Thirty Homes in Thirty Years [Paperback]

Addy Stevens (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 5, 2012

When Addy Stevens’ resident-in-training husband walks out one day, leaving her alone to tend to their toddler and unborn child, Addy begins to create a life she feels she and her two children deserve. Little does she does she know her journey will open doors to worlds she could only imagine, as she peels away the facades and delves into the interiors of the people she encounters. Her only escape is the refuge she finds within the walls of the thirty homes she creates over thirty years – each one mirroring the different stages of her life, and reflecting all the pain, growth, success, and joy she experiences along the way.

Editorial Reviews

From Kirkus Reviews

Stevens pens her first book, a bold, autobiographical narrative of living in 30 different homes in Texas, Virginia, New York and Washington, D.C. Without judgment or recrimination, this autobiography reveals the impact Stevens’ family, friends, colleagues, husband and lovers had on her life as she moved through 30 houses in 30 years on her quest for “home.” With an authentic Texan voice that ranges from delightfully daring to insightfully uncertain, she tells of persistently changing houses and careers, from stay-at-home new mother married to a young doctor, to single mother raising two children while working as a landscape designer, to receptionist and stockbroker. The narrative also displays her fast-paced present-day life with lovers, friends and colleagues, as well as an exploration of what it is to be Texan. She’s witty, fun and sometimes hilarious in charmingly artless ways, as she moves through jobs, houses and cities. Stevens isn’t afraid to show the bleaker side of her life either: drugs, alcohol, never enough money or power, a dysfunctional family, discontentment, estrangement and a lack of love all cast shadows over parts of her life’s story. During the recounting of these darker days, the account becomes less compelling as the voice loses some of its unique quality, instead taking on a conventionally dramatic tone usually associated with corrupted circumstances. “I wanted a life full of intrigue and mystery, new environments, and new people...[a] temporary life with no fear of being trapped,” she says. She succeeded, as this well-written, refreshingly honest memoir confirms. The blunt reality of human nature in a cheerful, knowing tone.

About the Author

Addy Stevens (legal name Adele Wilson) was born in Shreveport, Louisiana, but spent most of her life growing up in Texas as the second of four children of two extraordinary, extroverted parents. A shy child, Adele quickly learned how to escape into the world of her imagination where she could have a voice and live out her fantasies. She wrote poems, created backyard circuses, and won creative writing awards. She met her future husband at The University of Texas, married, and had two sons. When the marriage ended in divorce, Adele began life as a single mother of two toddlers. In 2008 Adele sat down to begin cataloging the thirty homes she had lived in over the past thirty years on the impending 30th anniversary of her divorce. What started as a therapeutic recounting of her life, ended in a manuscript, and her first book - an autobiographical novel, THIRTY HOMES IN THIRTY YEARS. She currently lives in Dallas, Texas and is working on her second book.

Product Details

• Paperback: 312 pages
• Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (April 5, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1467957186
• ISBN-13: 978-1467957182
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,808,165 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Addy Stevens (legal name Adele Wilson) was born in Shreveport, Louisiana, but spent most of her life growing up in Texas as the second of four children of two extraordinary and extroverted parents. A shy child, Adele quickly learned how to escape into the world of her imagination where she could have a voice and live out her fantasies. She wrote poems, created backyard circuses, and won creative writing awards. She met her future husband at The University of Texas, married, and had two sons. When her marriage ended in divorce, Adele began life as a single mother of two toddlers. In 2008 Adele sat down to begin cataloging the thirty homes she had lived in over the past thirty years on the impending 30th anniversary of her divorce. What started as a therapeutic recounting of her life, ended in a manuscript, and her first book - an autobiographical novel, THIRTY HOMES IN THIRTY YEARS. She currently lives in Dallas, Texas and is working on her second book.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Addy Stevens-Thirty Homes April 11, 2012

By cc4amazon

Format:Paperback

I really enjoyed this book. It was a very quick read and entertaining. There were many parts that made me laugh out loud. Being a native Texan, I loved reading about places and cities that I recognize and know well. It's a perfect book to take on vacation because it's so easy to read.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Lively and interesting read June 13, 2012

By Karen Henry

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I feel like Addy is my best friend.

From the elegant descriptions of her houses to the tender recaps of her loves and her hunger to provide for her boys, I was transported to each venue.

I felt sadness when she recanted conversations with her Mother and the coldness she got from her sisters. At least she finally had some closure with her mom and I envy that since I lost my Mom at such an early age and was not able to gather the wisdoms one can only get from a Mom.

READ IT. Addy, you can come live with me and decorate my home!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting read June 9, 2012

By may

Format:Paperback

Descriptions of houses, décors & settings interspersed with details of the author's nomadic lifestyle made this book an interesting read.