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Kitchen Privileges
In her long-awaited memoir, Mary Higgins Clark, America's beloved and bestselling Queen of Suspense, recounts the early experiences that shaped her as a person and influenced her as a writer.Even as a young girl, growing up in the Bronx, Mary Higgins Clark knew she wanted to be a writer. The gift of storytelling was a part of her Irish ancestry, so it followed naturally that she would later use her sharp eye, keen intelligence, and inquisitive nature to create stories about the people and things she observed.
Along with all Americans, those who lived in New York City's borough of the Bronx suffered during the Depression. So it followed that when Mary's father died, her mother, deciding to open the family home to boarders, placed a discreet sign next to the front door that read, FURNISHED ROOMS. KITCHEN PRIVILEGES. Very shortly the first in a succession of tenants arrived: a couple dodging bankruptcy who moved in with their wild-eyed boxer; a teacher who wept endlessly over her lost love; a deadbeat who tripped over a lamp while trying to sneak out in the middle of the night...
The family's struggle to make ends meet; her days as a scholarship student in an exclusive girls' academy; her after-school employment as a hotel switchboard operator (happily listening in on the guests' conversations); the death of her beloved older brother in World War II; her brief career as a flight attendant for Pan Am (a job taken after a friend who flew with the airline said ever so casually, "God, it was beastly hot in Calcutta"); her marriage to Warren Clark, on whom she'd had a crush for many years; sitting at the kitchen table, writing stories, and finally selling the first one for one hundreddollars (after six years and some forty rejections!) -- all these experiences figure into "Kitchen Privileges," as does her husband's untimely death, which left her a widowed mother of five young children.
Determined to care for her family and to make a career for herself, she went to work writing scripts for a radio show, but in her spare time she began writing novels. Her first, a biographical novel about the life of George Washington titled "Aspire to the Heavens," found a publisher but disappeared without a trace when the publisher folded. (Recently it was rediscovered by a descendant of the Washington family and was reissued under the title "Mount Vernon Love Story.)" The experience, however, gave her the background and the preparation for writing "Where Are the Children?" which went on to become an international bestseller. That novel launched her career and was the first of twenty-seven (and still counting!) bestselling books of suspense.
As Mary Higgins Clark has said when asked if she might consider giving up writing for a life of leisure, "Never! To be happy for a year, win the lottery. To be happy for life, love what you do."
In "Kitchen Privileges," she reflects on the joy that her life as a writer has brought her, and shares with readers the love that she has found.
Along with all Americans, those who lived in New York City's borough of the Bronx suffered during the Depression. So it followed that when Mary's father died, her mother, deciding to open the family home to boarders, placed a discreet sign next to the front door that read, FURNISHED ROOMS. KITCHEN PRIVILEGES. Very shortly the first in a succession of tenants arrived: a couple dodging bankruptcy who moved in with their wild-eyed boxer; a teacher who wept endlessly over her lost love; a deadbeat who tripped over a lamp while trying to sneak out in the middle of the night...
The family's struggle to make ends meet; her days as a scholarship student in an exclusive girls' academy; her after-school employment as a hotel switchboard operator (happily listening in on the guests' conversations); the death of her beloved older brother in World War II; her brief career as a flight attendant for Pan Am (a job taken after a friend who flew with the airline said ever so casually, "God, it was beastly hot in Calcutta"); her marriage to Warren Clark, on whom she'd had a crush for many years; sitting at the kitchen table, writing stories, and finally selling the first one for one hundreddollars (after six years and some forty rejections!) -- all these experiences figure into "Kitchen Privileges," as does her husband's untimely death, which left her a widowed mother of five young children.
Determined to care for her family and to make a career for herself, she went to work writing scripts for a radio show, but in her spare time she began writing novels. Her first, a biographical novel about the life of George Washington titled "Aspire to the Heavens," found a publisher but disappeared without a trace when the publisher folded. (Recently it was rediscovered by a descendant of the Washington family and was reissued under the title "Mount Vernon Love Story.)" The experience, however, gave her the background and the preparation for writing "Where Are the Children?" which went on to become an international bestseller. That novel launched her career and was the first of twenty-seven (and still counting!) bestselling books of suspense.
As Mary Higgins Clark has said when asked if she might consider giving up writing for a life of leisure, "Never! To be happy for a year, win the lottery. To be happy for life, love what you do."
In "Kitchen Privileges," she reflects on the joy that her life as a writer has brought her, and shares with readers the love that she has found.
208 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2002
100 people are currently reading
2238 people want to read
About the author
Mary Higgins Clark
632 books13.5k followersThe #1 New York Times bestselling author Mary Higgins Clark has written thirty-eight suspense novels, four collections of short stories, a historical novel, a memoir, and two children’s books. With bestselling author Alafair Burke she wrote the Under Suspicion series. With her daughter Carol Higgins Clark, she has coauthored five more suspense novels. Her sister-in-law is the also author Mary Jane Clark.
Clark’s books have sold more than 100 million copies in the United States alone. Her books are beloved around the world and made her an international bestseller many times over.
Clark’s books have sold more than 100 million copies in the United States alone. Her books are beloved around the world and made her an international bestseller many times over.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 401 reviews
March 31, 2017
Honest,funny,modest and a recollection of her past life:ups & downs....(paperback!)
January 18, 2008
I actually liked this better than her novels. It was interesting to see the background she has. I especially liked the part about her early life. As I recall, it got less interesting later on.
I copied one cool passage about deja vu from the book:
"I felt as though I'd come 'home.' I had the most extraordinary sensation of being in a place I knew intimately. I don't believe in reincarnation, but I do wonder sometimes if it isn't possible that we inherit memory. If we can look exactly like someone who lived hundreds of years ago, if we inherit that person's particular gift or talent, his or her allergies, isn't it possible that we can also inherit some awareness that comes from a memory base?....'This is familiar, but I don't know why.'"
I thought that was a fascinating (and spooky) idea. I've never heard it expressed by anyone else, before or since reading this book.
I copied one cool passage about deja vu from the book:
"I felt as though I'd come 'home.' I had the most extraordinary sensation of being in a place I knew intimately. I don't believe in reincarnation, but I do wonder sometimes if it isn't possible that we inherit memory. If we can look exactly like someone who lived hundreds of years ago, if we inherit that person's particular gift or talent, his or her allergies, isn't it possible that we can also inherit some awareness that comes from a memory base?....'This is familiar, but I don't know why.'"
I thought that was a fascinating (and spooky) idea. I've never heard it expressed by anyone else, before or since reading this book.
December 6, 2023
I remember in several of my English classes discussing whether the author's personal life and story should be considered in examining their body of work. Many critics say it should have no consideration, while others say yes it should. Perhaps it is due to my fascination with people, but I always find it interesting how an author's personal life shaped their work. I have to confess I have only read one of Mary Higgins Clark's fictional works. After reading this memoir, I want to read her body of work. This is an amazing story of courage, perseverance, and how far a positive attitude can take you. My only wish is that I had read this sooner. There have been circumstances in my personal life that I could have used her example as a single mother to a brood of children (she had 5!). I highly recommend this engaging memoir. Now I have to go read some more of her books...
August 8, 2019
Mary Higgins Clark's autobiography is as engrossing as one of her popular suspense novels! As a little girl living in the Bronx when there were still fields and meadows, she would probably not have believed that she would someday be worth $140 millions dollars! She has worked hard to get to where she is today, being left a widow with five children after only 14 years of marriage, she rose every day at 5 to write before getting her children ready for school and catching her carpool for work at 8 a.m! And there's much more to the book like her days as a Pan Am stewardess seeing the world etc. Definitely worth a read!
October 27, 2019
I have not actually read any of Clark’s book but I always love a good nonfiction about a strong woman! She had many hard things happen to her but she found the will to fight for herself and her family. Quick listen, read by the author!
July 30, 2018
Beautifully written, i simply love it!
May 17, 2021
Mary Higgins Clark autobiographical story of her childhood/life and what made her the writer she is.
February 9, 2020
Kitchen Privileges: A Memoir is a brilliant, short read. The audio version read by Mary Higgins Clark was entertaining, informative and realistic. Her drive, her enthusiasm and love of her family were evident in her memoir. The reader can both cry and laugh, as Mary Higgins Clark relates her many moments of pain and job. I certainly could relate when she talked about her wallpaper experience.
May 28, 2020
A beautiful memoir
- Mrs. Clark, your stories are light, slight, and trite
- You’re the best writer in the world, and the reason these people aren’t publishing you is because they’re do busy publishing their friends
- Mrs. Clark, your stories are light, slight, and trite
- You’re the best writer in the world, and the reason these people aren’t publishing you is because they’re do busy publishing their friends
July 20, 2014
I really enjoyed this memoir. Mary Higgins Clark certainly overcame a lot to be the accomplished author she is today. It was great reading about her life while she was poor; what a contrast to the photos in the back of the book where she's sooooo overdone and high-maintenance looking. I got a chuckle out of that. Especially since the book ends at the point when she starts earning money. Makes sense, though. I wouldn't have wanted to read about diamonds and second homes as much as I enjoyed reading about how she made ends meet.
All in all, this was a fun book to read. I love memoirs and books about making something out of nothing, and this combined both.
All in all, this was a fun book to read. I love memoirs and books about making something out of nothing, and this combined both.
May 25, 2015
#2015-Reading-Challenge--Week 21: A book your mother loved.
My mother always enjoyed Mary Higgins Clark's mysteries and was thrilled to read this memoir of her life because they were more or less contemporaries and had had similar life experiences. She urged me to read it too but I wasn't too interested at the time, to tell you the truth. I am reading it now in her memory.
Final verdict: 2.5 stars rounded up.
My mother always enjoyed Mary Higgins Clark's mysteries and was thrilled to read this memoir of her life because they were more or less contemporaries and had had similar life experiences. She urged me to read it too but I wasn't too interested at the time, to tell you the truth. I am reading it now in her memory.
Final verdict: 2.5 stars rounded up.
July 24, 2017
I haven't thought about deja vu as being an inherited trait, I always thought of it as remembering something that you have already experienced yourself, but this really got me thinking.
"I felt as though I'd come 'home.' I had the most extraordinary sensation of being in a place I knew intimately. I don't believe in reincarnation, but I do wonder sometimes if it isn't possible that we inherit memory. If we can look exactly like someone who lived hundreds of years ago, if we inherit that person's particular gift or talent, his or her allergies, isn't it possible that we can also inherit some awareness that comes from a memory base?....'This is familiar, but I don't know why.'"
"I felt as though I'd come 'home.' I had the most extraordinary sensation of being in a place I knew intimately. I don't believe in reincarnation, but I do wonder sometimes if it isn't possible that we inherit memory. If we can look exactly like someone who lived hundreds of years ago, if we inherit that person's particular gift or talent, his or her allergies, isn't it possible that we can also inherit some awareness that comes from a memory base?....'This is familiar, but I don't know why.'"
March 7, 2018
A Christmas gift from my father a few years back. I’m almost ashamed I haven’t managed to read it until now, seeing as him giving me this book was his silent acknowledgement and support for the fact that I wanted to be a writer.
I always find reading about another women’s life experiences interesting, especially as Clark lived in an entirely different country and time from myself, and the stories are rendered flawlessly by Else Frogner who translated the autobiography into Norwegian (the edition I read).
I always find reading about another women’s life experiences interesting, especially as Clark lived in an entirely different country and time from myself, and the stories are rendered flawlessly by Else Frogner who translated the autobiography into Norwegian (the edition I read).
July 21, 2025
I picked up this book at a thrift store for fifty-cents because I liked the picture on the perfect-condition dust jacket. The blurb sounded vaguely interesting. What I didn't expect was to be so wonderfully entertained. Mary Huggins Clark's memoir is fast paced fun despite some seriously sad occurrences. Her life splits open with financial difficulties, risk-taking, and unexpected deaths ... all told with optimism and a touch of humor. I highly recommend this book for a quick read and a smile.
September 19, 2017
Mary Higgins Clark is one of those novelists who churns out 1-2 books every yer and continues to do so even though she is now 90.
This is a memoir of her life growing up in the Bronx, her school days and how she became a writer. It's a pleasant tale, but there is nothing here that's very dramatic, and it almost seems like after making tons of money for her publisher, they let her do this book as a vanity project.
This is a memoir of her life growing up in the Bronx, her school days and how she became a writer. It's a pleasant tale, but there is nothing here that's very dramatic, and it almost seems like after making tons of money for her publisher, they let her do this book as a vanity project.
March 20, 2018
I could not sleep one night and picked this book up from a stack and started reading it. To me the first section, about her early life, was the most interesting. She does offer tips to would-be writers and I was impressed with her modesty. She has had, believe it or not, a very tragic life but has worked so hard to support her 5 children.
February 14, 2024
Very readable, she starts with earliest memories, and we learn that she and her family, through no fault of love, had a really hard time with illnesses and deaths. She takes us through her first two books sold when her life went from a struggle to comfortable and more. She raised 5 children, much of their childhoods she was raising them alone. Fascinating story.
December 30, 2021
I’ve never actually read any of her books but really enjoyed the story of her life. There were several parts that made me laugh out loud and a couple that made me tear up. Well written. Guess that’s why she has so many best sellers 😉
January 6, 2019
Not sure why I picked up this book. I am not a big mystery reader but have always heard about her books. Her life is amazing and the book was interesting and an easy read. Glad I picked it up!
March 7, 2023
This was a really ingesting biography. It's been a while since I've read any of Mary Higgins Clark's books and will probably check them out.
She sure lived an interesting life!
She sure lived an interesting life!
October 21, 2023
Very well written book. It's never too late to do what you love.
May 9, 2024
Interesting to read some of her memoirs including why and how she writes
December 9, 2021
Loved this memoir. Easy to follow and amazing story of this author (single mom with about 5 kids)
January 14, 2020
A quick read about one of my favorite authors.
April 21, 2022
Charming memoir!
January 23, 2019
This is a lovely book for any author to read. Grit, tenacity, and humor are all reflected in this inspirational book. Thank you Mary Higgins Clark for writing your memoir!
August 11, 2018
I read this short book in a day or so. It was excellent. I have read most of her books but very little about Mary and her life. It was poignant, illuminating and even funny in places. It was very interesting that her early short stories were submitted to many magazines but she received so many rejections it was unbelievable. She persevered! She also wrote despite having a job and five children. If you pick up this novel, you will be pleasantly surprised and pleased you read it. Despite many deaths in her family, she stayed upbeat and bypassed depression. She is a wonderful example for writers everywhere. She never writes with swear words or racy stories. You don't need them if you are a superb writer.
September 29, 2022
I loved this Memoir/Book!!! I wanted it to continue. Mary Higgins Clark is & always will be my favorite author. After reading this I love her even more! When she’s telling her story you feel like your at her kitchen table. Sad that she is gone now, but her books never get old. I can read them over and over again.
July 2, 2014
I would like to thank my friend, Jennifer Das, for recommending this memoir to me! Mary Higgins Clark not only writes great suspense novels, but a highly entertaining memoir as well. Starting from humble beginnings and rising to the famous novelist she became, I enjoyed reading how her life and writing career progressed. You'll laugh, you'll cry...give this book a try.
September 1, 2016
A very interesting and informative book about Mary Higgins Clark. I admire the way she dealt with tragedy and sorrow in her life. After her husband died at an early age, she raised on her own a wonderful family. I loved her positive attitude in all she did, she is a great inspiration of a person! I really enjoyed reading this book, and highly recommend it!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 401 reviews