My Turquoise Years: A Memoir

by M.A.C. Farrant

Throughout her childhood, Marion Farrant heard exotic stories of the sophisticated life her mother, Nancy, led aboard cruise ships and in Australia. Nancy’s world of furs, jewels, cigarette holders, and handsome men seemed miles away from the west-coast hamlet of Cordova Bay, where Marion lived with her aunt and uncle, running wild on the beach with her friends and enjoying weekend visits with her devoted father. But things changed the year she entered her teens. First, a package from Nancy arrived in the mail—a gift of sexy lingerie. Next, Nancy threw everyone into a tizzy with the surprise announcement that she was coming for a visit.

In this memoir of her fourteenth summer, Marion Farrant captures a lost time and place with hilarity and affection. The setting is Vancouver Island, the year 1960. It is the heyday of the nuclear family; the time of the Three Stooges, the Red Menace, and Whipper Billy Watson; the apex of plastic, arborite, and everything high heels, pedal pushers, refrigerators, cars, and even, at Easter, the fur of live rabbits. Witty, tender, and wry, My Turquoise Years is a book for anyone who remembers being a teenager.

Genres: Memoir, Canada

160 pages, Paperback

First published March 22, 2004

About the author

Full name: Marion A.C. Farrant.

Reviews

[Noel Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very enjoyable and touching quick read. I have been gradually reading through a bunch of author’s memoirs that someone stocking my local library seems to love. Most of them, including this one, are authors I’ve never heard of but it has become one of my favourite shelves. This one is more recent than most. My only real complaint is it stops too soon. Most of the book relates events from 1960 and then jumps to 1964 at the end. The author herself says that was before the “real sixties” began. I like seeing big history in the background of these little histories. Not much of that in this one but it’s a well written snapshot of her formative years. I only grabbed it because it was next in line but I’m glad it was there.

[Carolyn Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short memoir about the summer of 1960 when the author expected a visit from her long absent mother. I enjoyed the Canadian setting - the author grew up on Vancouver Island and a number of local landmarks are referenced. The extended family dynamics are also interesting as the author was raised by her father's family who frequently gather together to share news and gossip. There are some fun references to the TV shows of the time. The audiobook is well read.

[Cathryn Wellner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Farrant hits all the right notes in this wry, touching memoir. She writes of her fourteenth summer with rich detail and rare insight. Through her eyes we see the first stirrings of independence, which generally entail pushing away those we love most. She captures the confusions and the yearnings of a young girl growing up in an untraditional family in the Leave It to Beaver era.

For anyone old enough to remember 1960, the book is a detailed trip down memory lane, with its black-and-white TVs, arborite counters, and oh-so-modern turquoise. The writing beautifully captures the thought and language of a young teen teetering on the edge of the womanhood she finds revolting. The personal becomes universal in this entertaining memoir.

[Andrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

Marion Farrant grew up in Cordova Bay, BC, and this memoir describes her fourteenth summer living with her aunt and uncle after her mother leaves her to travel the world on cruise ships with a parade of men. The descriptions of the 1960s in greater Victoria add dimension to the book, including going for ice cream at Beacon Hill Drive In, working at Butchart Gardens, and visiting Cordova Bay beach. A light, easy read about a young girl's conflict with growing up while lacking a maternal figure.

[Vontel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lost my review when changing to the e-book version, a re-issue of a memoir published in 2004. I do recommend this book, easy to read about a complex life, and coming of age in the latter half of the 20th century on Vancouver Island in a complex family dynamic. I have read/attempted to read a number of her books over the years, had no idea that her first name was Marion. This book provides more entry to her published works.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book mainly because the author writes about living out in Cordova Bay around the same time as I lived in the area. There is a good chance that we went to school at the same time except that she would have been a couple of years ahead of me. This has been on my to-find list for 14 years!

[Taryn Hubbard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved so much about this book. The photos were also a nice touch. Just beautiful!

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed the play so I wanted to read the book. Liked the dialogue interspersed amongst the description. A chunk of time (1960) which was manageable with a little about 1964 and finally meeting her mother Nancy after a failed attempt in 1960. Great metaphor, humour, and character arc (decisions made, things cleared up). trying to mimic a little of her writing style. Nice to read about Vancouver and Vancouver Island.

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Witty, tender and wry; My Turquoise Years is a book for anyone who remembers being a teenager.

[McGuffy Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ms. Farrant captured all that was 1960! She is gifted in her character portrayals, as well as her description of time & place. Great memoir! I hated it to end!

[Christin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming memoir of the summer of 1960, told by the pitch-perfect 13 year-old Marion (MAC). Funny, wry, clever and tender, this should be a Victoria classic.

[Rebekkila · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book, it seems like one of those situations where the child was better off being raised by her dad and his side of the family than she ould have been if she was raised by her mother.

[Nicole Lemke · Rating 3 out of 5]

I usually stay away from coming of age stories, but I enjoyed this one.

[Liisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun, short book about growing up in Cordova bay in the '60s

[Michelle Kelm · Rating 5 out of 5]

MAC Farrant tells such a charming story. Witty and honest, I wanted it to go on and on and on. A must read for anyone who enjoys a good coming of age memoir.

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolute perfection. A pure joy to read it is set exactly in my times and I didn't want it to end.

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nothing special for me. Memories of woman about my sister's age, so I could relate to the time period, but have done that before and predicted what would happen with the mother.