Book Review: Posts of a Mid-Century Kid

 Ann Vigola Anderson has crafted a lovely memoir using lilting prose that appears to come from a poet's heart. Using her gift of a writer's eye, she brings past memories to life for the reader. The format and just-right number of photos makes for a most enjoyable read. Little things like the repeated slam of a screen door will trigger memories for readers and bring them back to childhood days of their own again and again. Posts of a Mid-Century Kid proved a delightful read that brought the author's childhood to life and left me smiling.

Ann Vigola Anderson asked me to write a blurb for the back of her memoir, published in October of 2021. The paragraph above is what I sent to her. I had read the book prior to  its publication as the author asked me to give her feedback on the manuscript. 

I like the title of this book, as it lets you know right away what era the book pinpoints. Ms. Anderson grew up in Topeka, Kansas in the 50s and 60s. Her childhood was not of any specific note, rather it mirrored that of many other kids who grew up in those decades. Her posts, many originally written on social media, showcase what life was like in the Midwest then. She writes of the good and the sad parts of her life. Her parent's divorce made a big impact on her daily life with only her mother and brother and loving grandparents who lived not far from Ann's family.

She and her brother had adventures together like many siblings do, and she writes about that part of her life with humor and showing a love for him. Her passion for Kansas also shines through the pages. The reader is treated to another side of her life which took place on her grandparents' farm, close enough to where her family lived to allow her spend a lot of time there. Life on the farm was a delight for a town kid.

Food is a part of this memoir, too. She writes about the comfort foods of the time and even includes a few recipes. I had the good fortune to taste her grandmother's Lemon Cake at a presentation Ms. Anderson did with her book. Doing so brought back memories of foods my own mother made for our family in that same era. 

Ms. Anderson descriptions, her outlook on life, her sense of humor, and her ability to write lovely prose all offer pleasure to the reader. You can read the book straight through or in bits and pieces. By the end, you'll be smiling and nodding your head while thinking of your own childhood memories. Find it at Amazon.