false http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1183684284m/1434821.jpg 1434821 1 In the memoir GHOSTBOX Walter R. Jacobs catalogues talismanic objects he used to recover from a childhood with a stepmother who cancelled Christmas. *** Two years after Walter R. Jacobs was forced to call his new stepmother “Mom,” she cancelled what would have been his 13th Christmas. In the memoir GHOSTBOX Jacobs explores a life where family problems are blamed on “disrespectful” children who refused to accept “Mom’s” authority. His stepmother is a “sociological ghost,” a force that limited his thoughts and decisions until he filled a special shoebox with objects that evoke significant memories: good, bad, and ugly. This “ghostbox” has rendered his stepmother’s seething presence benign. Jacobs investigates how just a relatively short stay in his stepmother’s house (seven years with his stepmother, father, and younger brother) led to almost twenty years of questions about multiple facets of his identity, such as the proper rules and rhythms of life as an African-American college professor. In the end, he finds the key to finally and completely breaking away from the dysfunctions that threatened his self-esteem and ability to interact normally with others. Jacobs includes an appendix of guidelines readers may use to create their own ghostboxes. He invites readers into a world where they can reflect on troubling aspects of their lives and create strategies for making empowering changes. 1425370 21 6 2007 Ghostbox: A memoir total:6|5:3|4:2|3:1| 6 26 7 2 5 0 false false Mon Mar 10 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Tue Mar 10 21:10:48 -0700 2009 Tue Mar 10 21:15:09 -0700 2009 4 0 false false Tue Aug 05 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Tue Jul 29 08:33:57 -0700 2008 Tue Aug 05 22:23:56 -0700 2008 more...]]> 4 0 false false Mon Nov 24 11:40:24 -0800 2008 Mon Nov 24 11:40:24 -0800 2008 0 0 false false Fri Oct 17 05:56:25 -0700 2008 Fri Oct 17 05:56:36 -0700 2008 5 0 false false Wed Jan 30 14:53:50 -0800 2008 Thu Nov 08 23:36:55 -0800 2007 Thu Nov 08 23:37:07 -0800 2007 3 0 false false Fri Jun 27 12:13:22 -0700 2008 Mon Jul 23 06:54:59 -0700 2007 Fri Jun 27 12:13:22 -0700 2008 5 0 false false Thu Sep 25 18:01:46 -0700 2008 Fri Jul 06 08:46:14 -0700 2007 Thu Sep 25 18:01:46 -0700 2008 http://www.goodreads.com/book_link/follow/8?book_id=1434821