Unraveling Anne

Saville writes a very moving memoir, of a childhood spent with her free-spirit talented alcoholic mother in California during the 1960s and 1970s. She and her brother have learned to fend for themselves, as the mother opens the house to all manner of artists, musicians, and hippies. Their father is an absent figure, who also doesn't want to bear the responsibility of raising his own children. The mother slips farther down into alcoholism and mental illness, alternately living in her old abandoned house or in a vacant lot. Saville has long-since moved on and tried to build her own life as an adult with her own wants, needs, and ambitions. She lives with resentment and hostility toward her mother, who seems to hold the same opinion of Saville. When her mother is found raped and murdered in the old abandoned house, the family tries to come together to sort things out and come to some peace with their relationships. Clues to her mother's early life come to light when the author finds a box of her mother's notebooks, letters, and miscellaneous personal documents. She seeks to understand better the mother she only experienced as a small child, and to rebuild broken family relationships with her father and siblings. I don't know why so many memoirs are written by female authors about their dysfunctional, mentally ill, addicted mothers. Is it the mother-daughter relationship that is so fraught with emotion and unmet expectations? I don't know, but Saville did a wonderful job. I am beginning immediately on "Henry and Rachel", a novel based on actual letters the author found from her great-grandfather. Saville is an insightful author, bringing her stories to life for the reader.

This is a timely and readable memoir although left me with more questions than answers.Grotesque parent tales are popular in recent years (seems like they exploded after Angela's Ashes) and and I can't seem to get enough of them if they are written reasonably well and seem at least somewhat believable, which this was. A few editing oversights but the story is so interesting you don't really care.I say the subject is 'timely' because of the celebrity culture we live in, where being young and famous is the be all end all, and in this Anne was a cautionary tale of what CAN happen after the limelight is taken away and when addictions run amokThe author's mother had real artistic talent though as a designer, she was not just a poser or hanger on. A mysterious combination of bad luck, bad judgement, and bad habits kept her from sustainable success.Anne's mother had invested in real estate and been frugal so she was able to help support Anne financially when her own modeling and designing career stopped paying the bills. (This is also a cautionary tale on the hazards of being overly indulgent with grown children with substance issues.)There was still a lot of questions and mystery left. The author goes back to a time when her mother seemed sound and wholesome, but there is no viable explanation for what led a talented beautiful woman presented with a feast of opportunities, to end up a broke, bloated addict, being murdered and dying in squalor.Of course untreated addiction can lead to that - but what hurt or trauma ignited the addiction is what I was left wondering. It was only very subtly hinted at.

Perhaps no review would be better, I admit I had to jump pages. Why? The pain is so raw, the memories so bright in black and white images in my head. My hurt is bruised, I clutch the soft stuffed turtle my daughter gifted to me at Christmas, for when those heart hurting days needed a lavender smelling memory that calmed my heart. Facing a Mothers Death is bravery,I'm not ready for it.

I enjoyed reading this book, but took several days to read it carefully. In at least a couple of places, hence only four stars, the sentences were overly long and needed better punctuation to make the intended points. I realize that currently a writer is advised not to overuse commas, but when they are needed to help the reader comprehend a sentence, they should be used. Unfortunately, I did not bookmark them on my Kindle Fire so cannot include them here.This is an interesting memoir which left me wondering about the author's maternal grandfather. POSSIBLE SPOILER FOLLOWS!! He, James P. Ford, was fired from the Spartan company after designing the famous, luxurious, Spartan Executive airplane. Why ? The way that fact is presented in the memoir causes me to think the firing was grossly unfair. But was it? Was there something about James Ford that, despite his genius as a designer, indicated that he had a violent temper -- especially toward women? Was he in the habit of punching other women with his fists -- his wife perhaps and not only his grown daughter? I do not have the answer, of course, but I do wonder what actually may have been behind the firing.As we learn from the memoir, Anne Ford's children became remarkably adept at taking care of themselves--and their mom at times. I wonder where the child-care agencies were as it is obvious that custody should have been taken away from their mom. Why not let the maternal grandmother have custody?I recommend this book, but realize that if the reader has experienced similar childhood traumas this would be a painful read for her or him.

A fascinating read. I found the writing a bit harsh in the beginning but soon settled into it and now I feel I just want to read it all over again. This is a true story based on the authors upbringing with an unstable, alcoholic mother. It's a heartbreaking read and you really feel for everyone involved. Thank you Laurel for sharing your story.

True story written by annes child. Sad at many times but also showed the high points of her life. Would recommend and could read it again

Found it boring. Tried hard with it but no go.

very good

Ok read