A Very Capable Life: The Autobiography of Zarah Petri

by John Leigh Walters

Zarah Petri was just a little girl when her family left Hungary to find a new life in Canada in the 1920s. She showed spunk and a great imagination that would serve her well as a new immigrant and young married woman. Zarah and her family lived through the Depression, and she learned to make ends meet in any way she could, even bending the law if necessary. Her son John writes this touching memoir, told in the first person, in Zarah's own unique voice. Her remembrances are sometimes funny, sometimes sad but always entertaining.

Readers will not soon forget the expressive, albeit at times ungrammatical, voice of Zarah Petri - a woman whose courageous spirit, generous heart, and fierce independence as she confronts whatever challenges fate conjures make her worthy of our attention and respect, as she beckons us to join her in discovering anew the country to which she journeyed so many years ago.

208 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2009

Reviews

[Barb · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was recommended by a family member and I was initially interested to read it because of the Heritage of the storyteller. I found it very repetitive and hard to get through. I almost DNF this book.

[Djdee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very good book describing this woman's experience making Canada her new home.This book is part of a series "OurLives:Diary,Memoir,and Letters.This is the second book I have read in the series.They were both compelling reading.Please keep them coming!!!!

[Jac · Rating 5 out of 5]

Im proud to say, this is the story of my Great Grandmother.