Thomas Hamelton's Reviews > Above Parr: Memoir of a Child Prodigy

I devoured this book in a single evening, and I must say, I wasn't disappointed. The candour and care with which Patricia Parr weaves the story of her affluent but oppressive upbringing warms the heart. Many times, I could sense the privacy with which she is accustomed to living - true of any celebrity, who has endured the limelight since childhood. In spite of that, or perhaps because of it, the narrative unfolds in flashes - fragments of memory and feeling - that connect the beginning and end in a harmonious circle.

It's always a treat, especially for us older folks, when a book comes with a CD - a technology to which we've reluctantly become accustomed. These carefully selected pieces, spanning her entire career, give a true portrait of the artist at work. A good read, a great listen, and definitely worth returning to more than once!