Overlay - A Tale Of One Girl's Life In 1970s Las Vegas (2014) - Plot & Excerpts
So many times throughout this book I wanted to reach into the pages and just hug the young Marleyna. She witnessed some awful events and endured such difficult and unstable living conditions she was forced to grow up fast. Yet despite all the adults that let her down and the nasty characters that pass through her life during these years she shows such strength and spirit, and never gives up hope that something better will come. I've just download the next book, City Of Angels, and can't wait to get started on it. This book is a memoir of the author's young life - a child with an alcoholic father and a mother who just doesn't seem to care - a very dysfunctional family. With a very simplistic style, Marlayna writes with strength, painting a vivid picture that captures your attention from the beginning. Many times Marlayna displays anger at her mother and is confused how she could both hate and love her mother at the same time. There was very little food purchased for the house and many times Marlayna cried herself to sleep because she was so hungry. It it weren't for the free lunch program at school, she wouldn't have eaten at all. But, they always seemed to have money for jugs of wine, gallons of vodka, and cartons of cigarettes. This is truly a powerful and gripping read. It had to take a lot of courage for Marlayna to share such a personal story - a story that will touch your heart and soul. In spite of all the hardships and challenges she faced, Marlayna Glynn Brown persevered and now has three college degrees and has had several different careers. My rating for this book is 5 stars and I highly recommend it. Taken from the book - Today was so sad. I really don't like Christmas anymore. It's no fun for me. It is depressing. I don't spend any time with my father. He's drunk anyway so I don't want to be with him. It's so lonely. I just sit here by myself on Chrismas Eve and cry. There is no dinner, no presents. no family, no hugs or kisses. Just one scrawny little Christmas tree with my father's present underneath it. He'll let it sit there for another year for all he cares. I didn't even get one surprise or anything. I don't want to be by myself anymore. Please God - it's not that much to ask and it means so much to me. I wish I at least had someone here to hug me and tell me that everything will be alright.
What do You think about Overlay - A Tale Of One Girl's Life In 1970s Las Vegas (2014)?
Absolutely beautifully written. The proofreading does not do the book justice. How unfortunate.
—readchick
Wonderful read, emotional,heart breaking book
—michelle
