G143 Seeing Through the Eyes of my Papa's Heart
Author: Lar Marr Wenrich
First copyright date: 2013
General subject matter: Abuse, Migrant workers, education, caring, tenacity, grandmother/grandson relationship, growing up, channeling anger
ISBN/ASIN: 9780615783628
Summary:
He slipped away...creating his own reality, a peaceful existence within a tortured mind...This lost soul without roots would spend his life seeking, craving, searching for love, acceptance and an identity...forever shaped by the cruelty of life...No one who crosses this gentle man's path would imagine that he endured such a cold, cruel and demeaning upbringing--void of love, affection or any notion of self-worth. Until the mention of his father's name...it brings him to his knees and tears flow down his cheeks unabashedly. How did he control his demons of anger, hate and vengeance that surely fumed at the surface? Was it fear that kept his emotions from spilling over, or had he always known, innately, there was more to be discovered than the cruelty he knew...a warmth and love he yearned for...
1.Does the book give a "full-length" picture of the subject?
I feel that the book gives a full length from the time Arthur was a child to the time his father passed away, but beyond that the book doesn't go into the married life.
2.What phases of the subject's life receive greatest treatment and is this treatment justified?
The phases that receive the greatest treatment is Arthur's childhood and growing up with Juan as well as the abuse he endured and the angels in his life, whether they happened to be in form of Grandmother Concha or the bunnies and birds he takes care of.
3.What is the point of view of the author?
Instead of becoming like his father, or else succumbing to the anger inside, Arthur does his best to rise above it and finds ways to get love.
4.How is the subject matter organized: chronologically, retrospectively, etc.?
I think its organized chronologically, from the time Arthur is a child to the time he becomes an adult and can make his own decisions.
5.Is the treatment superficial or does the author show extensive study into the subject's life?
The question is a bit difficult to answer because on one hand she did do research into her father's life, and listened to anecdotes, but strangely enough there is lack of any identifiers to let the readers know when the story takes place? Perhaps she's trying to go universal?
6.What source materials were used in the preparation of the biography?
Family anecdotes, or else her father's stories were used.
7.Is the work documented?
No
8.Does the author attempt to get at the subject's hidden motives?
She lets the reader know right off the bat that Juan never told his son why he is the way he is, and instead the reader watches Arthur grow up in this environment and show strength in not becoming like his father.
9.What important new facts about the subject's life are revealed in the book?
Considering I haven't met any of the people in the book, its hard to say.
10.What is the relationship of the subject's career to contemporary history?
She tries to make the story seem timeless, rather it happens with everyone and all the time not just back then or now.
11.How does the biography compare with others about the same person?
I'm not sure there are other biographies about her father.
12.How does it compare with other works by the same author?
I don't' think she has written any other works.
Quick notes: I would like to thank the author for the opportunity to read and review the book.
4 out of 5
(0: Stay away unless a masochist 1: Good for insomnia 2: Horrible but readable; 3: Readable and quickly forgettable, 4: Good, enjoyable 5: Buy it, keep it and never let it go.)
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