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justicepirate's review
3.0
I have used fabric that Heather Ross designed for quilts I have made. She has really beautiful illustrations as well. When I saw this book's title, I was intrigued because I have caught dozens of frogs and toads and have owned a lot of them. When I saw that it had to do with family, love, and dysfunction, I was all in. Those are things I can relate to.
Heather's story was fascinating at times and other times very sad. She grew up moving between homes in Vermont, Mexico, Virginia, California, and New York between her mom and dad (who were divorced shortly into Heather and her twin sister's years) and grandparents.
What I liked about this book is that it painted a descriptive and lovely picture of her life. While some of her upbringing was a bit romantic between the idea of her walking and exploring as a young girl anywhere she wanted to in Vermont, something I really wish I was able to do in my own upbringing, it was filled with brokenness and heartache. This is pretty much like Laura Ingalls Wilder's story but with a very broken home life during the 1970s and 1980s. Her parents even built their first home together and she lived in a one roomed old school house for a few years with an additional bedroom for her sister and her attached. They had a wood burning stove and everything, but she explains how hard it was living in this way in a modern time with a mother who let her children starve most days while she would go out and get drunk.
Heather Ross also goes through a few of her key relationships with her boyfriends such as a drug dealer who had a small home with no door on it and a bathtub in the woods as well as an outhouse with no door on it. It was pretty entertaining to read through some of these stories.
Ultimately this is about a woman coming to terms with her life and accepting what home looks like for her today.
Heather's story was fascinating at times and other times very sad. She grew up moving between homes in Vermont, Mexico, Virginia, California, and New York between her mom and dad (who were divorced shortly into Heather and her twin sister's years) and grandparents.
What I liked about this book is that it painted a descriptive and lovely picture of her life. While some of her upbringing was a bit romantic between the idea of her walking and exploring as a young girl anywhere she wanted to in Vermont, something I really wish I was able to do in my own upbringing, it was filled with brokenness and heartache. This is pretty much like Laura Ingalls Wilder's story but with a very broken home life during the 1970s and 1980s. Her parents even built their first home together and she lived in a one roomed old school house for a few years with an additional bedroom for her sister and her attached. They had a wood burning stove and everything, but she explains how hard it was living in this way in a modern time with a mother who let her children starve most days while she would go out and get drunk.
Heather Ross also goes through a few of her key relationships with her boyfriends such as a drug dealer who had a small home with no door on it and a bathtub in the woods as well as an outhouse with no door on it. It was pretty entertaining to read through some of these stories.
Ultimately this is about a woman coming to terms with her life and accepting what home looks like for her today.
roxfoxreads89's review
5.0
This is a wonderful and magical memoir. I would recommend it to any woman with full confidence that they will love it. I laughed and I cried. I felt myself swept away with Heather's writing. A quick and excellent read. Thank you for sharing your story!
mscosner's review
4.0
I enjoyed the "company" I felt that I had while reading Heather's memoir. I felt a bit disturbed at times by the lack of care she received growing up and the negligence of her relatives, but I enjoyed her many adventures. So glad to be in a good book group that stretches me to read things that I wouldn't otherwise pick up. I thought I had read this previously, but I was confusing it with a gardening book.
librarianinthewoods's review
3.0
Rounded up to 3.5. What I took away from this book is what home means. How motherhood can sometimes fill up a void in your own childhood or with nostalgia you can recreate some of it.
jillreads77's review
4.0
Heather Ross has long been a favorite fabric designer of mine. Her writing is just as great as her fabric. I was drawn into her stories about her life with it's challenges and sorrows.
thecozypumpkin's review
4.0
Intriguing look into the life of a burgeoning illustrator. While I didn't relate to her growing up experiences they were a fascinating look into what makes Heather Ross, Heather Ross.
biddywink's review
3.0
I felt compelled to keep reading this book, a sign of a good book. [a:Heather Ross|677976|Heather Ross|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-ccc56e79bcc2db9e6cdcd450a4940d46.png]'s childhood was fascinating for its difference from my own. I was struck by how brave she grew up being, willing to try bold ideas and make mistakes, from such hardship and neglect in an idyllic setting. Bravery that let her share all of this with us, her readers.
sarahjaneinstpaul's review
4.0
Short stories are just right for me right now and Heather Ross' were endearing and heartfelt and funny.
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