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Unlocking: A Memoir of Family and Art
While recovering from a near fatal illness, Nancy Pressly discovers a treasure trove of family material stored in her attic. Haunted by images of her grandparents and her parents in their youth, she sets out to create a family narrative before it is lost forever. It takes several more years before she summons the courage to reconstitute a path back to her own past, slowly pulling back the veil of amnesia that has, until now, all but obliterated her memory of her childhood.
In this sensitive and forgiving meditation on the meaning of family, Pressly unravels family dynamics and life in a small rural town in the 1950s that so profoundly affected her—then moves forward in time, through to her adulthood. With an eye attuned to visual detail, she relates how she came into her own as a graduate student in the tumultuous sixties in New York; examines how she assumed the role of caretaker for her family as she negotiated with courage and resilience the many health setbacks, including her own battle with pancreatic cancer, that she and her husband encountered; and evokes her interior struggle as a mother as she slowly traverses the barriers of expectations, self-doubt, and evolving norms in the 1980s to embrace a remarkable life as a scholar, champion of contemporary art, and nationally recognized art museum strategic planning consultant. Full of candor and art-inspired insight, Unlocking leaves the reader with a deep appreciation of the power of art and empathy and the value of trying to understand one’s life journey.
In this sensitive and forgiving meditation on the meaning of family, Pressly unravels family dynamics and life in a small rural town in the 1950s that so profoundly affected her—then moves forward in time, through to her adulthood. With an eye attuned to visual detail, she relates how she came into her own as a graduate student in the tumultuous sixties in New York; examines how she assumed the role of caretaker for her family as she negotiated with courage and resilience the many health setbacks, including her own battle with pancreatic cancer, that she and her husband encountered; and evokes her interior struggle as a mother as she slowly traverses the barriers of expectations, self-doubt, and evolving norms in the 1980s to embrace a remarkable life as a scholar, champion of contemporary art, and nationally recognized art museum strategic planning consultant. Full of candor and art-inspired insight, Unlocking leaves the reader with a deep appreciation of the power of art and empathy and the value of trying to understand one’s life journey.
225 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 5, 2020
3 people are currently reading
20 people want to read
About the author
Nancy L. Pressly
7 books2 followersPressly grew up Nanuet, New York, a small rural town, twenty-five miles north of New York City. After graduating from Goucher College, she lived in Manhattan for nine years, where she was immersed in the art scene and the publishing world, earned a master’s degree in art history from Columbia University and began her art museum career at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. In New York she met her husband, also an art historian and they began to share a life of writing and scholarship, travel, and looking at art. Pressly considers herself fortunate to have had three different careers in the museum field: as a curator and scholar organizing several important scholarly exhibitions, most notably the acclaimed Fuseli Circle in Rome: Early Romantic Art of the 1770s at the Yale Center for British Art; as a high-profile administrator at the NEA, where she was assistant director of the Museum Program; and, beginning in 1993, as President of Nancy L. Pressly & Associates, a nationally recognized museum consulting firm specializing in strategic planning. Her clients included some of the nation’s leading art museums, among them the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Baltimore Museum of Art, Phillips Collection, Barnes Collection, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, and Albright-Knox Art Gallery as well as the Association of Art Museum Directors. She has traveled extensively throughout the states and Europe, living for two years in London. Recently Pressly became a potter, “making” objects for the first time.
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June 9, 2020
'Unlocking' is a memoir not just about finding your family, but finding yourself as well. When Nancy Pressly was diagnosed with cancer in her late-60's, she decided to spend some time organizing her home and going through the old, untouched boxes in her attic. What she found there was not only the story of her family but a rich tapestry of love and life that took place over generations. Pressly decided to write her family's story in this memoir and I am so glad she did because reading this was an absolute treat! I haven't had my emotions stirred by a memoir like this in quite a long time.
Pressly's family were originally from Eastern Europe, but came to America in the early 1900's to get away from increasing anti-Semitism and the discriminatory laws of the time. After they got to America, they faced more turbulent waters as Jewish immigrants living in the sometimes unfriendly turn of the century New York City.
This memoir made me think about my grandparents on both sides who came to America also in the early 1900’s but from Russia, to escape anti-Semitism. I only wish there were a treasure to discover, and Pressly uncovered. My grandparents wouldn’t talk about it so I know very little. I can only imagine from stories I have heard from others.
Pressly's family, like any family, had both good and bad times and this memoir reflects both in beautifully written detail. But, as I said, this is not just a story about the author's family, but a transformative tale about the author herself and how learning about her family's past impacted her view of the future.
Having so recently gone through a battle with cancer, Pressly seemed to view the entire research process with a lot of fervor and what resulted is an incredibly in depth portrait of Jewish refugees in early 20th century America.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves memoirs and history. As a lover of both I was enraptured from start to finish. Nancy Pressly had a wonderful and interesting story to tell and she did it with the delicacy of a loving descendant.
Pressly's family were originally from Eastern Europe, but came to America in the early 1900's to get away from increasing anti-Semitism and the discriminatory laws of the time. After they got to America, they faced more turbulent waters as Jewish immigrants living in the sometimes unfriendly turn of the century New York City.
This memoir made me think about my grandparents on both sides who came to America also in the early 1900’s but from Russia, to escape anti-Semitism. I only wish there were a treasure to discover, and Pressly uncovered. My grandparents wouldn’t talk about it so I know very little. I can only imagine from stories I have heard from others.
Pressly's family, like any family, had both good and bad times and this memoir reflects both in beautifully written detail. But, as I said, this is not just a story about the author's family, but a transformative tale about the author herself and how learning about her family's past impacted her view of the future.
Having so recently gone through a battle with cancer, Pressly seemed to view the entire research process with a lot of fervor and what resulted is an incredibly in depth portrait of Jewish refugees in early 20th century America.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves memoirs and history. As a lover of both I was enraptured from start to finish. Nancy Pressly had a wonderful and interesting story to tell and she did it with the delicacy of a loving descendant.
June 12, 2020
This is a lovely memoir that explores the impact of the author’s upbringing in a mid-20th century family with traditional values and the impact of this on the rest of her life. Led by her father, a successful businessman 14 years older than her mother, her family’s strong rejection of an impassioned high school relationship hurts her deeply and its impact takes many years for her to unravel. But unravel it she eventually does, and in addition to a happy marriage, she pursues and excels in a career in art as a historian, curator, and administrator. Her adult life was not without significant obstacles, professionally and personally, but approaching eighty, Pressly’s candid look back is both grateful and compelling.
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October 7, 2020In the wake of a difficult surgery with a low success rate to treat pancreatic cancer, Nancy L. Pressly was catalyzed to write her own history when she uncovered a cornucopia of family photographs and memorabilia in her attic.
The result is 𝘜𝘯𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨, a candid memoir that begins by tracing Pressly’s family who immigrated to the United States from Eastern Europe and Russia to avoid persecution against Jews. It then charts her development from the daughter of a demanding mother and possessive, jealous father to a wife and mother assuming the primary financial responsibilities in a time when such division of labor was rare, then, later, after retirement, as Meema, grandmother to two with a hand in the daily raising of her granchildren.
Pressly’s memoir is inspiring because of the medical challenges both she and her husband overcame starting early in their marriage. It is also interesting to me because of her successful career in art. Pressly worked as a curator then joined the NEA during the culture wars when funding a Robert Mapplethorpe exhibit created political backlash and censorship. After leaving the agency, Pressly founded her own consulting firm to help museums develop their strategic plans. Throughout the book, art is a focus, and it is includes a color insert of reproductions of particularly meaningful work.
Given her history, it makes sense that her family photographs provided an entree into locked away memories, particularly of her difficult teenage years, and Pressly included many in the text. Since I am the self-appointed archivist of my family, I particularly enjoyed this aspect of the narrative. I also enjoyed her descriptions of art and of museum space and the process of viewing artwork.
With an accessible style and a relatable story, 𝘜𝘯𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 will appeal to readers not just interested in art but also who want to gain insight about women who have effectively negotiated the multiple demands of family, relationships, and careers.
Thank you to TLC Book Tours, She Writes Press, and Nancy Pressly for a copy of the book and for including me in the book tour!
The result is 𝘜𝘯𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨, a candid memoir that begins by tracing Pressly’s family who immigrated to the United States from Eastern Europe and Russia to avoid persecution against Jews. It then charts her development from the daughter of a demanding mother and possessive, jealous father to a wife and mother assuming the primary financial responsibilities in a time when such division of labor was rare, then, later, after retirement, as Meema, grandmother to two with a hand in the daily raising of her granchildren.
Pressly’s memoir is inspiring because of the medical challenges both she and her husband overcame starting early in their marriage. It is also interesting to me because of her successful career in art. Pressly worked as a curator then joined the NEA during the culture wars when funding a Robert Mapplethorpe exhibit created political backlash and censorship. After leaving the agency, Pressly founded her own consulting firm to help museums develop their strategic plans. Throughout the book, art is a focus, and it is includes a color insert of reproductions of particularly meaningful work.
Given her history, it makes sense that her family photographs provided an entree into locked away memories, particularly of her difficult teenage years, and Pressly included many in the text. Since I am the self-appointed archivist of my family, I particularly enjoyed this aspect of the narrative. I also enjoyed her descriptions of art and of museum space and the process of viewing artwork.
With an accessible style and a relatable story, 𝘜𝘯𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 will appeal to readers not just interested in art but also who want to gain insight about women who have effectively negotiated the multiple demands of family, relationships, and careers.
Thank you to TLC Book Tours, She Writes Press, and Nancy Pressly for a copy of the book and for including me in the book tour!
June 9, 2020
A stunningly beautiful memoir about family and finding your place. Nancy Pressly was diagnosed with pancreatic-related cancer at the age of 66 and given a 50% chance of survival. As anyone who has survived, or who knows someone who has survived cancer knows, this can be a very transformative time in a person's life. A life-threatening diagnosis changes everything and makes you look at life completely differently. Nancy responded by getting an urge to organize her house and get her affairs in order. Which lead her to a group of boxes in her attic that she had neglected to look through for a long time. Boxes of stories and of long held family secrets. I think a lot of us are curious to really dig into our family's past beyond what we're told by our parents, and Nancy lived that dream in this memoir.
Accompanied by a series of absolutely beautiful photos, Nancy tells the story of her family as she has come to know it. The story of a group of Jewish refugees fleeing Eastern Europe's increasingly discriminatory laws at the turn of the 20th century and coming to America. Living in the crowded and oftentimes difficult world of Jewish immigrants in New York City, Nancy's family endured trauma, hardship and experienced some of life's greatest joys in only a short amount of time.
This beautiful memoir gave me a new appreciation for the past and even changed my perspective of my own background as I read along. Nancy Pressly writes with the absolute softest touch, relaying details in such a tender and loving way that I found myself tearing up at times about people I don't even know and places I have never been. By the end of the memoir, I felt like I knew her family and had spent many years sharing memories with them.
Accompanied by a series of absolutely beautiful photos, Nancy tells the story of her family as she has come to know it. The story of a group of Jewish refugees fleeing Eastern Europe's increasingly discriminatory laws at the turn of the 20th century and coming to America. Living in the crowded and oftentimes difficult world of Jewish immigrants in New York City, Nancy's family endured trauma, hardship and experienced some of life's greatest joys in only a short amount of time.
This beautiful memoir gave me a new appreciation for the past and even changed my perspective of my own background as I read along. Nancy Pressly writes with the absolute softest touch, relaying details in such a tender and loving way that I found myself tearing up at times about people I don't even know and places I have never been. By the end of the memoir, I felt like I knew her family and had spent many years sharing memories with them.
June 17, 2020
Moving, emotional, inspiring and gripping—all words I would use to describe 'Unlocking: A Memoir of Family and Art' by Nancy Pressly.
If you know me, you know I absolutely love a good memoir. Truth is always stranger than fiction, and the inner struggles and triumphs of people's lives are always so fascinating to me. I love to read these types of books because it makes me feel like I am experiencing the highs and lows of their lives along with them and it is also a great opportunity to have a little cry over a book.
This is the perfect memoir for readers like me. The perfect memoir for memoir-lovers!
In her late 60's, Nancy Pressly was diagnosed with ampullary cancer, a type of cancer that is related to the pancreas. After going through a difficult surgery, chemo and radiation, Pressly found herself at loose ends with what to do next. Eventually, she decided to fully organize her house and this was when she remembered the boxes of old family belongings that she had stashed away in her attic for years.
Sorting through the old pictures, cards and letters only fueled Pressly with the urge to learn even more about her family and, as she began to do further research, she uncovered a timeless story of family life. This is a story about Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe, about a hopeful move to America and small-town life in the 20th century. This is a story about preparing for the end of life by looking deeply at where you started out, and about how your family impacts who you are as a person.
Pressly's writing is profound. She clearly has a great sense of non-fiction story structure and how much detail is just enough. 'Unlocking' gives me a wonderful reading experience and a renewed interest for researching my own family history!
If you know me, you know I absolutely love a good memoir. Truth is always stranger than fiction, and the inner struggles and triumphs of people's lives are always so fascinating to me. I love to read these types of books because it makes me feel like I am experiencing the highs and lows of their lives along with them and it is also a great opportunity to have a little cry over a book.
This is the perfect memoir for readers like me. The perfect memoir for memoir-lovers!
In her late 60's, Nancy Pressly was diagnosed with ampullary cancer, a type of cancer that is related to the pancreas. After going through a difficult surgery, chemo and radiation, Pressly found herself at loose ends with what to do next. Eventually, she decided to fully organize her house and this was when she remembered the boxes of old family belongings that she had stashed away in her attic for years.
Sorting through the old pictures, cards and letters only fueled Pressly with the urge to learn even more about her family and, as she began to do further research, she uncovered a timeless story of family life. This is a story about Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe, about a hopeful move to America and small-town life in the 20th century. This is a story about preparing for the end of life by looking deeply at where you started out, and about how your family impacts who you are as a person.
Pressly's writing is profound. She clearly has a great sense of non-fiction story structure and how much detail is just enough. 'Unlocking' gives me a wonderful reading experience and a renewed interest for researching my own family history!
June 20, 2020
“They contained my mother’s and father’s histories, everything from bank deposit slips going back thirty years to passports and report cards and hundreds of old photographs, and what seemed like every letter ever written by my parents or sent to them by my brother and me. It had been so long since I’d even thought about what was inside.”
Much like Lucy Pevensie, entering into the wardrobe in 'The Chronicles of Narnia,' one day Nancy Pressly went up into her attic and entered a different world. Although it may not have been as unfamiliar as Narnia, Pressly entered the world of her family's history. Pressly's family fled from Eastern Europe in the early 1900's, seeking the freedom and opportunity of America's shores and avoiding what was becoming a more and more antisemitic situation in their home country of Russia.
Of course, life was not easy for Jewish immigrants in New York during that time. Many people lived in terrible poverty and did dangerous jobs just to get by. But Pressly’s family eventually persevered, eventually gaining some wealth that trickled down to her parents, who moved from New York to a small, suburban town where Nancy was raised.
Reading Pressly relate the discoveries that she made about her family’s life in the generations before her was not only delightful but deeply compelling. I am so jealous of the research that she was able to do about her family's origins in America and I feel very inspired to research my own ancestors! Her writing was incredibly moving and so thoughtful and invested, as one would be when you're writing about your own family. By the end of this memoir, I felt like I knew Pressly’s family and had grown with them as much as they had with each other.
Much like Lucy Pevensie, entering into the wardrobe in 'The Chronicles of Narnia,' one day Nancy Pressly went up into her attic and entered a different world. Although it may not have been as unfamiliar as Narnia, Pressly entered the world of her family's history. Pressly's family fled from Eastern Europe in the early 1900's, seeking the freedom and opportunity of America's shores and avoiding what was becoming a more and more antisemitic situation in their home country of Russia.
Of course, life was not easy for Jewish immigrants in New York during that time. Many people lived in terrible poverty and did dangerous jobs just to get by. But Pressly’s family eventually persevered, eventually gaining some wealth that trickled down to her parents, who moved from New York to a small, suburban town where Nancy was raised.
Reading Pressly relate the discoveries that she made about her family’s life in the generations before her was not only delightful but deeply compelling. I am so jealous of the research that she was able to do about her family's origins in America and I feel very inspired to research my own ancestors! Her writing was incredibly moving and so thoughtful and invested, as one would be when you're writing about your own family. By the end of this memoir, I felt like I knew Pressly’s family and had grown with them as much as they had with each other.
September 29, 2020
I truly enjoyed this memoir! A near fatal illness brings Nancy back in time as she discovers old family photos and letters, long since forgotten in her attic. These treasures helped her remember her early years and reflect on a life well lived. She describes her family fleeing Eastern Europe in the early 1900s and settling in New York with other families of Jewish descent.
The author talks in depth about her career as an art historian, curator, and administrator. How much she found joy in her work, but also how difficult it was to balance her career and family. She discusses the struggles that many women can relate to: pursuing a career while being a mother and wife; balancing the demanding careers of two partners; illness; death of parents; financial concerns. I loved the inclusion of family photos and pieces of art that the author has a special relationship to.
This book may inspire you to create a family history if you don’t have one already. It certainly did for me. I look forward to gathering information and even talking to as many family members as possible, while there is still time to do so. The author shows us that understanding why our parents made the choices they made can have a big impact on how we navigate our own futures. A lot of this understanding comes with time, but being able to have certain conversations on record is invaluable. It is never too early or late to start the process and what a beautiful gift to have for the future generations of your family.
Thank you @tlcbooktours and She Writes Press for including me on this tour!
The author talks in depth about her career as an art historian, curator, and administrator. How much she found joy in her work, but also how difficult it was to balance her career and family. She discusses the struggles that many women can relate to: pursuing a career while being a mother and wife; balancing the demanding careers of two partners; illness; death of parents; financial concerns. I loved the inclusion of family photos and pieces of art that the author has a special relationship to.
This book may inspire you to create a family history if you don’t have one already. It certainly did for me. I look forward to gathering information and even talking to as many family members as possible, while there is still time to do so. The author shows us that understanding why our parents made the choices they made can have a big impact on how we navigate our own futures. A lot of this understanding comes with time, but being able to have certain conversations on record is invaluable. It is never too early or late to start the process and what a beautiful gift to have for the future generations of your family.
Thank you @tlcbooktours and She Writes Press for including me on this tour!
October 6, 2020
I love any book involving family dynamics and family history, and this one made me think so much about my own parents and family lineage.
Nancy Pressly is diagnosed with pancreatic related cancer, and has an equal chance of living as she has dying. As she sorts through old photos, she reflects on her life and her family, starting with her grandparents who emigrated from Eastern Europe due to anti-Semitism. In this memoir she narrates her childhood and teen years, and her transition to motherhood as she pushes the boundaries set for women. Pressly shares her family' history and gives a glimpse into her own experiences, from childhood to grandmotherhood.
This book made me so emotional. I'm adopted so I often think about the effect of those who raise you and what you inherit. But those around you, and your relationships with them shape who you are. My favorite thing about this memoir was that it was written in a way that draws you into the family. Nancy shares photos to bring this story to life, and even reveals those family details we tend to keep quiet. She is real and raw, and truly a strong woman in her family life and professional life. An added bonus to the family details was Nancy's career as a curator. As someone who isn't too familiar with the art world, Nancy's vivid descriptions of artwork and museums were super intriguing. I really appreciated this story and how Nancy’s story really made me reflect on my own family.
Thank you to @tlcbooktours and @shewritespress for the copy!
Nancy Pressly is diagnosed with pancreatic related cancer, and has an equal chance of living as she has dying. As she sorts through old photos, she reflects on her life and her family, starting with her grandparents who emigrated from Eastern Europe due to anti-Semitism. In this memoir she narrates her childhood and teen years, and her transition to motherhood as she pushes the boundaries set for women. Pressly shares her family' history and gives a glimpse into her own experiences, from childhood to grandmotherhood.
This book made me so emotional. I'm adopted so I often think about the effect of those who raise you and what you inherit. But those around you, and your relationships with them shape who you are. My favorite thing about this memoir was that it was written in a way that draws you into the family. Nancy shares photos to bring this story to life, and even reveals those family details we tend to keep quiet. She is real and raw, and truly a strong woman in her family life and professional life. An added bonus to the family details was Nancy's career as a curator. As someone who isn't too familiar with the art world, Nancy's vivid descriptions of artwork and museums were super intriguing. I really appreciated this story and how Nancy’s story really made me reflect on my own family.
Thank you to @tlcbooktours and @shewritespress for the copy!
September 21, 2020
During her cancer recovery, Nancy Pressly found a trove of family photos and documents in her attic, prompting her to put together a family history, explore the childhood she thought she had forgotten, and reflect on her life as a whole.
I love the idea of creating a comprehensive family history filled with facts and memories. I think a lot of us kind of forget that our parents and grandparents were young at one point, with their own lives before we came along. It's so important to keep these memories alive and write them down before it's too late. I really enjoyed this portion of Nancy's story and wished it had been longer. She also explored memories of her own childhood. I almost expected her to reveal a traumatic event that caused her to repress much of her early years, but that didn't really seem to be the case. She does talk about her first love and how that relationship caused some fractures in her family.
The bulk of this memoir is spent on Pressly's education, her marriage, her career, and her son. I think there are aspects of her life that many women can relate to. Pressly loved her chosen field of art history and her work in museums was very interesting, but early on in her career, she had to learn that it was okay for her as a woman to express her intelligence and leadership qualities. One big theme was the idea of "having it all" - while she wanted a career, she also felt guilt about being away from her son during his formative years. She had an intense love for homemaking and cooking and had to figure out how to reconcile her professional and personal lives - is it possible to be successful at both? Her relationship with her husband, though, is one to be admired - they obviously love and respect each other, enjoy their time together, and make sacrifices for each other.
Pressly a talented and engaging writer. The memoir flowed nicely, but although it was brief (about 200 pages), I felt it could have been edited better. There was information that felt almost too personal or extraneous. Overall, though, this was an interesting memoir, a look at an impressive woman, career, and family.
3.5 stars
I love the idea of creating a comprehensive family history filled with facts and memories. I think a lot of us kind of forget that our parents and grandparents were young at one point, with their own lives before we came along. It's so important to keep these memories alive and write them down before it's too late. I really enjoyed this portion of Nancy's story and wished it had been longer. She also explored memories of her own childhood. I almost expected her to reveal a traumatic event that caused her to repress much of her early years, but that didn't really seem to be the case. She does talk about her first love and how that relationship caused some fractures in her family.
The bulk of this memoir is spent on Pressly's education, her marriage, her career, and her son. I think there are aspects of her life that many women can relate to. Pressly loved her chosen field of art history and her work in museums was very interesting, but early on in her career, she had to learn that it was okay for her as a woman to express her intelligence and leadership qualities. One big theme was the idea of "having it all" - while she wanted a career, she also felt guilt about being away from her son during his formative years. She had an intense love for homemaking and cooking and had to figure out how to reconcile her professional and personal lives - is it possible to be successful at both? Her relationship with her husband, though, is one to be admired - they obviously love and respect each other, enjoy their time together, and make sacrifices for each other.
Pressly a talented and engaging writer. The memoir flowed nicely, but although it was brief (about 200 pages), I felt it could have been edited better. There was information that felt almost too personal or extraneous. Overall, though, this was an interesting memoir, a look at an impressive woman, career, and family.
3.5 stars
October 16, 2020
Reading UNLOCKED: A MEMOIR OF FAMILY and ART (SheWritesPress) was quite enjoyable. I haven't read any memoirs lately, just fiction, so it was pleasant to change genres. Author, Nancy Pressly is diagnosed with pancreatic-related cancer and it's a seminal moment for her to look back at her life, but also ahead.
It's a very personal memoir that examines her determination to fully understand her family's history. Once diagnosed she goes up to the family attic and there she discovers a treasure full of history and love stories about her family, which she never knew before. The book is divided into three parts which examine her childhood, college years, marriage, having a baby, career which faces challenges and so more. Finally its about Nancy coming to terms with the future assisted by a higher power.
I appreciated her research and ability to really learn intimate information about her family. I yearn to do the same thing about mine (without the cancer), because I don't know much.
There were times when I confused because I was bombarded by information. She could have broken up the book with more chapters and I believe her editor could have cut some out to make the story tighter. Maybe I experienced that because I've been reading fiction.
UNLOCKED made me miss my grandparents terribly and also want to read more memoirs. It would be a perfect book for book-clubs.
July 14, 2020
This taut, powerful and deeply original memoir revolves around the life of Nancy Pressly who was diagnosed with cancer in her late 60s. It is during these tough times that she discovers a treasure trove of family material stored in her attic. As she sorts through the old pictures, cards and letters she is fueled to learn more about her family which later sparks an interest in her to put down the narrative before it disappears forever.
The narrative undulates shifting between her family fleeing from Eastern Europe in the early 1900s with a dream of seeking the freedom and opportunity of America's shores while also trying to get away from a hostile anti-Semitic situation from their home country Russia.
Unlocking is one of the best sensitive introspective memoirs ever written about immigration and hope. Presley’s writing is profound and evokes the contours of a life fraught with pain and major health issues but complete with both family and work. In her account, she shares her joy of both art and home all done in a wrenchingly honest account. This memoir is packed with eccentric, and it is beautifully eccentric in its own right.
The narrative undulates shifting between her family fleeing from Eastern Europe in the early 1900s with a dream of seeking the freedom and opportunity of America's shores while also trying to get away from a hostile anti-Semitic situation from their home country Russia.
Unlocking is one of the best sensitive introspective memoirs ever written about immigration and hope. Presley’s writing is profound and evokes the contours of a life fraught with pain and major health issues but complete with both family and work. In her account, she shares her joy of both art and home all done in a wrenchingly honest account. This memoir is packed with eccentric, and it is beautifully eccentric in its own right.
September 30, 2020
Our lives are a mixed portrait with vibrant colors and blurry moments steeping into the canvas we enter the world with. It is only by taking a step back and truly looking at the emotions that followed our lives, reflecting on family, and considering the chronicles of our experiences that we are able to unlock a form of understanding about our life’s art.
The process of reading Nancy L. Pressly’s work was a very cathartic experience. In the spirit of authors such as Mitch Albom, Pressly is able to convey a deep sense of empathy in our human condition by welcoming readers into her own life. From reconnecting with her own childhood and welcoming the folds of recent events, portraits of the past become beacons to a future of reconciliation. During this process, Pressly’s open heart is able to inspire readers to delve into their own histories and observe the contours and movements that color their lives.
The process of reading Nancy L. Pressly’s work was a very cathartic experience. In the spirit of authors such as Mitch Albom, Pressly is able to convey a deep sense of empathy in our human condition by welcoming readers into her own life. From reconnecting with her own childhood and welcoming the folds of recent events, portraits of the past become beacons to a future of reconciliation. During this process, Pressly’s open heart is able to inspire readers to delve into their own histories and observe the contours and movements that color their lives.
July 26, 2020
This is a lovely heart-warming account of Pressly's lineage, panning several decades (almost a century). Ridden with the news that she has cancer, Pressly decides to seek some solace in getting her home cleaned, and eyes her untouched attic boxes as her prime target. What starts out as a mundane task of cleaning of years of a musty and dusty room, ends up being a fabulous revelation to Pressly herself. Discovering the journey of her ancestors who migrated to America from Europe, Pressly finds herself going through a journey of self-realization finding her inner peace in the process. I absolutely loved reading this memoir. Many thanks to the author Nancy Pressly, the publishers She Writes Press, and Teddy Rose from VABT PR firm, for having gifted me with a copy of this book for an honest review.
June 17, 2020
Unlocking by Nancy L. Pressly is an introspective memoir. The author is able to piece together long forgotten memories after visiting her attic in search of family photos, letters, etc.
It is a strange feeling when we think of the things we have forgotten and the things we have remembered. How our minds work to protect us by shedding memories and how it chooses what remains. Of course, it also makes some very inexplicable choices as well. There are some things I wish I could forget, some painful and others as mundane as buying shoelaces for example. How wonderful for the author that she was able to recover and discover much cherished memories and also that she was able to benefit from hindsight. She was fortunate that this venture provided her with understanding and piece of mind.
It is a strange feeling when we think of the things we have forgotten and the things we have remembered. How our minds work to protect us by shedding memories and how it chooses what remains. Of course, it also makes some very inexplicable choices as well. There are some things I wish I could forget, some painful and others as mundane as buying shoelaces for example. How wonderful for the author that she was able to recover and discover much cherished memories and also that she was able to benefit from hindsight. She was fortunate that this venture provided her with understanding and piece of mind.
July 27, 2020
I thought Nancy L Pressly’s Unlocking: A Memoir of Family and Art to be a pretty good read. I found it to be inspiration of finding one self, where you came from, and what is important in life. This was definitely my kind of read. I am always looking for information about my own identity and family history. I loved the treasures the author discovered. What a beautiful find. I was fascinated from start to finish.
I am giving Unlocking: A Memoir of Family and Art five plus stars. I recommend this to readers who enjoy reading about other people, families, and history. I thought it was wonderful.
I received this book from the publisher. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.
I am giving Unlocking: A Memoir of Family and Art five plus stars. I recommend this to readers who enjoy reading about other people, families, and history. I thought it was wonderful.
I received this book from the publisher. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.
March 11, 2020
Unlocking is a sensitive introspective memoir. Nancy covers the gamut of her life from her grandparents to tomjer grandchildren. She has led a full, fascinating life, fraught with pain and major health issues, but complete with family and work. I enjoyed her early family history the most. I also liked reading about her life in NYC during the sixties. She epitomizes the modern woman in all aspects. Thanks to NetGalley and She Writes Press for the ARC.
July 4, 2020
Most introspective, Nancy Pressly clearly articulates the complexities women faced, and continued to face, in juggling family, meaningful work, and self-care and reflection. She shares her joy of art and home, her battles with health (both her own and those of her family). As the Kirkus Review says, "it's a wrenchingly honest account that defy combines a marriage story and an art tour."
September 24, 2020
Though a few slow spots, this was a pretty good book. I love the photos included throughout the book, it really helped break up what could have been a slow read. I love the story of the family, but also the story of the author's marriage, just a really fascinating, and lovely book. If you're a mom you'll really connect with this.
December 31, 2020
Unlocking by Nancy L. Pressly is a beautiful memoir highlighting the importance of art, family, and memories.
After discovering family photographs and letters in her attic, Nancy ties together pieces of her personal life and family history. As she retells her life journey, we learn about her upbringing in the 1960s, her personal successes, and her battle and recovery from cancer. While I can only imagine how difficult her journey with cancer was, Nancy’s perseverance and outlook on life are both refreshing and inspiring. When asked how she coped with it she said, “I try to find small pockets of pleasure in the present moment.” Though we all fight different battles in life, I think this is a wonderful reminder that we all need to hear.
Nancy Pressly’s story is the story of a smart, brave, resilient, and accomplished woman. I enjoyed reading it and appreciated the inclusion of art prints and family photos. As we all know, pictures speak a thousand words, and in Unlocking, Nancy finds the words to keep those memories alive.
After discovering family photographs and letters in her attic, Nancy ties together pieces of her personal life and family history. As she retells her life journey, we learn about her upbringing in the 1960s, her personal successes, and her battle and recovery from cancer. While I can only imagine how difficult her journey with cancer was, Nancy’s perseverance and outlook on life are both refreshing and inspiring. When asked how she coped with it she said, “I try to find small pockets of pleasure in the present moment.” Though we all fight different battles in life, I think this is a wonderful reminder that we all need to hear.
Nancy Pressly’s story is the story of a smart, brave, resilient, and accomplished woman. I enjoyed reading it and appreciated the inclusion of art prints and family photos. As we all know, pictures speak a thousand words, and in Unlocking, Nancy finds the words to keep those memories alive.
March 9, 2022
The author of this book has done what I’ve often thought about doing, which is to research past generations of my family.
Nancy Pressly spent hours and hours researching all the information she could find about her family, all while going through serious health and personal issues. Her love of her family definitely comes through in this book.
I found all aspects (the research & what she found, her personal and professional life) of this book extremely interesting. I loved the photos she added to the book.
The book is full of facts but doesn’t have a text book feel like other books I’ve read where a lot of research was involved. Her writing style makes you want to keep reading and I did, in one sitting which is rare for me, especially for a memoir.
Very interesting & I would recommend it!
Nancy Pressly spent hours and hours researching all the information she could find about her family, all while going through serious health and personal issues. Her love of her family definitely comes through in this book.
I found all aspects (the research & what she found, her personal and professional life) of this book extremely interesting. I loved the photos she added to the book.
The book is full of facts but doesn’t have a text book feel like other books I’ve read where a lot of research was involved. Her writing style makes you want to keep reading and I did, in one sitting which is rare for me, especially for a memoir.
Very interesting & I would recommend it!
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