:452021-02-22 10:14:23Finding Ruth: A Daughter’s Quest to Discover Her Mother’s Past by Cynthia Hamilton
Finding Ruth: A Daughter’s Quest to Discover Her Mother’s Past by Cynthia Hamilton
This was a very engaging read. I was hooked from the beginning. I found myself curious as to how difficult this was to write, or maybe not difficult at all, maybe it revealed more of an understanding. This book was so well written that I felt like I was right there. Ruth went through a lot in her lifetime which explains some of her bitterness later in life. She was truly a strong beautiful woman in her youth, but it seems as though her search for love left her wanting. I found this book to be very intriguing. This is definitely a must read. I highly recommend this book.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Candida Hopperhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngCandida Hopper2019-08-30 22:09:572019-08-30 22:16:50Finding Ruth: A Daughter’s Quest to Discover Her Mother’s Past by Cynthia Hamilton – Review by Candida Hopper
I had not heard of Cynthia Hamilton before reading Finding Ruth, what a book to make a first impression. Cynthia took a diagnosis that is real and personal and crafted a memorable, heartwarming story. I am having trouble finding the words to describe how this story made me feel. The detail was raw, emotional and real. I can’t even begin to imagine the emotion that was conjured up while writing the book. Certainly a 5 star read, I am curious to read more from this Author.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Felicia Bateshttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngFelicia Bates2019-08-30 21:21:242019-08-30 21:47:39Finding Ruth: A Daughter’s Quest to Discover Her Mother’s Past by Cynthia Hamilton – Review by Felicia Bates
Finding Ruth A Daughter’s Quest to Discover Her Mother’s Past By Cynthia Hamilton ☆☆☆☆☆
This story hold many secrets of a daughter finding out who her mother was. Cynthia is the author in this insightful story. She is also one of the main characters that will take you back into her mother’s life. This all started with a picture Cynthia found dating back to 1949. Take the journey of Ruth’s life with Cynthia. Many things about her mother will be discovered.
Cynthia Hamilton wrote this story and discovered many things about her mother she never knew. You will laugh, cry and learn a little history. Alzheimer’s is an eye opener in this story. This book is well written and takes you, the reader, on a quest through Ruth’s life. What a remarkable story, as told by Ruth’s daughter. I absolutely love this story and the journey the author will discover for herself is remarkable. I will be reading more from Cynthia Hamilton. Well done!!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Cindy Mayberryhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngCindy Mayberry2019-08-30 20:24:412019-08-30 20:42:08Finding Ruth: A Daughter’s Quest to Discover Her Mother’s Past by Cynthia Hamilton – Review by Cindy Mayberry
Disclaimer this is a beautiful life story that makes you weep in tears. Finding Ruth: A Daughter’s Quest to Discover Her Mother’s Past by Cynthia Hamilton is an amazing story that touches the heart of everyone who reads it. Alzheimer’s is a nasty condition that affects the family of the patient on a different level then the patient. This book is a wonderful story of a daughter’s love for her mother and what she finds out about the mother in her research. Cynthia Hamilton did an amazing job writing this story. This story took me on a roller coaster ride of emotions. I give a lot of credit to Ms. Hamilton. She is a strong woman to take the time to see her mother through her mother’s eyes. I highly recommend this story for two reasons. First, so that you can see the beauty around the life of the patient. Second to bond you closer to that person and try to see their life through their eyes.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Erica Fishhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngErica Fish2019-08-29 13:46:132019-08-29 15:51:51Finding Ruth: A Daughter’s Quest to Discover Her Mother’s Past by Cynthia Hamilton – Review by Erica Fish
5 Star Finding Ruth: A Daughter’s Quest to Discover Her Mother’s Past by Cynthia Hamilton is a wonderfully written book that touched my heart. It’s a story about the life story of the authors mom.I could relate with this story so much it made my heart hurt. This story has so much love it made my heart happy. I had a hard time putting it down till I finished. I know how heartbreaking this disease is and it’s not fair. I could go on and on but I wont. I will say this story will stay with you long after you finish. I highly recommend this book about a daughter who pieces together her moms life through memories, pictures public records and even old letters. I can’t wait to read more from this Author.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Dawn Daughenbaughhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngDawn Daughenbaugh2019-08-26 18:10:032019-08-26 18:46:16Finding Ruth: A Daughter’s Quest to Discover Her Mother’s Past by Cynthia Hamilton – Review by Dawn Daughenbaugh
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