Addie: A Memoir

by Mary Lee Settle

The multi-award-winning author of The Beulah Quintet recounts her childhood in the Kahawha Valley of West Virginia in the aftermath of World War I, her experiences during the Great Depression, and her discovery of literature and music. Reprint.

Genres: Nonfiction, Autobiography, Memoir, Book Club, Biography

304 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1998

About the author

Graduate of Sweet Briar College. Winner of the National Book Award in 1978 for Blood Tie.

Reviews

[Lauren · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't know that memoir would really be the appropriate designation of this book as the author actually shared very little of her own life and memories and focused mainly on vignettes of her entire extended (and massively dysfunctional) family. There was definitely a lot of very interesting history, but her writing jumped around a lot and was a tad hard to follow at times. There was also an underlying vein of bitterness running throughout the book that just made me sad. However, I would like to read some of her fiction at some point because I could see how her particular style may translate better to that genre!

[Patty · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has been on my "to read" shelf for years and I picked it up this weekend on a whim. When I opened it up to read, I almost gave up before I even got to page 50. Mary Lee Settle needed to create the place where her story takes place and I was anxious to get to the story.

I am glad I stuck with it. Although this claims to be the story of Addie, Settle's grandmother, it is the tale of her whole family and more importantly Settle's own memoir.

Family is complicated for everyone, but Ms Settle's family had some major problems. Being associated with the coal industry and dealing with the Depression are only two of the outside forces exerted on this clan. Add their own odd habits and you have a Southern Gothic family at its finest.

This book is not for everyone. I am not sure I would have been interested if I wasn't living in the South. Settle is an excellent writer and she tells her family's story well, but I am not sure what the appeal would be if you weren't interested in Southern history.

Settle has whetted my appetite for more information about her and her family. I may have to try one of her novels that are part of the Beulah series which are based on her family.

[Pammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me start by saying I have not read anything in quite a while that, when I reached the last page, was compelled to start all over and read it again!
To explain the significance of ADDIE: A Memoir by Mary Lee Settle, I submit the following>>>
This book literally spoke to me of the time and location along the Kanawha Valley in which my great-great grandfather, James T. Martin once lived. He was born in Virginia in 1827, arriving in Scioto County in the early 1850's. All I know beyond that is that his Civil War records said he was born in "Kanawha Virginia". Family lore mentions the salt mines along the valley...my only other clue.
Ms Settle provides some much needed "fill" to ponder for the lives of my ancestors. She offers fascinating looks into the lives of the very poor through that period and place.
Imagine my glee and giddiness when Settle explains that the she knows very little about Addie's family, other than her mother's last name was ....Martin! Probably because her Martins were as poor and unremarkable as my Martins!! ..... which makes factual research extremely difficult.
ADDIE affords me with the opportunity to live vicariously through the tales Settle spins about live in the Kanawha Valley in the early to mid 1800's.

[John Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mary Lee Settle's ADDIE dares its reader to live, not merely to review the powerful influence of the author's grandmother and family heritage, but literally dares one to live the life you seek, not merely the one of which you dream. Addie is a memory of life, of events, courage, perseverance and a gift to anyone who reads it. If you fail to be drawn into the extraordinary life of a common woman who made her life a force of nature then you have my condolences. I proselytize with ADDIE. I hand out copies of her work like a Gideon at a fair. Like all the words of life, whether found in the Bible, a volume of Faulkner, Shakespeare or Donne, some fall upon fertile ground and take root and flourish, others are blown away, having landed upon barren ground. But I take heart: for the seed will land somewhere, and with her resilience, ADDIE will flourish somewhere feeding the empty soul, shading the spirit bereft, and nourishing a life worth living.

[Stephanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read another review that called this a "self-indulgent memoir". I can't think of a better description. As Settle states - beginning one's life story at birth only tells half the story. Understanding one's past helps tell our story, but this memoir takes it to a whole other level. A lot of historical background and a lot of family history made this book difficult for me to follow. I really wished there were more stories of Addie. She was depicted as a complex, interesting woman and I wanted more. I was a bit dissapointed with this book and the expectations I had after reading the annotation. I can appreciate the work involved in writing such a book, but this was really just not what I had expected. History buffs might enjoy it more than I did.

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

An interesting book that gives a colorful view of southern life and covers the history of a few generations of Mary Lee Settle's family. It's a sad story, this family sure had their problems! Honestly I didn't think the writing was very good but the author does show off her big vocabulary, it's obvious she was very intelligent. It's also a little hard to follow the way that the story jumps around. To me it seemed like the ramblings of an older lady who was reminiscing the old times or just putting sporadic journal entries together to make a book. I don't think this book is for everyone. I gave it two stars mostly because I was fascinated by how dysfunctional the family was (maybe this is my sociology background coming out) and there were some funny parts that I liked too.

[Rhonda · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit tedious but interesting,esp for fans of Mary Lee Settle's work. She rambles a bit, but then again she wrote this memoir at age 79. Definitely get a sense of the tragedy in the family's life on her mother's side; also a better understanding of the ambivalence on the part of Settle about her upbringing, relationship to her parents, WV roots, etc. All these come through in fiction. For instance, she references Melinda, the heroine of Choices, to her own choices - and intimates that Melinda's bravery in life was much more than hers (not sure I agree with that, however - Mary Lee was quite a woman).

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read this twice; I think it enhanced my reading to hear Mary Lee Settle on NPR; she had a very melodic rich voice so I heard her voice as I was reading. I read the Beulah Quintet that was considered her Masterpiece in writing but I loved Addie more because it was more personal and less preachy. I plan on reading her memoir "Learning to Fly" that she wrote two years before her death; I know the beginning of an amazing life and I would like the rest of the story. Like another reviewer; the book was a "slow starter" for me but I'm glad I persevered and read on.

[Katie Hightower · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the historical memoir of life growing up in rural West Virginia during the turn of the century. The author paints a realistic picture of the economics, geography and political landscape of the area, interlaced with personal family dynamics and history. There are no rose colored glasses in this memoir...which is refreshing for a period piece. At times the book was hard to follow the story line as she would drift off on a tangent of other ideology not related to the topic and I had to concentrate to follow. Overall interesting read.

[Shawna · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author is one of the founders of the PEN/Faulkner book prize. Overall a decent memoir but far from my favorite. Best part was her second hand description of Mother Jones organizing minors in the early part of the 20th century. Memoir important for those who have lived in WV and/or a coal minor family.

[Jen]

I couldn't get into this one. The author was jumping all over the place in a way that I had a hard time following. I wasn't convinced in the first part that I read that Addie was worth spending the time to get to know. Most people in my book group didn't make it through the whole book. The one girl that did said she enjoyed the book - didn't love it, but did enjoy it. So there you go...

[Suzanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is really a self-indulgent autobiography. Interesting style because it jumps around in time. Makes it somewhat hard to follow. I wish it had been more about Addie and less about Mary Settle. I think she thinks she's a better writer than she is. It reads like she is trying to "write well."

[Chelsea · Rating 3 out of 5]

memoir's are interesting to me becaue I keep thinking "this really happened, this is a real person"...but something about stories of people from West Virginia, they have a colorful history and are usually sad.

[Francie · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was SO bad. And yet it could have been so good -- the potential was there. The writing was just all over the place though -- way too much incredibly boring, unnecessary back story all the time. Really just a horrible book.

[Jackie Stewart · Rating 2 out of 5]

The parts about her family were interesting, but way too much history of the area in the book for my taste. The book did not flow--her thoughts seemed very scattered and I had diffculty following her at times.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love historical fiction and this book is about the coal mines in PA

[Suzanne Manners]

view of Southern life

[Lisa · Rating 1 out of 5]

Boring and not well organized. I did not finish it. My time is worth more.

[Cindy]

This book didn't grab my attention at all. I only read a little bit, but didn't seem worth reading.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining, but only just that. No wisdoms, no good feelings.

[Marcia Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully written and conceived autobiography of writer Mary Lee Settle, who traces her identity to her grandmother Addie and her childhood among the extended family.

[Janelle]

read with Charms for an Easy life

[Frances · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting history of West Virginia through the lives of Addie, her daughter, and her granddaughter (the author). The book is misnamed though. it's really Mary Lee Steele's search to understand her mother and to figure out if her mother truly loved her.