The Bookmaker's Daughter: A Memory Unbound

by Shirley Abbott

This deeply felt memoir is a journey through family history, feminist insight, and southern mythology. In it a daughter reflects on the complicated and volatile love she and her father shared. Shirley Jean Abbott grew up in Hot Springs, Arkansas, in the 1940s and 50s and was the beloved daughter of Alfred Bemont Abbott, affectionately known as “Hat.” Hat wasn’t a bookmaker in the literary sense, even though he allowed Shirley’s mother to believe as much while they were dating. Rather, his craft was gambling, and his business was horse racing. Despite the corruption, which put food on the table and rabbit coats in the closet, Abbott remembers the kind and attentive father who spent nights reading to her. He alone is responsible for opening the door to a world of language and literature for her. And she ran with it. Against her father’s wishes, after graduation she headed for New York City. In the end, the girl he had nurtured into an independent and intelligent young woman had outgrown the small town where she grew up. The Bookmaker’s Daughter was originally published by Ticknor and Fields in 1992 and was a Book of the Month Club selection.

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction, Biography Memoir, Biography

312 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1991

About the author

Shirley Jean Abbott Tomkievicz (born November 16, 1934) is magazine editor and writer, most noted for her three volumes of memoirs.

(from Wikipedia)

Abbott began her career as an editor, writer, and historian in 1959 when she was hired by Horizon magazine as a fact checker. In 1973, she was appointed Horizon’s editor-in-chief, a post she held until the magazine closed three years later. Abbott has written articles for Smithsonian, Lear’s, Gourmet, Harper’s, American Heritage, Southern Living, McCall’s, Glamour, and Boston Review, as well as for newspapers.

(from http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net...)

Reviews

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A memoir from the early days of memoir, and the relatively early days of Hot Springs, Arkansas when illegal gambling and political corruption were prevalent. The author’s father was a complicated mixture of bookmaker and intellectual wannabe. Some excellent writing and fascinating stories with some dragging and lagging along the way.

[Bailey]

dnf-ed (for now)

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shirley Abbott writes about growing up in Hot Springs, Arkansas in the 30's and 40's when illegal gambling was prevalent. Her father, Alfred (Hat) Abbott made a living as a bookmaker. Although illegal, it provided the family with food, a nice house, and clothing. She tells of her close relationship with her father growing up, and how he spent time each night reading to her, and encouraging her to read. Her love for literature came from her father. It was an interesting read.

[Paula · Rating 3 out of 5]

Growing up in Hot Springs

[Juli Conzatti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again a dysfunctional family system that holds and creates genius.

[Maggie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this largely tedious, though I doggedly continued on, hoping for enlightenment. After all, it got rather good reviews, and seemed like something I'd like. But, eh.

I did, however, love this passage:

Bur I went to Grandma more often than to my mother, always bringing books. Before we read them, however, we listened to the radio, She opened her arms and helped me shimmy up the side of the bed , and then boosted me over her vast belly to the open space on the other side. The extent of her spare flesh amazed me: fIabs of it, flaps of it, rolling waves of it, decorated here and there with odd hairs and pale little moles and spots of one sort or another. I would settle down in the crook of her arm, next to the undulating breast that threatened, like a giant amoeba, to engulf me. Her damp armpit fit neatly over my shoulder; the arm with its wattles of flesh enclosed me in blissful warmth. "Ahhh," she'd say, capturing my small body and positioning it, just so, in the bedclothes.

[Braden · Rating 3 out of 5]

bought this at a used bk sale in the basement of the chatillon-demenil house (st. louis, mo) last weekend. wasn't sure i was actually going to read it, but picked it up and the page fell open to a chapter in which abbott describes rewriting a chapter of louisa may alcott's little women. as i'm in an alcott reading frenzy at the moment, it seemed like a sign.

the book presents a detailed portrait of life in hot springs, arkansas, in the 1930s-1950s, as experienced by the bright young daughter of a bookie. some interesting details....and yet, ultimately, i wanted less about the "then" and more about the "now"--how had growing up in this environment shaped the remainder of abbott's life?

[Frank Vizza · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading this book I recommended it to my wife. A short while later I asked her how she liked the book. "I only read a few pages" she answered. It is to well written for my tastes. My wife likes pulp romance novels. I loved this book. It is the true story about a girl growing up in the 40's with a father who is a bookmaker (horses).

[Ronald Wilcox · Rating 4 out of 5]

I very much enjoyed this memoir about life growing up as the daughter of a bookmaker (gambling, not literature) in Hot Springs, AR, in the 1930's to 1950's. The day to day details of her life, although mundane, draw the reader in. For readers interested in life in the first half of the 20th century in America, this memoir is a gem.

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was very good - I was amazed at the author's writing style and there were no down times in the book. Very interesting about the history and how she depicted it, no sugar coating whatsoever. It was a very enjoyable read and I would highly recommend it.

[Terry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Shirley Abbott had the unusual experience of growing up with a father who worked in the illegal, but tolerated, gambling industry, but who also valued classical learning which he passed on. He was determined that his daughter would not have to "settle" for being a housewife.

[Gaurett · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me a while to read this book. It was good but sad. An Angela's Ashes type book but in America

[Judith]

This is a must-read for anyone interested in Hot Springs, Arkansas. I admire the author's candor.

[Denise DeRocher · Rating 4 out of 5]

An outstanding account of Hot Springs Arkansas during the 1930s and '40s - corruption, familial entanglements, and a young girl's passage into independence make this an excellent read!!

[Regina · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Love memoirs.

[Lee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very much like reading someone's diary. The second half was better than the first.

[Chapter · Rating 4 out of 5]

All you ever wanted to know about Hot Springs.