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Any Given Day: The Life and Times of Jessie Lee Brown Foveaux
The memoirs of a ninety-eight-year-old woman chronicle her life from the turn of the century, through the two world wars and an abusive marriage, to the present day
392 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1997
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
October 11, 2024
I loved this book written by a “normal” person just like you and me. Jessie Lee Brown Foveaux wasn’t an actress or an athlete or a celebrity in anyway, yet she wrote of her life for her many children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Here I am, not a relation at all, enjoying her book just as if I were!
“Nothing is ever so bad it couldn’t be worse…If one has faith, health, and the will to try, most problems can be solved” (xiii).
Jessie Lee comparing church when she was a girl to church today (1997): “Those people drove miles to get to church on Sundays. Now so many people are too indifferent to even go a few blocks” (64).
Jessie Lee thinking of her possessions: “And my books, please don’t burn them. Give them to someone who will want them” (83). 🤪 Gosh! I love my books, too, and have often wondered what my children will do with them when I am gone. I agree with Jessie Lee! Please don’t burn them, children!
Jessie Lee on politicians: “America is still the most wonderful place on earth, but it sure needs a lot of housecleaning in high places. When people stop treating these men and women who fight so hard for an office like gods instead of paid employees, we will get someplace…why is there so much hero worship for men who steal the country blind” (116)?
Jessie Lee on alcohol: “To my girls I say, ‘If you have a boyfriend who drinks, get rid of him fast…And if you take to drinking booze, your children will suffer” (251).
Jessie Lee on prayer: “When the going is rough, just pray about it and things will straighten out” (265).
Jessie Lee on having a good life: “You know we can make our lives happy and sad; it’s up to each individual. If we have health, a good mind, and are willing to work, we can make ourselves happy” (265).
The end of the book is filled with lots of advice from Jessie Lee to her grandchildren and d their children.
“Life is like a puzzle, and the pieces fall into place each day, and the giant puzzle lasts all along life’s way. No use to worry about tomorrow, let us live for today, for today will soon be tomorrow and tomorrow will be yesterday. The past will be gone then forever; we can’t change one little thing. We must look to the future with faith and whatever changes it brings. We can try to do better each day.
God will, if we ask him, give us the strength for whatever may come, so let’s put guilt and confusion behind us. Once we are forgiven, we can start the new day with joy and accept the fact that we are all sinners saved by God’s grace. Then we can have a cheerful smile to light up our face to greet anyone we may meet anytime or anyplace” (266).
“The world has no place for lazy people. If you have a job to do, do it well or not at all. Have pride in your work” (272).
“Avoid strong drinks and drugs like you would the plague. Don’t listen to those who tell you how much fun they are. They only scramble your brains, and you run the risk of retarded or deformed children” (273).
“I am not sorry that I don’t have a lot of money to leave you. That makes too many problems” (274).
“I think everyone has days when they feel a little down, but if they look around them and see their blessings, they will soon be looking up again” (280).
“Nothing is ever so bad it couldn’t be worse…If one has faith, health, and the will to try, most problems can be solved” (xiii).
Jessie Lee comparing church when she was a girl to church today (1997): “Those people drove miles to get to church on Sundays. Now so many people are too indifferent to even go a few blocks” (64).
Jessie Lee thinking of her possessions: “And my books, please don’t burn them. Give them to someone who will want them” (83). 🤪 Gosh! I love my books, too, and have often wondered what my children will do with them when I am gone. I agree with Jessie Lee! Please don’t burn them, children!
Jessie Lee on politicians: “America is still the most wonderful place on earth, but it sure needs a lot of housecleaning in high places. When people stop treating these men and women who fight so hard for an office like gods instead of paid employees, we will get someplace…why is there so much hero worship for men who steal the country blind” (116)?
Jessie Lee on alcohol: “To my girls I say, ‘If you have a boyfriend who drinks, get rid of him fast…And if you take to drinking booze, your children will suffer” (251).
Jessie Lee on prayer: “When the going is rough, just pray about it and things will straighten out” (265).
Jessie Lee on having a good life: “You know we can make our lives happy and sad; it’s up to each individual. If we have health, a good mind, and are willing to work, we can make ourselves happy” (265).
The end of the book is filled with lots of advice from Jessie Lee to her grandchildren and d their children.
“Life is like a puzzle, and the pieces fall into place each day, and the giant puzzle lasts all along life’s way. No use to worry about tomorrow, let us live for today, for today will soon be tomorrow and tomorrow will be yesterday. The past will be gone then forever; we can’t change one little thing. We must look to the future with faith and whatever changes it brings. We can try to do better each day.
God will, if we ask him, give us the strength for whatever may come, so let’s put guilt and confusion behind us. Once we are forgiven, we can start the new day with joy and accept the fact that we are all sinners saved by God’s grace. Then we can have a cheerful smile to light up our face to greet anyone we may meet anytime or anyplace” (266).
“The world has no place for lazy people. If you have a job to do, do it well or not at all. Have pride in your work” (272).
“Avoid strong drinks and drugs like you would the plague. Don’t listen to those who tell you how much fun they are. They only scramble your brains, and you run the risk of retarded or deformed children” (273).
“I am not sorry that I don’t have a lot of money to leave you. That makes too many problems” (274).
“I think everyone has days when they feel a little down, but if they look around them and see their blessings, they will soon be looking up again” (280).
May 22, 2013
Jessie Lee Brown Foveaux was a determined woman born in Missouri in 1899. Mother of eight children, she supported them by working at a variety of jobs when her alcoholic, shiftless husband did not. Written for her family as a project for a senior citizens' writing class, this memoir is filled with advice based on experiences which gave her integrity, compassion, and sensibility. Her life during two world wars, the Depression, the Korean Conflict, reveals what made women of this time period equal to men in the Greatest Generation.
December 27, 2011
An amazing account of a plucky lady who sat down and wrote her life story because of a writing class at her senior citizen's center. She lived in Missouri,which why I found it on thrifbooks.com - I look through lots of used books that have anything to do with Missouri and history. She had a rough go in life, but had a positive outlook and a faith in God. I love autobiographical histories, and this one did not disappoint. I liked this lady!! And the book
October 26, 2017
I loved this book! It encourages me to write down my life story for my sons and grandsons, not that they haven t heard most of it ! Wonderful story about an ordinary life that most of us have!
October 11, 2024
What a fascinating little book. I picked it up at a book sale at the Wamego, Kansas library. Jessie Lee lived most of her life in Manhattan, KS. This is her life story, written to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. It’s a wonderful history of our world from 1899 until 1997 when she wrote this book. Her life wasn’t easy, but she offers many words of wisdom to follow. Having lived in Manhattan, it was fun to read about the town when the only paved street was Poyntz. Great read!
October 21, 2020
A Memoir of Twentieth-Century America.
Jessie Lee lived roughly the same decades as my own grandmother Leora, so it was interesting to compare how they grew up and what their lives were like. My grandmother also wrote a memoir, although not as extensive as this one. It was hard to keep up with all the names mentioned, even the ones who were closely related to her.
Similarities was how many times they moved, how many children babies they had, being embarrassed by having to sign up for food through the "government dole," and family members serving in the military during both WWI and WWII.
Jessie Lee lived roughly the same decades as my own grandmother Leora, so it was interesting to compare how they grew up and what their lives were like. My grandmother also wrote a memoir, although not as extensive as this one. It was hard to keep up with all the names mentioned, even the ones who were closely related to her.
Similarities was how many times they moved, how many children babies they had, being embarrassed by having to sign up for food through the "government dole," and family members serving in the military during both WWI and WWII.
June 15, 2021
Reading this book was like sitting around with my Gramma and listening to her tell me about her life, which was something I always enjoyed doing. Grab a cup of tea and take a trip down memory lane into the days of yesteryear when the challenges of life were many but you were grateful to be alive to tell the tale, which is exactly what Jessie Lee did. I'm sure her grandchildren, to whom the book is dedicated, will appreciate her "hoping that some of my experiences may help them through trying times in their lives, and show them how easy it is to lose sight of the most worthwhile things in life..." Amen, sistah.
August 31, 2024
A friend (MH) sent me this book in a box of books. It was written by a woman born in 1899 who lived until at least 1997 (death date not listed in my copy). It started off slowly but got more interesting. It's told in "normal" language.
Oh, the changes she has seen in her lifetime! She doesn't talk too much about the technology ones (other than going to the theater). Nothing about when they first got TV etc. But she does talk about changing values. Some changes are good (being able to get help for alcoholism, for example) and others she feels are not so good (permissive parenting, for example).
I am glad I read it.
Oh, the changes she has seen in her lifetime! She doesn't talk too much about the technology ones (other than going to the theater). Nothing about when they first got TV etc. But she does talk about changing values. Some changes are good (being able to get help for alcoholism, for example) and others she feels are not so good (permissive parenting, for example).
I am glad I read it.
February 16, 2025
This memoir started out with an innocent Little House on the Prairie vibe then quickly progressed to a story of wartime and alcoholism and the challenges faced by married women during these times. In the end, it’s a more personal message to all of the children and grandchildren of this resilient woman. Very moving and real.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 24, 2025
An easy read with very short chapters. Amazing how much this 90+ woman remembered of her childhood. I grew irritated with the times the family was uprooted due to the mother's "health" and nostalgia for family. Seemed not to bother her how it affected both her husband, children and pets. But that's nothing compared to the trials this poor woman faced as an adult. This was an enlightening, worthwhile read.
May 3, 2025
I could appreciate the story of this woman's life, but I didn't enjoy the writing style at all. I also, did not like entire chapters dedicated to speaking to her grandchildren. I am sure this is a cherished family heirloom, but just not my best read. I did appreciate the strength this woman showed.
February 17, 2025
This is a wonderful story of a woman's life. The book was written for her family and was a very detailed description of her life. Was a woman I would have loved to know. Highly recommend this book.
March 7, 2008
I wish this had gotten more editing as it was turned from a book for grandchildren into a book for the wider public. It lost my interest as she continued to list names of people who were rarely mentioned again. However, her story and especially her narrative voice reminded me of my own Midwestern relatives. [Reviewed in the "book journal" I kept throughout 1999.]
December 26, 2015
a honest memoir from a plucky woman born in 1889. she grew up in the heartland and worked in the same barracks laundry in WWI and WWII. During this time she raised several children basically alone as her husband turned alcoholic and absentee. She dealt with Spanish flu, tuberculosis and The Great Depression. This is an interesting and personal recollection of small town America during this time.
December 31, 2007
My husband bought me this book when we lived in Kansas. It is by a lady who lived in the town where we were stationed Manhattan, KS, which is by Ft. Riley. She wrote it when she was 80. It is a true memoir of Twentieth-Century America.
February 20, 2012
You are moved back in time- Jessie lived an amazing life.
February 18, 2013
Memoirs written by an elderly lady. Too boring for me.
March 12, 2013
This is the life story of a 98 year old woman who wrote it herself because of a writing class at a senior center. I thought it was very interesting.
February 1, 2017
Es un libro muy inspirador me invita a reflexionar sobre mi propia vida y a ser agradecida con la misma.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews