"I invited the child I was once to have her say in these pages. I am the one who came out on the other side of childhood; she is the one who sea...
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Jan 19, 2012
The Pampered
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Story Line: As a memoir, it is often difficult to say what rings true and what the author sensationalized. This book will leave you with no question. This is simply the story of a young girl and her relationships with those around her. How she maintains happy and with dreams regardless of what mostly her mother puts her through. She has a mother who is more concerned with how she lives and who she is living with than taking care of her daughters.The way it is written is superb.
Keeping More...
Keeping More...
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Nov 08, 2011
Dnicebear
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Ms Helwig begins the story of abandonment with the experience of not being able to find her mother's grave. The stories of growing up with a mother whose main passion seemed to be visiting what she called "Timbuktu" instead of her home and motherhood--this story 'should' be made up but it is not. Thankfully the daughter has survived and contributes to the global family now as a counselor and activist. And, writer, because we get to live through the deceptions and the process of unde
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Nov 08, 2011
McGuffy Ann
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Terry Helwig has a beautiful way with words. She is a gifted author, but also a special person. In her very touching memoir, Terry shares her story of growing up with a mother who is bipolar, and very often seemingly out of control.
Terry never gave up on herself, life, or even her mother. The oldest in of a household of six girls (one of which was actually a cousin); Terry was the mother-figure. At times she had to be mother to her own mother, Carola Jean.
Growing up in th More...
Terry never gave up on herself, life, or even her mother. The oldest in of a household of six girls (one of which was actually a cousin); Terry was the mother-figure. At times she had to be mother to her own mother, Carola Jean.
Growing up in th More...
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Oct 30, 2011
Elizabeth
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Welcome to the 50's.....Grandma and Grandpa taking care of children, Mom gone, only Dad. Doesn't sound like the 50's to me....sounds more like the way families are today.
Moonlight on Linoleum is a nostalgic trip back to a life that should have been filled with stable families, but it had two sweet girls who were left with their father and grandparents in Iowa while Mama fulfilled dreams of her own.
And…..Mama wasn't done fulfilling her dreams...more sisters arrived and mo More...
Moonlight on Linoleum is a nostalgic trip back to a life that should have been filled with stable families, but it had two sweet girls who were left with their father and grandparents in Iowa while Mama fulfilled dreams of her own.
And…..Mama wasn't done fulfilling her dreams...more sisters arrived and mo More...
Sep 27, 2011
Nancy
rated it: 
Helwig writes a compelling memoir detailing her memories of her childhood. Helwig provides as much objectivity as a writer could give as a first person writing about her own childhood. Admirably, she does not paint herself as a victim nor does she write any of the characters as two dimensional. The author's mother was chemically dependent and unfaithful to the end. She neglected her children and household responsibilities. On the other hand, she was tender and loving at times and clearly gave th
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Sep 13, 2011
Brandy
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It has been a long time since I have read a memoir that captured my attention like Moonlight and Linoleum did. Sue Monk Kidd was correct when she said the world needed this book. Terry Helwig has a great voice and did a wonderful job making the reader understand the complexity of her family dynamics and the struggle between acceptance and disappointment. Reading her story I often forgot how young she and her sisters were. The struggles and every day life she and her sisters dealt with were s
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May 18, 2011
Brandy
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A beautifully written memoir and a first of its kind for me. I could not put down this book!
Terry’s story is so down to earth; she not only focuses on the bad parts of her life she also focuses on the good. Terry went through so much and was able to hold her entire family together and did what she knew needed to be done. What a life to live: new schools every year, separations, infidelity, growing up so fast to take care of your entire family… I couldn’t imagine living life this way. More...
Terry’s story is so down to earth; she not only focuses on the bad parts of her life she also focuses on the good. Terry went through so much and was able to hold her entire family together and did what she knew needed to be done. What a life to live: new schools every year, separations, infidelity, growing up so fast to take care of your entire family… I couldn’t imagine living life this way. More...
Feb 01, 2012
Arlena
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Moonlight on Linoleum: A Daughter's Memoir
Author: Terry Helwig
Published by: Howard Books
Age Recommend: 16+
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Raven Rating: 5
Blog Review For: GMTA
Review:
Review: "Moonlight on Linoleum: A Daughter's Memoir by Terry Helwig was a indeed an interesting read. Terry really did a wonderful job in telling her story... not only of the bad times, but also the good ones too.
The story is of Terry who was the the oldest and respo More...
Author: Terry Helwig
Published by: Howard Books
Age Recommend: 16+
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Raven Rating: 5
Blog Review For: GMTA
Review:
Review: "Moonlight on Linoleum: A Daughter's Memoir by Terry Helwig was a indeed an interesting read. Terry really did a wonderful job in telling her story... not only of the bad times, but also the good ones too.
The story is of Terry who was the the oldest and respo More...
Sep 23, 2011
Becky
rated it:
Moonlight on Linoleum by Terry Helwig and published by Howard Books, a division of Simon and Schuster.
If you love a good story about dysfunctional families - then stop what you are doing and read this story!! You will NOT be disappointed. You WILL be amazed at the obstacles these children overcame, the tenacity of the eldest child Terry (the author), and the blatant selfishness of their mother.
Helwig's description and story-telling is so beautifully written you may have t More...
If you love a good story about dysfunctional families - then stop what you are doing and read this story!! You will NOT be disappointed. You WILL be amazed at the obstacles these children overcame, the tenacity of the eldest child Terry (the author), and the blatant selfishness of their mother.
Helwig's description and story-telling is so beautifully written you may have t More...
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Oct 09, 2011
Michelle
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Posted on Book Chelle.
When I read the synopsis, I was drawn to the story. A lot of women I know do not have easy relationships with their mothers. Naturally, I wanted to know how Helwig's own relationship with her mother differed from min. I read the forward from Kidd and was even more intrigued. And then, I read the the prologue and my heart broke. She had me during those few pages.
In Moonlight Linoleum, Helwig writes an emotional memoir that details her childhood. Helwi More...
When I read the synopsis, I was drawn to the story. A lot of women I know do not have easy relationships with their mothers. Naturally, I wanted to know how Helwig's own relationship with her mother differed from min. I read the forward from Kidd and was even more intrigued. And then, I read the the prologue and my heart broke. She had me during those few pages.
In Moonlight Linoleum, Helwig writes an emotional memoir that details her childhood. Helwi More...
Oct 12, 2011
Ruth
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Often when I review memoirs, I'll say that they are self-absorbed, and I guess it must be hard to write about strong memories, emotionally charged situations, without falling into the I, me, my trap. Terry Helwig manages to do it here though. Rather than being a story of the pain she suffered as the daughter of a mother who never made peace with life, she tells the story of her mother. Yes, she is there, and yes, her mother's inability to love and accept the love of her husband obviously caus
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Sep 14, 2011
Terri
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Moonlight on Linoleum: A Daughter's Memoir by Terry Helwig is an intimate, loving journey through a fast-paced childhood with plenty of siblings, dad, and grandparents to add to the story. Helwig describes her childhood from the moment she is born to a fifteen-year-old mother up until the day her mother dies at the age of only forty.
While I tend to shy away from memoirs that don't guarantee and interesting story (the subject being a celebrity, politician, or other well-known figure) t More...
While I tend to shy away from memoirs that don't guarantee and interesting story (the subject being a celebrity, politician, or other well-known figure) t More...
Aug 27, 2011
Katie
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This was a really tough book to read. Moonlight on Linoleum follows a young girl whose mother has substance abuse problems and struggles with what it means to be a mother. It is a heartbreaking story of abandonment and the guilt that the oldest daughter can carry around when she feels that she hasn't done enough to keep her family together.
But Terry Helwig doesn't just sit down and tell you how much she hates what her mother did to her and her sisters. Instead she tells of how much l More...
But Terry Helwig doesn't just sit down and tell you how much she hates what her mother did to her and her sisters. Instead she tells of how much l More...
Sep 19, 2011
Sharon
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Nov 05, 2011
Heidi
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In Moonlight on Linoleum, Terry Hilwig has written an emotionally charged story of a daughter forced to grow up before her time and become responsible for an entire family when she couldn’t count on her own mother to do so. Rather than writing her story with self-indulgence and a heavy dose of blame, she manages to tell her story, her mother’s story and her family’s story with love and acceptance. This combined with excellent writing made the book a joy to read.
Carola Jean married youn More...
Carola Jean married youn More...
Sep 15, 2011
Bmquiram
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I received “Moonlight on Linoleum: A Daughter’s Memoir” by Terry Helwig as an advanced read from Goodreads.
Thank You, it is truly an enlightening story.
At one point in the book I almost started to expect to turn the page and discover a tear stain on the page. The authors emotions involved with childhood experiences were evident and moving. It seems like society wants to blame parents and especially mothers for any hardships children face, but even with the difficult childhood Terry More...
Thank You, it is truly an enlightening story.
At one point in the book I almost started to expect to turn the page and discover a tear stain on the page. The authors emotions involved with childhood experiences were evident and moving. It seems like society wants to blame parents and especially mothers for any hardships children face, but even with the difficult childhood Terry More...
Sep 27, 2011
Kristen
rated it:
Reading the synopsis of this book, I didn't know what to expect. I didn't know if it would be a memoir with Terry complaining about her childhood or one that was constantly putting a positive spin on things. Fortunately, Terry Helwig does neither. She presents her story: a daughter who is the caregiver with a troubled mother as the matriarch of the family. Hearing Terry tell her story is incredible, not only because of what happened, but how she writes about it. She does it with feeling, but it'
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Sep 28, 2011
Frankenburger
rated it:
3.5 stars. I won an ARC through goodreads.
Moonlight on Linoleum is the memoir of Terry, a girl growing up in the 50's and 60's with her many sisters and her eccentric mother. Throughout the story Terry grows up into a young woman, ultimately finding independence from her mother. Since the mother was often estranged, Terry typically ran the household and took care of her many sisters, all while trying to live a normal life outside the home.
The book is certainly emotional, and More...
Moonlight on Linoleum is the memoir of Terry, a girl growing up in the 50's and 60's with her many sisters and her eccentric mother. Throughout the story Terry grows up into a young woman, ultimately finding independence from her mother. Since the mother was often estranged, Terry typically ran the household and took care of her many sisters, all while trying to live a normal life outside the home.
The book is certainly emotional, and More...
Sep 28, 2011
Ejg
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From the foreword by author Sue Monk Kidd:
“The book is both a tender recollection and an unblinking portrayal of a heart-breaking, yet heart-stirring childhood, one that unfolds among the little oil towns of the American West. The transience, privation, abandonment, abuse, anguish and havoc in Terry’s young world is, startlingly enough, met with equal portions of hope, dignity, resilience, ingenuity, funniness, and love.
The story reveals a family hovering on the unraveling ed More...
“The book is both a tender recollection and an unblinking portrayal of a heart-breaking, yet heart-stirring childhood, one that unfolds among the little oil towns of the American West. The transience, privation, abandonment, abuse, anguish and havoc in Terry’s young world is, startlingly enough, met with equal portions of hope, dignity, resilience, ingenuity, funniness, and love.
The story reveals a family hovering on the unraveling ed More...
Oct 12, 2011
Books to the Sky
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See more reviews at www.bookstothesky.com
Do you ever read a book and when you finish it, you want to email the author and just thank them for writing it? That's how I feel about this book.
As someone who grew up with an unstable mother, I felt that I related so closely with Terry (although her situation was much more extreme than mine).
I appreciated that Terry wrote, not only of the bad times, but also the good ones. The times that bring hope and joy and just a More...
Do you ever read a book and when you finish it, you want to email the author and just thank them for writing it? That's how I feel about this book.
As someone who grew up with an unstable mother, I felt that I related so closely with Terry (although her situation was much more extreme than mine).
I appreciated that Terry wrote, not only of the bad times, but also the good ones. The times that bring hope and joy and just a More...
Sep 12, 2011
Lorena
rated it:
I won this and loved the cover. I was swept along going through this author's story about her life. No doubt it was not the optimum relationship with her parents. However, I also felt the story was whitewashed. While I did like that the author could find the silver lining in small joys in her life, it seemed a bit unrealstic that this girl wouldn't have had more anger, frustration, and that would show in the story.
I don't know if she was being careful to tell the story and protect thos More...
I don't know if she was being careful to tell the story and protect thos More...
Sep 26, 2011
Monica
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Terry vulnerably shares the story of her childhood in an incredibly loving and generous way. I have such admiration and respect for what a challenge and emotional toll undertaking this project must have been for her. Also impressive is that she didn't fall into the common trap of self-pity that seems often to come hand-in-hand with such life stories. That being said, I still feel this was a unique story. I didn't hate the adults who seemed so broken themselves, but did want to shake them up
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Oct 12, 2011
Melissa
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This is a memoir written about growing up in a very dysfunctional family - it reminds me of The Glass Castle. I am always interested in how some people overcome the dysfunction to lead normal lives and become so resilient when others cannot. What is in a person and what does another lack to make this so. Clearly Terry Helwig overcame those odds and she did what she could to help her five sisters by offering them some stability that their mother could not. I would be very interested to lea
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Sep 21, 2011
Sandra
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This book was a lot like "The Glass Castle" with the mother who neglected her children and the story was told by the oldest child Terry. She had to always take care of her five sisters since their dad worked the oil fields and their mother just took off all the time, as if she never had responibilities for her family at all. They moved around constantly but managed to finish school and make good lives for themselves. The mother dies at forty after a hard life of drugs and alcohol. The
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Aug 22, 2011
EZRead
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Sue Monk Kidd may have phrased it best in the foreword when she said the mother is someone that the reader would want to “rage at one moment and hug the next.” Though the book is Helwig’s memoir, in reality, the story is very much about her mother.
The maternal love exhibited from a mother who can give the last bit of food to a homeless man, or who willingly cares for someone else’s child who has no one else, is both selfless and generous. Yet, her persistence in sleeping around, orde More...
The maternal love exhibited from a mother who can give the last bit of food to a homeless man, or who willingly cares for someone else’s child who has no one else, is both selfless and generous. Yet, her persistence in sleeping around, orde More...
Nov 22, 2011
Aubrey
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I won this book on Goodreads; it is an ARC and comes out on October 4th. I entered in for it because I have a love for memoirs. I'm fascinated by others who lived such different lives, oftentimes more troubling and requiring them to grow up sooner. This book was very reminiscent of The Glass Castle. Granted, it was a different story but there was substance abuse, which they both had in common. Yet what they really had in common was that the author had to grow up quickly, had to take care of the
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Oct 17, 2011
Maria
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Moonlight on Linoleum: A Daughter's Memoir by Terry Helwig is a memoir that will grab you from the first page and will take you on a ride that you will never forget.
This is the story of Terry Helwig growing up as the oldest of six sisters. She moved twelve times in eleven years and attended twelve different schools until graduation. She lived in a mobile home that went wherever his stepfather Davy found work in the oil industry. Her mother, Carola, a woman with deep psychological p More...
This is the story of Terry Helwig growing up as the oldest of six sisters. She moved twelve times in eleven years and attended twelve different schools until graduation. She lived in a mobile home that went wherever his stepfather Davy found work in the oil industry. Her mother, Carola, a woman with deep psychological p More...
Oct 27, 2011
Kim
rated it:
Had I not read The Glass Castle, I might have liked this better, but it felt like the same story with fewer interesting parts and poorer writing. The author said she told Sue Monk Kidd, her friend, that she wasn't sure the world needed another memoir. I sort of agree as this memoir wasn't different enough to warrant the writing of it.
Like Jeannette Walls in The Glass Castle, Helwig doesn't give a poor me tone, which I like, but if you are going to pick up a memoir about family noma More...
Like Jeannette Walls in The Glass Castle, Helwig doesn't give a poor me tone, which I like, but if you are going to pick up a memoir about family noma More...
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Sep 21, 2011
Donna
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I was engrossed by Moonlight on Linoleum from the first page. It is a testament to unconditional daughterly devotion, sisterly love, and the human capacity to endure and overcome. I was captivated by Terry’s honest portrayal of her mother, a woman I wanted to dislike but could not because of Terry’s love and acceptance of her. Terry has a casual comfortable style and comes across as a natural born storyteller. I would highly recommend this book and I hope to see more from Terry Helwig in the fut
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Dec 06, 2011
Robin
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This writer's account of growing up with 5 sisters in an unstable home (or, in Terry Helwig's case, multiple homes) made me want to find her selfish and irresponsible mother so I could slap her. To me, these kids didn't stand a chance, and yet it appears they are thriving as adults and remain very close. Parts of this book will make you close your eyes and shudder, and be very grateful that her experiences weren't your experiences.
