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| Plot Summary of Kitchen Privileges |
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"
Simon & Schuster, Nov 2002, 24.00, 208 pp.
ISBN: 0743206053
has been a best selling author of suspense for what seems forever though her first book was a bio of George and Martha Washington. Ms. Clark returns to the world of non-fiction with an autobiography that may be her best work to date. Ms. Clark warmly discusses her life growing up in the Bronx, a very harsh one due the Depression. Even more heartwarming is her “courtship” and first marriage that should have turned Ms. Clark into a romance writer instead of the queen of suspense. She follows this up with the tragedy of suddenly raising children, as a widow with income problems until her first sale brings in needed cash. Finally, she discusses her second chance at love with her second marriage.
Throughout the book, Ms. Clark displays her love for writing without padding fluff or an outrageous scandal. Instead the author's myriad of fans and readers who enjoy a well written insightful biography will take delight with this encouraging story that does not apologize for Ms. Clark following her dreams and encourages others to do likewise. For attaining one's dreams is how to attain happiness.
Harriet Klausner
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Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar
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"Even as a young girl, growing up in the Bronx, Mary Higgins Clark knew she wanted to be a writer. The gift of storytelling was a part of her Irish roots, so it followed naturally that she would later use her sharp eye, keen intelligence, and inquisitive nature to create stories about the people and things she observed.
When Mary's father died, her mother, deciding to open the family home to boarders, placed a discreet sign that read, Furnished Rooms. Kitchen-Privleges. Very shortly the first in a succession of tenants arrived: a couple dodging bankruptcy who moved in eith their wild-eyed boxer; a teacher who wept endlessly over a lost love; and a deadbeat who tripped over a lamp while trying to sneak out in the middle of the night.
As a youngster, Mary worked a lot of jobs before ever becoming the author she is today. She was a switchboard operator,and a stewardess up until the time she became married to Warren Clark, and had five children.
Mary's husband, Warren, died at a young age after 14 years of marriage from a bad heart. Mary was left then to look out for her family on her own. Determined to care for her family and to make a career for herself,she went to work writing scripts for a radio show, but in her spare time she began writing novels. "
Boppy, Resident Scholar
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| Review Analysis of Kitchen Privileges |
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Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about books by breaking them down into many different literary elements, all of which are searchable (click here).
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
job/profession:
- writer
Job/profession/poverty story
Yes
Kind of living:
- general poverty story
Period of greatest activity?
- 1950+
- 1900+
Subject of Biography
Gender
- Female
Profession/status:
- writer
Age:
- 40's-50's
- 60's-90's
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events?
Yes
Ethnicity
- White
Nationality
- American (!)
- Irish/McCourt
How sensitive is this person?
- sensitive to others' feelings
- middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Strong but gentle sense of humor
Intelligence
- Very much smarter than other people
Physique
- average physique
Setting
How much descriptions of surroundings?
- 2 (a little)
United States
Yes
The US:
- Northeast
City?
Yes
City:
- New York
Century:
- 1980's-Present
- 1930's-1950's
Style
Person
- mostly 1st
Accounts of torture and death?
- no torture/death
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
Book makes you feel?
- thoughtful
Commentary on society?
Yes
Commentary on
- decency
- dying
Unusual Style:
- a lot of stream of consciousness
Writer's slant towards subject:
- very favorable
Story of entire life, or part?
- story of nearly entire life
If this is a kid's book:
- Age 14-16
Autobiography?
Yes
Pictures/Illustrations?
- A few 1-5 B&W
How much dialogue in bio?
- roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
- significantly more descript than dialog
How much of bio focuses on most famous period of life?
- 26-50% of book
How much is philosophy rather than life story?
- 51-75% of book
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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