Biography & Autobiography Personal Memoirs
Mom and Dad's Martinis: A Memoir
A Memoir
- Publisher
- Tellwell Publishing
- Initial publish date
- Jun 2019
- Category
- Personal Memoirs
-
Paperback / softback
- ISBN
- 9780228805106
- Publish Date
- Jun 2019
- List Price
- $19.95
Classroom Resources
Where to buy it
Description
Jacelyn Cane's mom and dad liked their martinis dry: straight gin on the rocks with a dab of vermouth and a hint of water - and they liked them often. They also liked to party; they danced, socialized, and drank - they were good at all three.
Sometimes this behaviour led to humorous situations - antics in the pool, at the club, the cottage or in the car, for example. Other times, however, the experiences were not so funny -family fights and times of neglect, trauma and abuse. By weaving together a series of episodes that take the reader to light and dark places, author Jacelyn Cane tells a poignant cautionary tale for anyone affected by alcoholism and/or family struggles. The author is using a pseudonym and most of the names in the book have been changed to protect people's identities. Mom and Dad's Martinis: A Memoir is a great read for anyone who has experienced a childhood mixed with joy as well as sorrow. It is a story of love, acceptance, forgiveness and hope.
About the author
Contributor Notes
Jacelyn Cane lives in Toronto, Ontario with her husband. She also lives with or near her three children and step-daughter. Jacelyn is a retired educator and a writer. Mom and Dad's Martinis is her first book. Please visit JacelynCane.com.
Excerpt: Mom and Dad's Martinis: A Memoir: A Memoir (by (author) Jacelyn Cane)
I was rummaging through my memorabilia drawer when I came across the Christmas card Mom sent us in 2014. Usually, she let Hallmark do the talking and would just sign Love, Mom and Dad, but this card contained a long message in her almost illegible handwriting, and it was from her alone. She’d addressed it to all of us, including Guinness - that alone was enough to get me crying. As a rule, my mom had no time for dogs - and our lovely Golden was no exception.
When I had originally received the card, I had wept inconsolably, knowing my once vibrant mother was letting go. She had written it from her hospital bed where she had many long hospital stays over several years.
Thank you guys for all you have done for me in the last few months. You have been back and forth to the hospital, the condo, helping me, bringing Dad. It is so comforting to know that I can count on you, which has always been the case. I look forward to Christmas with everyone, coming up very soon. All my love, Mom, Dot, and Granny
This time, as I read and cried, I decided I would remember my parents by writing a book about them. They were complex, dynamic, sometimes dark, and often humorous people whose stories deserve to be written down. I have included stories that I witnessed and participated in, as well as stories that were told to me by my parents or some of their friends. For the stories that I did not witness, the dialogue has been reconstructed based on the accounts of my parents or others.
Editorial Reviews
"This memoir I found to be very impactful to the right kind of audience. It dances between gritty and painful memories that are at times almost funny, but don’t make it because they are so powerfully sad at the same time for most of the family members. It leaves that sick feeling in the gut that reminds you of that time that...fill in your own blank if you’ve been there too. Because so many of us have too and can still feel it too, wondering how to fix it still, after all this time. This is a great, honest group of stories from the author’s memories of growing up with her heavy drinking mother and father. It shows many examples of how miserable it can be for the family when the drinking gets out of control after a number of years." - Valerity, Goodreads Reviewer
"I couldn't put this book down and read it in one day. You will laugh and cry while you read this memoir. Despite the heartbreaking scenes of emotional and physical abuse, love and forgiveness shine through.
The writing is very good and the author tells a riveting story, sometimes heartbreaking and sometimes you cant help but laugh out loud. I was able to make many personal connections to this story and identified strongly with Jackie, the main character. I highly recommend this wonderful memoir." - Marije Calla, Goodreads Reviewer
"Mom and Dad’s Martini’s is a powerful and deeply honest memoir that opens the door for families to talk openly about the insidious impact that alcohol can have on every small and big moment in life. The book is chocked full of stories filled with shenanigans, music, nature and affluence and, of course, alcohol. Although trauma and pain are pervasive themes, deep love, commitment and the promise of healing are always present.A must read!" - Jodi Rees, Goodreads Reviewer