Book Review- Laurie Zaleski's Funny Farm

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a copy of Laurie Zaleski’s memoir, Funny Farm.

Running from an abusive marriage, Laurie Zaleski’s mom fled from her husband, taking a small amount of belongings and her three young children. Money was tight, but they managed to find a rental property in a rural area. The house was small and run down, a place that had been used for squatters and teenagers, but with her determination and upbeat attitude, Zaleski’s mom turned the place into a home where she would raise her children. The property was big enough that they started to amass an assortment of rescue animals, including a beloved horse whose broken leg they healed.

They were not able to move far from Zaleski’s father, who despite continuing to terrorize Zaleski’s mother, was granted partial custody of his children. Zaleski witnessed acts of cruelty inflicted by her father, who was wealthy and prominent in their local community.

Healing and comfort was found in their animal community. Animals, who like Zaleski’s family, were learning to regain trust after trauma. In her adult years, Zaleski would be pulled in two directions; leaving the farm to pursue city life or continue her mother’s work. It isn’t a spoiler to share that she chose a life on the farm and not only took on her mother’s animals, but bought a bigger property. Her rescue is thriving with volunteers and a large social media presence. Her instagram page for the Funny Farm Animal Sanctuary is absolutely delightful, a must-follow for animal lovers.

Funny Farm is a tough read. The rampant abuse; spousal, child, and animal, is hard. Trigger warning is an apt caution. That said, the love and compassion overshadow the abuse, ultimately allowing those abused to triumph. I connected with Zaleski’s pull towards different paths in her adult life, but ultimately following in her mother’s footsteps. Zaleski’s caregiving during her mother’s cancer, took me back to 2008, when I was in a similar position. I may not have a whole farm of rescue animals (just two spoiled cats) or have survived an abusive childhood, but I could relate to much of this memoir.

Funny Farm is a great choice for animal lovers who can stomach the difficult parts. Either way, make sure to visit the Funny Farm social media pages for adorable animal antics. If you’re in New Jersey, you can even visit the rescue and meet Zaleski!

Book Review- Delia Ephron's Left on Tenth: A Second Chance at Life

Thank you to LibroFM and Hachette Audio for an audio version of Delia Ephron’s memoir, Left on Tenth: A Second Chance at Life.

Delia Ephron, the youngest sister in the famous writing/show biz Ephron family, has written a memoir that is primarily focused on finding late-in-life love and facing the same type of leukemia that killed her beloved sister, Nora.

Left on Tenth begins with the loss of Ephron’s husband Jerry, whom she had been married to for nearly forty years. This monumental loss and life change sent Ephron into a deep grief as she learned to cope with her post-Jerry life. After writing an article on her loss, she is contacted by Peter, a psychiatrist living in California, who felt a connection to Ephron’s grief, having lost his own wife. Even more surprising, Peter had been on a date with Ephron when they were in College, which Ephron did not remember. They reconnect through emails, which eventually progress to phone calls, and quickly, a meet-up in person. Their connection is magnetic and their courtship is brief, as they decide to get married and Peter moves to New York to be with Ephron. They are both in their early 70’s and eager to enjoy their time together.

Soon after marriage, Ephron is diagnosed with the same aggressive leukemia that killed her older sister, plunging her into a long battle with cancer, which also coincided with the pandemic. Newly married, their life is once again, turned upside down with illness, fear, and uncertainty.

Left on Tenth is a heartfelt memoir on taking chances on love and the importance of the relationships we develop with others. In Ephron’s case, this goes beyond her husband and family, to include deep friendships. She never had children, but she plays a mother-like role to several young women in her life, bonds that she holds dear. I come from a very small family and I saw this play out when my aunt and uncle, who did not have children, grew older. Their friends became a vital part of their care and connection to the wider world. It made me keenly aware of the need to cherish and grow all of the relationships in our lives, especially when times are good. We need to show up for each other.

The audio book is read by Ephron, which I appreciated. Hearing her tell her own story added an important dynamic. Despite being heavy with intense situations, Ephron also has a keen sense of humor, which shines through in both her writing and vocal intonation. A memorable scene includes her frustrations with a phone company in the wake of her husband’s death. As someone who has had to handle the affairs of several deceased loved ones, I can relate to the ridiculous and mind-numbing frustrations that occur when closing out accounts.

I highly recommend Left on Tenth. It’s a reminder that although life can be harsh and unfair, there are also wondrous and beautiful moments especially those found through connections with others. Also, don’t sell yourself short, as incredible things can and do happen at all stages in life, including new relationships, new adventures, and new projects. Life does not happen on a preset timeline.

Book Review- Rory Feek's Once Upon a Farm

Thank you to Thomas Nelson- W Publishing for providing me with a copy of Rory Feek's memoir, Once Upon a Farm, in exchange for an honest review.

PLOT- Rory Feek reflects on his life after losing his wife and singing partner, Joey.

LIKE- Nearly a decade ago, I had the most amazing concert experience and actually met Rory and Joey Feek. They opened for the Zak Brown Band during a sold-out concert at the Universal Amphitheatre in California. The show was amazing and at the end of the concert, with a crowd of over six thousand, it was announced that the performers would head to the lobby to sign autographs for anyone who wanted to stick around. I've never seen something like that happen at a concert, especially one with so many people. Prior to that night, I had not heard of Rory and Joey, but I did recognize their songs. I waited about an hour in line to meet the performers and when I got to Rory and Joey, I was given the warmest handshake and smiles. They both were kind and humble, just happy to meet with fans. I was immediately smitten.

A few years ago, just weeks after giving birth to her daughter, Indiana, Joey was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cervical cancer. Rory shared their journey through her illness and eventually death, on social media. I followed Rory's posts and was heartbroken. Truly, I was surprised by how the life of these strangers impacted me. I feel that it is a testament to the way that they opened up their lives through their art.

I was thrilled to come across Once Upon a Farm on Netgalley. Feek's memoir is a constant affirmation of his love towards Joey and his three daughters. He does not shy away from discussing his grief or speaking about difficult times that he has had in his past. 

A chapter that hit home was one in which Feek discusses love languages. Joey experienced difficulties as a stepmom and when they gave it more thought, they realized that it certainly wasn't for lack of love, but that Joey and Feek's daughters spoke different love languages. They had a communication problem. I read this book as we were in the middle of our summer visit with my step-kids, a visit where I was feeling very overwhelmed. Reading Feek's words made me consider that perhaps I needed to figure out a better way to communicate. It gave me perspective.

Once Upon a Farm is a Christian memoir. I did not know this prior to reading it and although many of my family members are Christian, I am not religious. Although I did not always agree with Feek's perspective, I did appreciate hearing a different view point. He is certainly a man with strong convictions and even had a local church move into the barn on his property. Feek's entire lifestyle is polar opposite to mine, which is part of the charm of his memoir. I love hearing about different lifestyles and views. The Feek farm does sound like an idyllic slice of heaven. 

DISLIKE- A majority of the book is a polished memoir, but a few chapters rambled and were repetitive with regard to content already mentioned in previous chapters. 

RECOMMEND- Yes! If you're a fan of Rory and Joey this is a must-read. I can imagine that some readers may find the Christian aspect to be off-putting ( and some will find it right up their alley!), either way, I encourage you to give Once Upon a Farm a read.