Mirror Talk

by Barbara Alfaro

Winner of the IndieReader Discovery Award for Best Memoir. A Catholic girlhood, New York theatre, marriage, and the healing power of humor are interwoven in Mirror Talk's lyrical and often witty reflections.

Genres: Memoir, Biography Memoir, Biography, Nonfiction, Humor, Poetry

130 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 14, 2010

About the author

Award-winning author of Mirror Talk: a Memoir and Catbird, a poetry collection, both available at Amazon.

Reviews

[Kimberly Fujioka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Barbara Alfaro’s Mirror Talk is a delightful book of essays and poems all tied in together to form a memoir. She weaves the many tales of her Catholic childhood in New York and her years of theatre work. The memoir is full of humor and sadness as the reader watches Barbara grow up. It shows a young girl growing into maturity who is full of spunk and has the courage to ask the difficult questions. In one essay, she asks, as a young woman, “What is love? Was it putting stone in your shoes and offering the pain to Gad as the nuns said some saints did? Was it wanting to beat up the bully who had beaten my brother? Was it mama who no matter how closely she held you, never held you too tightly?” All throughout the memoir, you can see into the depth of humanity through the author’s insight into herself and her life. I found myself reflecting on my life as I read Barbara’s memoir. So many of her pieces took me back to a similar time in my life.

[Irma Walter · Rating 4 out of 5]

A feather-light memoir, like sheer gossamer. Barbara recaptures seemingly random memories of her life and slowly a figure takes shape: her own life, struggles of matching her restrained personality with her passion, the stage.

[Alisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read three other books since I finished this one, and I can barely remember anything about it, which does not really speak highly of it. It is a collection of autobiographical essays, somewhat humorous. Perhaps it was not really resonating with me.

[Rolando Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can only compare reading Barbara's Mirror talk to appreciating a pointillist painting. When you begin to read it up close, the author lays down the colored dots of her life leaping from past to present and back. Sometimes you wonder what she is up to, but as you keep reading, and you step back, the dots form patterns, and patterns of patterns, until finally you get to the end and are able to see the whole; and it all makes sense. Anyone can live a life and write about it, but poets like Barbara have the best skill to examine said life, and place the right dots side by side to conjure up a gestalt that they can present to others in a way that is beautiful, meaningful, and entertaining.

But this book is not one of the many self-serving memoirs you read out there. In this one Barbara deals honestly with the rough edges of family life, her religious upbringing, her faith, her life choices, and she does not shy away from expressing her opinions. She is curious about her journey and her destination, about who she was, who she is, and who she wants to be.

There were many things that I particularly enjoyed. Chapters like "Make Mine Cognac" or "The Snowball Incident" were very funny, whereas other chapters like "The Goddard Experience" really soared. The metaphor of the three balloons was amazing and Thalia's request to Zeus was hilarious. Barbara also includes in this book a few fine poems of which "A Child's Poem" is truly riveting.

All in all it was an enjoyable and thought-inspiring read, the sort of experience that enriches your life. I recommend that you buy her book and read it before facing that mirror on your wall.

[Penelope · Rating 5 out of 5]

An engaging, often humorous, sometimes regretful book of reflections on the author’s life. The author goes back to her Irish Catholic family and the influence of the church— “bouncing down Hell Avenue.” The first time she sees a stage play, her desire to become an actress is born. She spends years acting in bit parts, off Broadway, in local theater, and directing plays. As a mature university student studying poetry, she talks about the mark of the Marks—her teacher and the glowing aftereffects of Mark Strand’s poems. As a poet, playwright, and award-winning writer: “I exist in psychological not chronological time; the dual curse and blessing of writers, the true time-travelers.”

In her later years, the author, a lapsed Catholic, revisits Catholicism, family ties, and her youthful aspirations. She laments the lack of opportunity for talented young actors who never get the chance to shine in their chosen profession as epitomized by her own experience. “I was given an artist’s temperament and plunked by destiny into one dreary office job after another.”

This book left me feeling that I gained entry, for a short while, into some rooms in the author's life, but she kept me at arm's length from others, such as her marriages. Overall, I liked her humorous, wry, annoyed/frustrated reflections on life and the often futile pursuit of our dreams.

This is an honest review in exchange for a free book.

[Cheryl Davitz · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is always interesting to read about someone elses life. Step into his or her world. I love hearing stories about how people grew up and what makes them who they are today.

It was interesting how her Catholic upbringing, even though she had to "overcome" things the nuns said, stayed with her. Like a foundation. I enjoyed reading how she worked through the nun image of God and discovered the true God on her own.

This is was a good book. I enjoyed it a lot.

[Carrie Allen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. I think it is a sweet grouping of memories. Some of them made me sad and some of them made me think that the author is a bitter person, who wanted to make it big in a field where she never did. There is definitely an intense dislike for Angelina Jolie...I think if I acted and wrote a book of personal memories and stories about my life, I would not want to waste my time trashing another actor. However, those things aside-I did enjoy the book and lots of it made me smile.

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Barbara Alfaro takes her reader right into the moment - whether it's with her knees knocking at an audition or her terse conversation with a former mate. Barbara has an Irish gift of gab that lilts with stories of her family life on Long Island when we all knew where the potato fields were. Mirror Talk delivers - with humor, nostalgia, integrity and style.

[Suzanne Rosenwasser · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was drawn to Ms Alfaro's book because of the author's connections to Long Island and the theatre; then I read the book twice because I found so much humor and pathos within those settings. "Make Mine Cognac" is a theatre story that rivals "Noises Off" in its comic timing and powerful narration. Mirror Talk is a memoir about a life lived with wry observations and honest assessments.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book in 3 sittings which is pretty fast for me. I enjoyed it---it's a flash back of a woman as she reflects about the events in her past and how they influenced the person she became. The style of writing is superb, simple but descriptive and honest. This woman feels like many of us as we age--life went so fast, we didn't have time to become the person we dreamed of being.

[Joseph · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful memoir full of feelings, truths, joy, pain, memories and hope. Ms. Alfaro's writing is easy to read and her expression compelling. Each memory is expressed with warmth and honesty. The path she followed was not always smooth but it was always interesting. I thourally enjoyed the book and I'm sure you will as well.

[Keri English · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful memoir that had me hooked from the first mention of Rockaway Beach. Alfaro's memories are really accessible and made me think about being a kid with a hot dog from Coney Island in my hand. I LOVED this book.

[Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not generally a fan of memoirs, but this one reads like good fiction. The tone's original, and mixes poetry with prose, humor with sadness, all without pretension. Barbara Alfaro has the gift of making everyday life sound like a miracle.

[Cathy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was free for Kindle.
Vignettes about life and school. Would have been a nicer read if they had all been in chronological order.

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting memoir! Enjoyed reading it!

[Carolyn Zeller · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading about the workings of the theatre. I learned why it is so hard to become a "star" in this art. The memoir is frank and a very easy read.

[Barb · Rating 1 out of 5]

This didn't feel like a memoir; it was a very loose and seemingly-disorganized collection of ideas and stories. It made little sense and could have used some kind of order.

[Maureen Neylon · Rating 3 out of 5]

fine for a quick read on the plane

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gorgeous, gorgeous prose.