What do you think?
Rate this book
Bright Precious Thing: A Memoir
From the New York Times bestselling author of Let's Take the Long Way Home comes a moving memoir about how the women's movement revolutionized and saved her life, from the 1960s to the #MeToo era.
In a voice as candid as it is evocative, Gail Caldwell traces a path from her west Texas girlhood through her emergence as a young daredevil, then as a feminist--a journey that reflected seismic shifts in the culture itself. Caldwell's travels took her to California and Mexico and dark country roads, and the dangers she encountered were rivaled only by the personal demons she faced. Bright Precious Thing is the captivating story of a woman's odyssey, her search for adventure giving way to something more profound: the evolution of a writer and a woman, a struggle to embrace one's life as a precious thing.
Told against a contrasting backdrop of the present day, including the author's friendship with a young neighborhood girl, Bright Precious Thing unfolds with the same heart and narrative grace of Caldwell's earlier work. It is a book about finding, then protecting, what we cherish most.
In a voice as candid as it is evocative, Gail Caldwell traces a path from her west Texas girlhood through her emergence as a young daredevil, then as a feminist--a journey that reflected seismic shifts in the culture itself. Caldwell's travels took her to California and Mexico and dark country roads, and the dangers she encountered were rivaled only by the personal demons she faced. Bright Precious Thing is the captivating story of a woman's odyssey, her search for adventure giving way to something more profound: the evolution of a writer and a woman, a struggle to embrace one's life as a precious thing.
Told against a contrasting backdrop of the present day, including the author's friendship with a young neighborhood girl, Bright Precious Thing unfolds with the same heart and narrative grace of Caldwell's earlier work. It is a book about finding, then protecting, what we cherish most.
208 pages, Hardcover
First published July 7, 2020
41 people are currently reading
4963 people want to read
About the author
Gail Caldwell
11 books226 followersGail Caldwell is the former chief book critic for The Boston Globe, where she was a staff writer and critic for more than twenty years. In 2001, she was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Criticism. She is also the author of A Strong West Wind, a memoir of her native Texas. Caldwell lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews
June 21, 2020
Gail Caldwell writes another beautiful, moving, unflinching look at a life filled with harrowing moments, challenging growths, heartfelt, heartbreaking loves and losses and finding and holding space for bright, precious moments. A much-needed little book right now.
July 6, 2020
History is a series of snapshots, sweet or tattered images that shift through the years to haunt us, to give ballast to the entire story. And however much we waste time and heart imagining what might have been, the truth is that it's impossible, really, to examine an unlived life. What we feel instead, I think, is the failed dream. Sometimes the fantasy is merely a necessary lie--what gives breathing room to fact, to make the present bearable.
Bright Precious Thing: A Memoir was a hard memoir to read, but important for that very reason. And the prose was absolutely breathtaking.
May 4, 2020
Gail Caldwell traces a path of her Texas girlhood through her emergence as a young daredevil, then as a feminist. Caldwell's travels took her to California and Mexico and dark country roads, and the dangers she encountered were rivaled by the demons she faced. A captivating tale of a woman's search for adventure giving way to something more profound: the evolution of a writer and a woman, a struggle to embrace one's life as a precious thing. The author also finds friendship with a young neighbor girl who is quite entertaining and brings this author joy. She asks the author lots of questions about life in itself and they enjoy making up fairy tales. I really enjoying reading this book.
January 28, 2021
I won this book through a giveaway in exchange for an honest review.
This was such a sweet, touching, heart-warming memoir. It made me tear up a few times when referring to the dogs. This lady writes really well. I found the length of the book and the chapters inside of it to be just perfect. It kept you interested, but didn’t over do it.
The relationship between Gail and Tyler is super adorable as well. Definitely a great addition to the book!
The last paragraph of the book is spot on and a good reminder for all of us from time to time.
This was such a sweet, touching, heart-warming memoir. It made me tear up a few times when referring to the dogs. This lady writes really well. I found the length of the book and the chapters inside of it to be just perfect. It kept you interested, but didn’t over do it.
The relationship between Gail and Tyler is super adorable as well. Definitely a great addition to the book!
The last paragraph of the book is spot on and a good reminder for all of us from time to time.
August 21, 2021
Haven't ever read anything by this author, and I am wondering how I missed her! This was a tender, book, a pool or pond to float in and stare at the sky while your bestie talks and talks and you get lost in their words and voice. It was a great listen. She's traveled far and wide, but has settled into a smaller spot with basic expectations.
I'll be looking for more of her to read.
I'll be looking for more of her to read.
January 20, 2021
My thanks go to Net Galley and Random House for the invitation to read and review. This book is for sale now.
Gail Caldwell was the chief book reviewer for The Boston Globe, and she won the Pulitzer for Criticism. Once I began reading this luminous memoir, I could see that level of quality in her prose. She writes about her childhood in Texas, and about her travels and experiences growing up in the mid-twentieth century. More than anything, this is a feminist memoir, a chance to see how far we have come through a personal lens.
I missed the publication day here, and so I hunted down the audio version to supplement my reading. The author narrates her own work, and so it conveys the feeling that I am sitting by the fire with a dear friend, hearing about the challenges she’s faced as a single woman. Female readers will recognize the sensation: you start talking with a woman that you don’t really know, and before you know it you are talking and listening as if you’ve known one another for ages. That’s the essence of this book. In fact, I listened to it in the evening while preparing dinner, because I knew I’d be left alone during that time, and frankly, I didn’t want anybody to come barreling into the middle of my time with Gail. There’s a sense of intimacy that makes me feel a bit protective when I listen to it. Later, I go over what I’ve read and nod. Yes. Oh, yes, I remember that.
The title works in a number of ways. The darling little neighbor girl that becomes part of the family Gail chooses, bookends the memoir, coming in at the start as a very young person and ending it as an adolescent. But there’s more to it than that; life is a bright precious thing, and though she never says it overtly, I recognize that each woman is a bright precious thing as well.
I am a grandmother myself, but Gail is about the age to be my older sister. Women like Gail gave women like me a guiding light during our coming-of-age years. Our mothers were often resigned to their status as second class citizens, and ready to accept that there were things that women should probably not even try to do, and they couldn’t help transmitting their fears and reticence to us. It is women like Marge Piercy, Gloria Steinem, Wilma Mankiller, and yes, Gail Caldwell that provided us with a beacon, a way forward through the ocean of “no” to the bright shores of “yes,” that gave us courage to be insistent, even when we knew some would label us pushy broads, or worse. We needed role models badly, and they stepped up. They’re still doing it.
The calm, warm tone that came through this audio book, right during the turbulent period after the November election, was an absolute balm. Sometimes I would be shaken by the things I saw in the national news, and then I would head for my kitchen (perhaps an ironic place to receive a feminist memoir, but it worked for me,) and once I had had my time with Gail, I knew I’d be all right.
Highly recommended to women, and to those that love us.
Gail Caldwell was the chief book reviewer for The Boston Globe, and she won the Pulitzer for Criticism. Once I began reading this luminous memoir, I could see that level of quality in her prose. She writes about her childhood in Texas, and about her travels and experiences growing up in the mid-twentieth century. More than anything, this is a feminist memoir, a chance to see how far we have come through a personal lens.
I missed the publication day here, and so I hunted down the audio version to supplement my reading. The author narrates her own work, and so it conveys the feeling that I am sitting by the fire with a dear friend, hearing about the challenges she’s faced as a single woman. Female readers will recognize the sensation: you start talking with a woman that you don’t really know, and before you know it you are talking and listening as if you’ve known one another for ages. That’s the essence of this book. In fact, I listened to it in the evening while preparing dinner, because I knew I’d be left alone during that time, and frankly, I didn’t want anybody to come barreling into the middle of my time with Gail. There’s a sense of intimacy that makes me feel a bit protective when I listen to it. Later, I go over what I’ve read and nod. Yes. Oh, yes, I remember that.
The title works in a number of ways. The darling little neighbor girl that becomes part of the family Gail chooses, bookends the memoir, coming in at the start as a very young person and ending it as an adolescent. But there’s more to it than that; life is a bright precious thing, and though she never says it overtly, I recognize that each woman is a bright precious thing as well.
I am a grandmother myself, but Gail is about the age to be my older sister. Women like Gail gave women like me a guiding light during our coming-of-age years. Our mothers were often resigned to their status as second class citizens, and ready to accept that there were things that women should probably not even try to do, and they couldn’t help transmitting their fears and reticence to us. It is women like Marge Piercy, Gloria Steinem, Wilma Mankiller, and yes, Gail Caldwell that provided us with a beacon, a way forward through the ocean of “no” to the bright shores of “yes,” that gave us courage to be insistent, even when we knew some would label us pushy broads, or worse. We needed role models badly, and they stepped up. They’re still doing it.
The calm, warm tone that came through this audio book, right during the turbulent period after the November election, was an absolute balm. Sometimes I would be shaken by the things I saw in the national news, and then I would head for my kitchen (perhaps an ironic place to receive a feminist memoir, but it worked for me,) and once I had had my time with Gail, I knew I’d be all right.
Highly recommended to women, and to those that love us.
June 15, 2020
"I grew up where the horizon was an icon of each, something endless but not necessarily bountiful, and so maybe zero and infinity, to me and in the world, can see like the same thing.
I think you need to be able to handle both. you need to know that genies will grow up and disappear, that dogs and friends and loved one will leave you, that everything in life, including life itself, depends upon the transience of others as well as the kindness. You have to let forever blur into that one line of memory out there. You have to walk toward the mirage."
Wow.
I spent an hour reading the last three chapters of this book this morning. And bawling my head off. Wow. Just wow.
I had read her previous book "Let's Take the Long Way Home" and was completely moved by that book [and her writing] as well. It was the reason I requested this book; I remembered just how much I had loved that first reading of the author's writing. And this book did not disappoint - it was so good from the minute it started until the minute it ended [with me wiping all the tears and gunk off my face from bawling].
This book is about Ms. Caldwell's teen/young adult years to now. And it is filled with stories, warnings, revelations, relationships and what makes family [even when that family isn't biological]. It is about the love of best friends [and what happens when they die], and it is about the love of a good dog [or two or three] and how you try and survive when they too die and leave you alone. And how being alone [not married etc] is really, ultimately, okay.
I loved this book. I loved Gail's relationship with Tyler, how Tyler makes her think about things that she hasn't thought about in years. I love how they both love Tula the dog and how they both help each other without even realizing [at first] that they are doing that. I love Ms. Caldwell's stories of her life and how she doesn't sugarcoat the things that she has done, good and bad. And what she has learned from all those things. It was a delight to read, even when it wasn't.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing - Random House for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I think you need to be able to handle both. you need to know that genies will grow up and disappear, that dogs and friends and loved one will leave you, that everything in life, including life itself, depends upon the transience of others as well as the kindness. You have to let forever blur into that one line of memory out there. You have to walk toward the mirage."
Wow.
I spent an hour reading the last three chapters of this book this morning. And bawling my head off. Wow. Just wow.
I had read her previous book "Let's Take the Long Way Home" and was completely moved by that book [and her writing] as well. It was the reason I requested this book; I remembered just how much I had loved that first reading of the author's writing. And this book did not disappoint - it was so good from the minute it started until the minute it ended [with me wiping all the tears and gunk off my face from bawling].
This book is about Ms. Caldwell's teen/young adult years to now. And it is filled with stories, warnings, revelations, relationships and what makes family [even when that family isn't biological]. It is about the love of best friends [and what happens when they die], and it is about the love of a good dog [or two or three] and how you try and survive when they too die and leave you alone. And how being alone [not married etc] is really, ultimately, okay.
I loved this book. I loved Gail's relationship with Tyler, how Tyler makes her think about things that she hasn't thought about in years. I love how they both love Tula the dog and how they both help each other without even realizing [at first] that they are doing that. I love Ms. Caldwell's stories of her life and how she doesn't sugarcoat the things that she has done, good and bad. And what she has learned from all those things. It was a delight to read, even when it wasn't.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing - Random House for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 3, 2020
I'm not sure what I expected. I was very excited to read the premise but it felt like it was not quite finished, a collection of stories and points to be fine tuned into a more cohesive narrative. Granted, I've not read the author's other works, so I'm not certain if more about her relationships is established prior.
The ideas about feminism, patriarchal oppression in the 60s and 70s and references to #metoo in teasers are stringer than the weigh of the stories. They are dropped in without a resolution or connectivity from one tale to the next.
The little girl's attitude and optimism was endearing, but she flits in and out of the pages like a hummingbird. I found it hard to feel the juxtaposition between experiences past and hopes for the future untainted by oppression or cynicism.
I connected most with the relationships with the dogs, having recently lost my cat of 15 years and still ruminating over how I loved her, and the shared belief that every dog (or cat) is the best one, the one you loved most, even when they are the worst.
Overall an easy read, and I felt like I understood and share many of the thoughts and beliefs of the author. It felt like observing an act of catharsis, which can be cathartic itself, but I kept waiting for the story to break open and hook me, or present a call to action as resolution, but it never did. It wasn't unenjoyable, but it wasn't memorable for me.
The ideas about feminism, patriarchal oppression in the 60s and 70s and references to #metoo in teasers are stringer than the weigh of the stories. They are dropped in without a resolution or connectivity from one tale to the next.
The little girl's attitude and optimism was endearing, but she flits in and out of the pages like a hummingbird. I found it hard to feel the juxtaposition between experiences past and hopes for the future untainted by oppression or cynicism.
I connected most with the relationships with the dogs, having recently lost my cat of 15 years and still ruminating over how I loved her, and the shared belief that every dog (or cat) is the best one, the one you loved most, even when they are the worst.
Overall an easy read, and I felt like I understood and share many of the thoughts and beliefs of the author. It felt like observing an act of catharsis, which can be cathartic itself, but I kept waiting for the story to break open and hook me, or present a call to action as resolution, but it never did. It wasn't unenjoyable, but it wasn't memorable for me.
April 27, 2020
I received an ARC of this in exchange for an honest review. Full disclosure: I was not familiar with Gail Caldwell before I read this memoir. However, I did enjoy her reflections on coming of age in the second wave of feminism in the 70s, her experiences as a woman in the workforce and the way getting to know her neighbour caused her to reflect on all those things. It was a good read for me, just not an extraordinary one. 3 stars!
July 24, 2020
I was curious about how I might to relate a "memoir" written by someone my age.... especially those of us who left rural backgrounds for the universities of the 1960's. Although Gail Caldwell kept most of her liberal views (I moderated mine), I applaud her journey through the alcohol, sex and drugs to an introspective and more gentle existence. I am now beginning to understand the wisdom that comes with age now that we have reached this decade.
November 15, 2020
For me, the best parts of this memoir were when journalist Gail Caldwell interacted with her young neighbor, Tyler (age 5 when we meet her), so very bright, imaginative and precocious. I could well imagine that Caldwell was much the same way when she was young. They have a playful relationship, something along the lines of an indulgent aunt with a niece. They make up stories together, eat strawberries dipped in sugar, play with dogs and typewriters, etc. I adored their conversations.
But most of the book is a thoughtful re-examination of the author's life, especially as related to feminism and social mores for women coming of age in the 1970s. Because I grew up in that era myself (though I was never as political as Caldwell), it was all too familiar and I admit I kind of skimmed through those sections.
More meaningful to me were her thoughts on grief and losing loved ones. Walking though a nearby cemetery, she has this thought: that "Grief is worse untethered when it doesn't have a home." Somehow that struck me as so on point. As for her friend John, who committed suicide, she is quite taken by the comment made by a speaker at his funeral: "The depression that took John was not John." Caldwell goes on to comment that "Suicidal depression is an interloper who breaks into your house." Later she offers this: "Grief is like a wrestling match in the dark."
And so the book is a sometimes odd mix of the wisdom Caldwell has gained in her life, as well as a refreshing portrait of her spunky friendship with a charming child. I copied down a few sentences into my commonplace book, including this one: "You have to find something to love in this world to stay in it." The book is relatively short and has a richness about it. I'm glad I spent time with Bright Precious Thing.
But most of the book is a thoughtful re-examination of the author's life, especially as related to feminism and social mores for women coming of age in the 1970s. Because I grew up in that era myself (though I was never as political as Caldwell), it was all too familiar and I admit I kind of skimmed through those sections.
More meaningful to me were her thoughts on grief and losing loved ones. Walking though a nearby cemetery, she has this thought: that "Grief is worse untethered when it doesn't have a home." Somehow that struck me as so on point. As for her friend John, who committed suicide, she is quite taken by the comment made by a speaker at his funeral: "The depression that took John was not John." Caldwell goes on to comment that "Suicidal depression is an interloper who breaks into your house." Later she offers this: "Grief is like a wrestling match in the dark."
And so the book is a sometimes odd mix of the wisdom Caldwell has gained in her life, as well as a refreshing portrait of her spunky friendship with a charming child. I copied down a few sentences into my commonplace book, including this one: "You have to find something to love in this world to stay in it." The book is relatively short and has a richness about it. I'm glad I spent time with Bright Precious Thing.
September 10, 2020
So much to like about this book- female friendships, canine companions, righteous indignation about 2016, and incredible vulnerability about sexual violence and exploitation. But. It just felt a mess. One story actually began with “well, now it’s time for me to tell you about this person.” There was no unity or cohesion and many of the stories were spliced with endearing yet misplaced conversations with her 7 year old neighbor. While those breaks provided some optimism (?), they were head scratching and forced. But, again, maybe it’s just my ADD Covid brain making me a poor reader.
April 19, 2020
A memoir about friends and dogs is heartwarming and Caldwell' s prose resonates. Her account of harassment, following and joining the me too movement had me taking stock of my own past. Her exchanges with the little seven year old girl next door are my favorite as she shares the confident wisdom and innocence of youth. Her love of dogs is genuine and contagious. I have followed her memoirs and this one is a quiet favorite.
Copy provided by the Publisher and NetGalley
Copy provided by the Publisher and NetGalley
June 15, 2023
Yawn ...... sorry Gail. I always prefer the author to read their own book but I just couldn't get past her monotone voice. The problem wasn't just her voice, the overall book just didn't grab my interest.
Read
November 26, 2025girlhood, female friendships, sexism, sensitive topics, canine companionship and what it means to exist as a woman… very touching
November 21, 2023
Gail Caldwell's super-power rests in her ability to drop one sentence like a tsunami in an otherwise still, serene seemingly unmoving surface of the ocean. She is a masterclass in sentences that catch you so hard that you pull back from the page and stare out the nearest window for a moment.
Or maybe that's just me, but I doubt it.
Give me back what should already be mine.
...my house feels as quiet as a cinder block...content in that zone of serenity that children can elicit
It's for everyone ahead of us, the people inheriting this place, this war torn ground.
...viewed differently from he tree house that is aging.
Or maybe that's just me, but I doubt it.
Give me back what should already be mine.
...my house feels as quiet as a cinder block...content in that zone of serenity that children can elicit
It's for everyone ahead of us, the people inheriting this place, this war torn ground.
...viewed differently from he tree house that is aging.
July 9, 2020
I’m not sure what I expected before picking it up. For a matter of fact, this memoir looks like a sequel to her previous works, although she mentioned journey through her childhood in Panhandle, Texas to the present residing at Cambridge, Massachusetts.
She tells about her early participation in 1960s and 1970s women movements and her struggle with drugs and alcohol. She also recounts her unsuccessful relationships and sexual harassment and her consolation through writing. She tells about loss of her closest friends and her own rumination about meaning of life and death. There are some snippets about her disappointment with 2016 presidential election results, her winning of 2001 Pulitzer Prize etc.
There is not much meat about this memoir. Her recounts of events are short and abrupt and most of the time she tells about her dogs and her friendship with neighbour’s girl, Tyler. I found the writing style a little obtuse sometimes and did struggle when chapters would jump through Gail’s past and present. It is recommended if you are acquainted with her writings or want to read something short.
She tells about her early participation in 1960s and 1970s women movements and her struggle with drugs and alcohol. She also recounts her unsuccessful relationships and sexual harassment and her consolation through writing. She tells about loss of her closest friends and her own rumination about meaning of life and death. There are some snippets about her disappointment with 2016 presidential election results, her winning of 2001 Pulitzer Prize etc.
There is not much meat about this memoir. Her recounts of events are short and abrupt and most of the time she tells about her dogs and her friendship with neighbour’s girl, Tyler. I found the writing style a little obtuse sometimes and did struggle when chapters would jump through Gail’s past and present. It is recommended if you are acquainted with her writings or want to read something short.
January 16, 2021
This is one of the most beautiful books I've ever read. It made me laugh and made me cry. It's one that I need to purchase to have near me so that I can re-read segments as needed.
May 10, 2020
*** thank you to Goodreads and the publisher for the ARC, all opinions are my own ***
I truly thought I had outgrown my memoir phase when this book showed up on my doorstep. I've read all the big titles in this genre; Becoming, Educated, The Glass Castle, and Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood. I even hit some lesser known titles; Sissy: A Coming-of-Gender Story, Dear Girls: Intimate Tales, Untold Secrets, & Advice for Living Your Best Life, and Reclaiming the Soil: A Black Girl’s Struggle to Find Her African Self. These endeavors came with mixed results. Often times, I found memoirs self indulgent and lacking of critical self awareness. To be honest, that it what I expected when I won the giveaway for Bright Precious Things. I had no idea who Gail Caldwell was and why she felt the need to chronicle her life. To sum it up, my low expectations were completely blown out of the water.
Very infrequently do I read a book and think to myself, "wow, I can't wait to reread this." This is one of those books where every time you read it, you get something new from it. A book that can help you through different moments of your life; from grief and loss to finding yourself and navigating professional settings as a woman. The author's own experiences with feminism and the #MeToo movement are told through a series of vignettes, telling stories of love and loss. She balances these tales with visits from her neighbor's child, a young girl named Tyler, and her experiences raising a Samoyed named Tula. The alternating timelines made the story easy to consume and the stories from the 60s and 70s parallel to the day to day life of women in modern time. One of my favorite parts of this book was how Caldwell weaved her own strong female friendships throughout. As single woman in her 60s, Caldwell shows us that soulmates don't have to be romantic and sometimes those relationships can be stronger than romantic ones. Caldwell also shows an understanding of her own privilege as an educated, white woman and her anecdotes are grounded in this understanding. I plan to carry this one with me and reread it during different stages of my life. Will be checking out some of Caldwell's other books in the future!
I truly thought I had outgrown my memoir phase when this book showed up on my doorstep. I've read all the big titles in this genre; Becoming, Educated, The Glass Castle, and Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood. I even hit some lesser known titles; Sissy: A Coming-of-Gender Story, Dear Girls: Intimate Tales, Untold Secrets, & Advice for Living Your Best Life, and Reclaiming the Soil: A Black Girl’s Struggle to Find Her African Self. These endeavors came with mixed results. Often times, I found memoirs self indulgent and lacking of critical self awareness. To be honest, that it what I expected when I won the giveaway for Bright Precious Things. I had no idea who Gail Caldwell was and why she felt the need to chronicle her life. To sum it up, my low expectations were completely blown out of the water.
Very infrequently do I read a book and think to myself, "wow, I can't wait to reread this." This is one of those books where every time you read it, you get something new from it. A book that can help you through different moments of your life; from grief and loss to finding yourself and navigating professional settings as a woman. The author's own experiences with feminism and the #MeToo movement are told through a series of vignettes, telling stories of love and loss. She balances these tales with visits from her neighbor's child, a young girl named Tyler, and her experiences raising a Samoyed named Tula. The alternating timelines made the story easy to consume and the stories from the 60s and 70s parallel to the day to day life of women in modern time. One of my favorite parts of this book was how Caldwell weaved her own strong female friendships throughout. As single woman in her 60s, Caldwell shows us that soulmates don't have to be romantic and sometimes those relationships can be stronger than romantic ones. Caldwell also shows an understanding of her own privilege as an educated, white woman and her anecdotes are grounded in this understanding. I plan to carry this one with me and reread it during different stages of my life. Will be checking out some of Caldwell's other books in the future!
April 24, 2023
I had read two of her previous memoirs, and loved them. I didn't like this one as much as the others, but still enjoyed it.
She writes about her friendship with a neighbor's daughter, Tyler who is 6. She is very impressionable and is figuring out life and friendships. Their relationship is innocent and Gail would like to tell her more, but cannot. Chapters go back and forth to Gail's growing up years, and the present. Her recall of her life is not for young ears. She took chances and at present, resents the actions she took, but recalls the lessons learned.
She does have raw emotion about events, and I love how she uses words.
"I know too, that everyone's a little broken, and that love's mission, every kind of love, is to reach into the hard places and heal some of the breaks. You learn how to love in spite of he wounds, carry duct tape and prayer and just keep loving."
Tough subjects like suicide:
"I was only a bit player in his life. Not a wife, a daughter, a sister, a close friend. Suicide's concentric circles cannot be imagined, I think, by the person at the end of that long hallway, who in his final reasoning has found a way to believe that he is doing the best thing for everyone. And yet, each step leaves the notion of 'everyone' further and further behind."
This is well worth the read.
She writes about her friendship with a neighbor's daughter, Tyler who is 6. She is very impressionable and is figuring out life and friendships. Their relationship is innocent and Gail would like to tell her more, but cannot. Chapters go back and forth to Gail's growing up years, and the present. Her recall of her life is not for young ears. She took chances and at present, resents the actions she took, but recalls the lessons learned.
She does have raw emotion about events, and I love how she uses words.
"I know too, that everyone's a little broken, and that love's mission, every kind of love, is to reach into the hard places and heal some of the breaks. You learn how to love in spite of he wounds, carry duct tape and prayer and just keep loving."
Tough subjects like suicide:
"I was only a bit player in his life. Not a wife, a daughter, a sister, a close friend. Suicide's concentric circles cannot be imagined, I think, by the person at the end of that long hallway, who in his final reasoning has found a way to believe that he is doing the best thing for everyone. And yet, each step leaves the notion of 'everyone' further and further behind."
This is well worth the read.
July 27, 2021
(more like 3.5 stars, but edging closer and closer to 4 in the last 50 pages)
I went into this book expecting something rather different - something that was more of a memoir about feminism as a movement, and less the personal disconnected musings of someone who happens to be a feminist, some, but not the majority, of which are related to her #MeToo narrative.
As such, I was initially frustrated by the narrowness of the point of view, and by the haphazardness/lack of narrative structure - I couldn't tell where the book was going or why one story would follow another.
HOWEVER, once I got past my initial expectations, and adjusted to the author's perspective and style, I really enjoyed this. Her voice is grounded, warm, and thoughtful and her thoughts are often very interesting. Would definitely read more books by her to see if they are more my thing. Especially if they are about her life with dogs. I cried during some of the dog parts. Or about really any one of several of the relationships she sketches briefly in these pages - overall I wanted more *in-depth* narrative and fewer short fragments of things.
cw: rape, sexual and non-sexual violence, suicide, death of a pet, loss, addiction
(nb I received a finished copy of the book from its publisher.)
I went into this book expecting something rather different - something that was more of a memoir about feminism as a movement, and less the personal disconnected musings of someone who happens to be a feminist, some, but not the majority, of which are related to her #MeToo narrative.
As such, I was initially frustrated by the narrowness of the point of view, and by the haphazardness/lack of narrative structure - I couldn't tell where the book was going or why one story would follow another.
HOWEVER, once I got past my initial expectations, and adjusted to the author's perspective and style, I really enjoyed this. Her voice is grounded, warm, and thoughtful and her thoughts are often very interesting. Would definitely read more books by her to see if they are more my thing. Especially if they are about her life with dogs. I cried during some of the dog parts. Or about really any one of several of the relationships she sketches briefly in these pages - overall I wanted more *in-depth* narrative and fewer short fragments of things.
cw: rape, sexual and non-sexual violence, suicide, death of a pet, loss, addiction
(nb I received a finished copy of the book from its publisher.)
August 11, 2020
I love the seriousness and dry wit and honesty of Gail Caldwell. In this memoir, she focuses on the importance of feminism to her life. She talks about coming of age in the 1960s, getting an illegal abortion in Mexico at 19 (a doctor many years later doing a health history says "good choice" without looking up), date rape, sexual harassment, sexism from college professors and others, as well as death, love, alcoholism, and of course, dogs. She becomes unexpected friends with a five year old neighbour, Tyler, who originally is drawn to her dog, Tula. Caldwell thinks of her as a star who fell into her yard - she is also a bright precious thing. Tyler is hilarious asking if Caldwell is an immigrant (they get the job done), who her first boyfriend was, why she didn't marry, and stating that she wants a palomino when she grows up and she will name it Gail. Tyler is clearly a treasure.
I love Gail Caldwell's voice - it's deep and reflective and genuine and friendly - originally from Texas but living many years on the East Coast. I liked this book on audio much more than I think I would have liked reading it on paper.
I love Gail Caldwell's voice - it's deep and reflective and genuine and friendly - originally from Texas but living many years on the East Coast. I liked this book on audio much more than I think I would have liked reading it on paper.
January 12, 2025
I would like to give this 2 stars but I relaized that this is chocolate cake and I really dont lke chocolate. If it had been banana, I bet I would have given it 5 stars. This was a book club book and Gail clearly hats Trump!! She rushed this book to publication so it could be an influence inthe 2024 race. She is all over the me too movement. yet when you read the book she was full of drugs and alcohol for most of her formative years. She ws taken advantage of more than once for her bad choices. But for me she wanted the life of freedom, she could hurt others but wanted no conciquences for her. She blames over powering men and did not stand up for herself often. She says that was the culture. I am sure she is correct. She mentions God a few times but never really makes God a part of her life. She chose alcohol and you can still see tht she is bitter about how her life has turned out. She has friends but no one person to spend her life with. I loved her 5 y/o neighbor. I loved that she loved and cared for dogs and stronly asshe did. The book talks abut Trump but not Clinton. There are double standards. She opens up depressed about the 2016 election and having to see a threapist. But it just shows me that her priorities are messed up if she can let that get to her. She has been worshipping an idea of her left wing party that just is not valid. She is trying to fill a void/.
I did read this short book in one day.
I did read this short book in one day.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 14, 2020
Gail Caldwell is an exceptional writer (you can see why she won the Pulitzer) and this short memoir has many perfectly crafted lines that I appreciated.
Ostensibly, this memoir tells the story of Caldwell's experiences growing up in west Texas, through her coming of age in the women's movement of the 1970's, and her development as a woman and as a feminist since. She ties in the MeToo movement from the beginning, discussing her own experiences with patriarchy, sexual assault, and misogyny in light of this movement.
While there is a frame narrative of Caldwell's relationship with a young neighbor woven throughout the book, I still found that this collection of essays and vignettes didn't feel quite connected enough. I also personally felt the last few chapters, which focused on her relationships with her dogs and other dog-loving friends, were both the strongest emotionally and the weakest because they didn't relate to the theme of the rest of the book as well.
Ostensibly, this memoir tells the story of Caldwell's experiences growing up in west Texas, through her coming of age in the women's movement of the 1970's, and her development as a woman and as a feminist since. She ties in the MeToo movement from the beginning, discussing her own experiences with patriarchy, sexual assault, and misogyny in light of this movement.
While there is a frame narrative of Caldwell's relationship with a young neighbor woven throughout the book, I still found that this collection of essays and vignettes didn't feel quite connected enough. I also personally felt the last few chapters, which focused on her relationships with her dogs and other dog-loving friends, were both the strongest emotionally and the weakest because they didn't relate to the theme of the rest of the book as well.
October 6, 2020
A book club selection.
I found this more of a very personal reminiscence than a comment on Feminism as a movement, although she opens the book worrying that present day Feminism may disparage what has gone before.
In her adolescence she totally embraced sex, drugs and rock n'roll. So the first part of the book tells much about that period of her experience. She went on to become a very successful book critic and a popular writer, which is somewhat incidental to the story. She recounts many typical instances of being 'hit on' as a single woman.
The last part of the book shows her to be a sensitive, vulnerable person who has dealt with the dilemmas of being single in our society and bec of her work, somewhat solitary, while dealing well with the need for meaningful relationships and financial security. I found that part of her story more engaging and touching.
I found this more of a very personal reminiscence than a comment on Feminism as a movement, although she opens the book worrying that present day Feminism may disparage what has gone before.
In her adolescence she totally embraced sex, drugs and rock n'roll. So the first part of the book tells much about that period of her experience. She went on to become a very successful book critic and a popular writer, which is somewhat incidental to the story. She recounts many typical instances of being 'hit on' as a single woman.
The last part of the book shows her to be a sensitive, vulnerable person who has dealt with the dilemmas of being single in our society and bec of her work, somewhat solitary, while dealing well with the need for meaningful relationships and financial security. I found that part of her story more engaging and touching.
July 21, 2020
I won an Advance Uncorrected Proof of Bright Precious Thing: A Memoir by Gail Caldwell from Goodreads.
In Bright Precious Thing: A Memoir by Gail Caldwell, the author reflects upon her fascinating life. Culling from her own experiences and touching on many topics, including rape, suicide, family, romance, identity, and personal growth, Caldwell explores a woman's place in our society, and everyone's place in his or her own story. The writer shares her experiences with the women's movement, alcoholism, the people in her life, and the dogs she has loved. Bright Precious Thing by Gail Caldwell is a book for young women, older women, and, perhaps especially, it is a book for men. It is definitely a book for our time.
In Bright Precious Thing: A Memoir by Gail Caldwell, the author reflects upon her fascinating life. Culling from her own experiences and touching on many topics, including rape, suicide, family, romance, identity, and personal growth, Caldwell explores a woman's place in our society, and everyone's place in his or her own story. The writer shares her experiences with the women's movement, alcoholism, the people in her life, and the dogs she has loved. Bright Precious Thing by Gail Caldwell is a book for young women, older women, and, perhaps especially, it is a book for men. It is definitely a book for our time.
August 8, 2021
I received a free copy of this book through Goodreads Giveaways. Thank you!
This short but deep memoir jumps between Caldwell's past and present. The present features a charming friendship with a young neighbor, but also heartbreaking losses. The chapters from the past given insight into her professional and personal struggles. Don't let the "feminism" in the title turn you away from this book because it's mostly about life. Reading this you get a sense of the randomness and beauty of life. There were some really lovely passages that I'm still thinking about. The author's brevity and depth of feeling made this a good read and I think I'll return to it for perspective from time to time in the future.
This short but deep memoir jumps between Caldwell's past and present. The present features a charming friendship with a young neighbor, but also heartbreaking losses. The chapters from the past given insight into her professional and personal struggles. Don't let the "feminism" in the title turn you away from this book because it's mostly about life. Reading this you get a sense of the randomness and beauty of life. There were some really lovely passages that I'm still thinking about. The author's brevity and depth of feeling made this a good read and I think I'll return to it for perspective from time to time in the future.
July 25, 2020
I received this as my first ever « win » in a goodreads giveaway and was thrilled!! I read it as an e-book due to logistics and wish I could have read the actual « real » book as digital books are so disappointing and substandard compared to a physical book.
Her words are beautiful and her thoughts and observations poignant and heartbreaking. I will read this again and no doubt cry over her words.
I have her story about Caroline Knapp on my bookshelf and despite having started it twice, will finish through until the end when next have it in my hands.
Thank you Goodreads and Random House for choosing me to receive this gift:)
Her words are beautiful and her thoughts and observations poignant and heartbreaking. I will read this again and no doubt cry over her words.
I have her story about Caroline Knapp on my bookshelf and despite having started it twice, will finish through until the end when next have it in my hands.
Thank you Goodreads and Random House for choosing me to receive this gift:)
September 2, 2021
Gail Caldwell is great at conveying exactly what she wants to in a very well done manner. This book is written in a way that truly makes you feel the words, and the emotion behind them. This book will make you cry but in a good way, it is touching and heart-felt. After living through a global pandemic that /still/ is not over, this book is like a breath of fresh air and a warm hug. If you're looking for a book to tug on your heart strings a bit and make you feel warm inside, (let's be honest, don't we all need something like that right now) then I highly recommend you give "Bright Precious Thing" a go, you'll be satisfied!
April 2, 2023
This book felt disjointed and without focus. It didn’t follow the true format you’d expect from a memoir. It glossed over childhood right to Donald trump and her friendship with a neighbor child… then her love of dogs, then her stories of sexual assault, then about her being a writer, then her friendships. None of these components made for a cohesive story. It is clear that the author has had a fascinating life and clearly can write. I just had trouble finding the true purpose. I was left feeling like this could have been great but maybe it’s because this is the first of this author’s books I have read. Maybe it would make more sense if I read her other books.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews