Customer Reviews

"You Wanna Go To Willard?"

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I had a chance to review this book thru Boswick Communications. It is not a usual choice for me, but the book sounded very inspirational.
It is a memoir of Linda Holbrook's life growing up. It starts with her finding her path as a teenager and ends somewhere in middle age.
As I read it, in the beginning I felt some kinship with Ms. Holbrook as she dealt with self esteem issues. But as it moved on, that began to fade. There was just so much of the book that, when written out, didn't seem like such a struggle. In the end, it didn't inspire me as much as I hoped.

This is a great heartfelt story. I loved Laura, she was so down to earth, and she seemed like a real person to me.

I almost immediately became attached to her. I felt the pain, joy, sorrow, doubt, everything she was going through. There were a few times I was brought to tears. I was angry with people that hurt her. I wanted her to succeed in everything so that she could build her self-confidence.

This was a great story about life in general. Things happen and we have to deal with them and move on. This book reiterated one thing that I always say "Everything happens for a reason, even if we can't see it at the time". I think if I had to summarize the theme of this book, that would be it.

This one took me a little longer than I expected to finish. I don't know why it was a slow read but it was. It was engaging though, and that kept me turning the pages. Overall I would have to say it was touching.

YOU WANNA GO TO WILLIARD? has an autobiographical feel to it and author Linda Holbrook is probably writing about her life and the struggles and obstacles she had to endure and overcome. But this story is a mundane one and I didn't feel for the main character, Laura. There was nothing out of the ordinary about her story and the conflicts are commonplace. There were no lessons learned and I was disappointed.

You Wanna Go to Willard? is the "fictional" life story of the author Linda Holbrook. It is advertized as one woman's struggle "to find happiness she wanted and desperately needed" (from the back cover).
I asked to review the book because it sounded promising, I was hoping to read a story that would inspire me as I struggle through the first part of my middle years, but unfortunately, what Holbrook writes is yet another story of dysfunctional family life. Welcome to the club Holbrook, sorry to lay this on you, but many, Americans come from dysfunctional homes, your story is tame compared to some. Bastard of out Carolina and The Glass Castle are two books that show just how horrible family life can be, yet the authors' of these books manage to make something out of themselves. I just cannot feel pity or joy for Holbrook, her story is not that moving or inspiring. Perhaps if Holbrook had broke from her sister or at least had it out with her over her- sister's confession Holbrook would have seemed inspiring, but instead she lets the confession go, then drifts from her sister as a lot of sibling do. Holbrook is very brave in writing her life story and I applaud Holbrook for writing a book, unfortunately her story is all too familiar.

Overcoming life's obstacles is sometimes extremely difficult. Running into difficulties that have never been imagined, never mind not knowing where to go for the solutions because they are not taught in school or at home makes life a journey that one can either fail at or, no matter what, strive for greater heights.

The message that the author gets across very well in this story is that one should work to discover a way to get through life's unexpected challenges and don't give up no matter how bleak or uncertain the future - aim high and go for it.

The book is aimed toward a reading public of women in order to communicate that there is life after hardships and a woman can create her own future and succeed in the ways that she desires to live her life. It really is a good book for women to read because a woman will be able to relate to the circumstances that the main character finds herself in.

What impressed me most is that the character in the story makes it through some pretty big tangles. The author shows that a person can get through the difficult times with persistence, a little help from friends and by going for ones goals.

There are solutions in life to achieve what one sets out to do - the message does get across very well in this story. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Linda M. Holbrook is a very refreshing author. She is frank, to the point and the book is a page turner. You want to go along with the main character on her adventure through life and you will find yourself making some extra time to read this book.

Linda Holbrook uses mostly narration in her story , or so it seemed to me, reminding me at times of journaling instead. This is a story of a young woman who's family is not affectionate, or outspoken, you were to do what was expected of you and that was that. Laura has two older brothers and one younger sister. Her brother Dick is very controlling, even to the point of controlling their parents. Early on in the book, she almost has a nervous breakdown due to the tension and frustration that she feels. Laura is taken to the hospital and in an effort to get her attention, a doctor shouts at her if she wants to go to Willard ( a mental state hospital), this immediately snaps her out of struggling. When Laura leaves home her life really begins and she sees that she is capable of just about anything that she sets her mind to, including college. The author wrote this book to show women that if we don't give up and listen to ourselves, we can achieve our dreams.

This book is a quick and easy read. The author uses language appropriate to the era with beautiful descriptions. I had a hard time putting this book down. The first page grabbed my attention and I had to see how Laura made it through all of her struggles.

The author achieved a captivating portrayal of her story; an engaging revelation of Laura's inner struggle to overcome and come into her own. Her story gives encouragement to other women who may understand only too well the challenges Laura faced; who need to hear that it's possible for them, too, to reach beyond the pain to find happiness.

This book takes you on a journey to self-confidence, from childhood through motherhood with all the highs, lows and plateaus life throws our way. It really explores all a girl/woman's intimate relationships. It's a good, fast read.

"You Wanna Go To Willard?"

This book offers "true to life" situations and reiterates how many women tend to lose themselves by allowing someone to control how their life will be lived. In the end though, Laura is able to overcome the control and find herself. "You Wanna Go To Willard" shows us how easy it is to forget who you are when you are trying to please others and how you can overcome the control and find who you are.