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Mother’s Little Alibi: A First Memoir
Four generations of love, family, tragedy, addiction, wealth, poverty and infidelity. One family produced a handsome, but wild son and the other family, a strong-willed daughter. These two personalities wed, leading to a very interesting, but tumultuous life and one daughter, Lydia.
This culminated in a true story of a 4 year old girl's memory of serious problems that many adults have never faced. She was saved by a sense of humor you will find both amusing and heart lifting. Moved from one home to another because of family illness, she also became ill and was isolated for 3 months at the age of 5. Forced to defend one parent, while lying to the other, this only child became "street smart" at the age of 9 in order to defend herself and keep the family secret. Her life nearly came to a tragic ending when she was 11 years old.
Lydia was surrounded by small town characters in an era which was mostly innocent, but incredibly dangerous for this child. Once learning about Lydia's life in the 1940's and 1950's, you will ask yourself, do we really know what's in a child's heart or mind?
This culminated in a true story of a 4 year old girl's memory of serious problems that many adults have never faced. She was saved by a sense of humor you will find both amusing and heart lifting. Moved from one home to another because of family illness, she also became ill and was isolated for 3 months at the age of 5. Forced to defend one parent, while lying to the other, this only child became "street smart" at the age of 9 in order to defend herself and keep the family secret. Her life nearly came to a tragic ending when she was 11 years old.
Lydia was surrounded by small town characters in an era which was mostly innocent, but incredibly dangerous for this child. Once learning about Lydia's life in the 1940's and 1950's, you will ask yourself, do we really know what's in a child's heart or mind?
226 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 26, 2024
102 people are currently reading
14 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
August 30, 2025
Great start on this trilogy!
This is a well-written memoir that has special appeal to those of us who grew up in the 1950s and 1960s. It will also appeal to readers who spent their childhood in a small rural town. I fall into both those categories. In fact, I was born and grew up in the very same town as “Lydia”. I congratulate her for this writing project she has undertaken, and I’m confident she will finish it triumphantly with the same brilliance and grace with which she lives her life.
This is a well-written memoir that has special appeal to those of us who grew up in the 1950s and 1960s. It will also appeal to readers who spent their childhood in a small rural town. I fall into both those categories. In fact, I was born and grew up in the very same town as “Lydia”. I congratulate her for this writing project she has undertaken, and I’m confident she will finish it triumphantly with the same brilliance and grace with which she lives her life.
August 2, 2024
a must read!
The thing I liked most about this book is the author’s blatant honesty. It would be very hard for most people to open up and tell the secrets of their family, but she did, and the words seem to just flow out throughout the book. Once I started reading this book I could not put it down. Excellent!!!
The thing I liked most about this book is the author’s blatant honesty. It would be very hard for most people to open up and tell the secrets of their family, but she did, and the words seem to just flow out throughout the book. Once I started reading this book I could not put it down. Excellent!!!
May 18, 2025
A realistic look back to a small town. It teaches the lesson that how we choose to use the struggles in our lives is what makes us happy, sad, successful, or a failure. It also tells us to love people that love us, and take them as they are.
I enjoyed it. I admire the author and how she developed into the happy, successful person she has now become.
I enjoyed it. I admire the author and how she developed into the happy, successful person she has now become.
January 11, 2026
Lydia Constantine was at my B&N bookstore today so I purchased volume one of her trilogy. It was good and very interesting reading about families and society during the 40’s and 50s. I guess I was just underwhelmed. There were a few amusing anecdotes. But the danger, trauma and tumult of her life was really quite unremarkable. I’d take her childhood experiences in a heartbeat! Very quick read, just 216 pages.
August 18, 2025
A real life story
Specially loved the fact that she was able to recount her life story with such realism.
Including all of the good and the bad and to be able to finish on a loving note.
Specially loved the fact that she was able to recount her life story with such realism.
Including all of the good and the bad and to be able to finish on a loving note.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews