Nonie: The Autobiography and Biography of Lenora Mattingly Weber

by Lenora Mattingly Weber, David Weber

The first part of Nonie is in Lenora Mattingly Weber's voice, as first written under the working title, "If You Sell a Story Mother..." It is clearly LMW speaking with the beloved warmth of her heart fully unveiled. The second part of Nonie is biographical as told by LMW's journalist son, David. It is crafted with the same Weber warmth, love, and eye for detail that only a professional of David's caliber could accomplish. You will embrace LMW as never before once you complete this story of her life. You may cry as you laugh but you will know you are alive as you feel the sorrows yet celebrate the joys of this woman whose door to her heart was never closed. Dick Kreck of the Denver Post wrote the following in 2002 when Nonie was initially released in print form:
"The woman behind the immensely successful Beany Malone books is herself the subject of a new book. Lenora Mattingly Weber authored 14 volumes in the Beany series of books for girls and, in her spare time, rode in Wild West shows and raised six children. "Nonie" (New York: Image Cascade Publishing) is part autobiography, part biography written by Weber's son, David. Weber, who lived in Denver until her death at age 75 in 1971, wrote 33 books, including 10 in the Katie Rose Belford/Stacy Belford series. "Nonie" chronicles the author's childhood journey when the family homesteaded in Kansas and her days in Denver during the Depression and World War II.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography

216 pages, ebook

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Lenora Mattingly, though born in Missouri, lived most of her life in Denver, Colorado. In 1916 she married Albert Herman Weber and was the mother of six children.

Weber's first book, Wind on the Prairie, was published in 1929. From 1930 through 1962 she wrote short stories for magazines such as The Saturday Evening Post, McCall's, and Good Housekeeping. Her last book was published posthumously in 1972.

Lenora Mattingly Weber’s favorite topics included the Denver area, horses, and teenage girls. In 1943 the first Beany Malone book, Meet the Malones, was published. Beany Malone became Weber's most well-known creation, featured in 14 books and appearing as a minor character in the Katie Rose Belford and Stacy Belford series.

Reviews

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was glad to read it for the sake of having a full-on biography for Weber as opposed to Somthing About the Author, but have to agree that it's not a terrific read. I appreciate Weber's heirs making this information available but it's not the biography that could have been written.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting but sad to read the story behind the much-loved Beany and Katie Rose author. I was hoping for more about those series. The autobiographical part jumped all over the place with topical rather than strictly chronological chapters.