Tuesday, November 2, 2010

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE Review: After the Falls: Coming of Age in the Sixties by Catherine Gildiner






The vivid and touching sequel to the bestselling memoir Too Close to the Falls.

It's 1960 and twelve-year-old Cathy McClure has just been thrown out of Catholic school for-among other transgressions-filling the holy water fount with vodka. In the hopes of giving Cathy a fresh start away from their small town, the McClures leave behind Niagara Falls and the family pharmacy to start over in suburban Buffalo. But life in a subdivision and a school filled with "pubescent cheddar" holds little appeal for a girl who began working at four and smoking at nine. As the quaint world of 1950s America recedes into history, Cathy dives headfirst into the 1960s. Along the way, she adopts many personas with gusto-vandal, HoJo hostess, FBI suspect, civil rights demonstrator- but when tragedy strikes at home, Cathy must take on her most challenging role yet.

As candid and compelling as Mary Karr's
The Liars' Club and Jeanette Walls's The Glass Castle, After the Falls is an irresistible account of one girl's comingof-age during a tumultuous era and the moving tale of a rebellious spirit learning what it means to be a daughter.
From Barnes & Noble

Catherine was a handful while growing up and finding herself but the one thing she never lacked was spirit.  I really enjoyed learning about her life (which, if you ask me, resembles a daytime soap opera with all it's twists and intriguing happenings).  I have to give this book five stars!







Penguin Group (USA) Incorporated
October 28, 2010
368 pages
$25.95 US

Catherine can be found online:




Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book for free.  All opinions expressed are 100% mine.  If you make a purchase using my Amazon or Barnes and Noble link, I will receive a small portion of the purchase price.





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