Menopause, for most of us, brings on musing, lots and lots of musing.
There were days I wanted to shout to my brain, “Enough!”
Some of those musings center on our childhoods, Our parents. Our siblings.
What was.
What wasn’t.
What should have been.
What shouldn’t have been.
The good. The bad. The happy. The sad.
And the moments that forty and fifty years later, we still can’t quite figure out.
Although too young for The Great Pause, child star Melissa Francis tells a tale of parenting, especially mothering, gone horribly wrong.
Diary of a Stage Mother’s Daughter recounts her childhood with a woman whose neurotic and cruel behavior pushed a sister over the edge, drove a husband into the background, and confounded and disheartened Melissa.
When the book’s publicist offered me a review copy and a giveaway, I thought perhaps Diary of a Stage Mother’s Daughter would be a quickly written tell-all. Instead, I discovered exquisite prose and well-crafted storytelling.
As you read, your childhood will pop in and off the stage as you compare and contrast Melissa’s to your own.
More musing, no doubt!
Giveaway: Leave a comment by March 25 saying that you’d like to win a copy of the book. The winner will be chosen at random.
Melissa as Cassandra on Little House on the Prairie. Read more about her Little House days in this interview.
Melissa today, now an anchor on MONEY with Melissa Francis.
Friend For The Ride 
Loved Little House on the Prairie! Books sounds intriguing. Do enter me. Thank you.
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Please enter me. Sounds fascinating. Fun to hear about Melissa too….how we all remember her!
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From Melissa’s interview, I can tell this will be an interesting book. Please enter me in the giveaway, too.
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I saw her interviewed about this book, and would love a chance to read it.
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Yes, I would love to win a copy. I normally wouldn’t read what I would think was a ‘tell all’ book, either. But ‘well-crafted storytelling’ is right up my alley. And, I imagine having our own childhood popping on and off the stage will be interesting. Thanks, Barbara!
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I would love a chance to win the book. I’m an avid reader and sounds like a great book.
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Interesting that those of us who didn’t have the most ideal childhood can learn early on not just how to survive but become a success if not in our own eyes at least with the rest of us. Sounds like an interesting story. Melissa landed solidly on her feet after all. Thanks
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I’d love to win a copy of the book!
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