Synopsis
After her father’s extended illness and death, ten-year-old Kathleen Mackey captured her experience of loss in a journal including original poetry and the initial pages of an autobiography. After she rediscovers the forgotten childhood journal twenty-five years later, the story continues as the little girl matures into a woman determined to discover life’s happiness in spite of her loss.
Kathleen intends for her childhood memories to remain safely tucked in dusty boxes in her mother’s attic, but her mother has different ideas. She encourages Kathleen to open the chest that holds restless reminders of a carefree youth that was suddenly shattered by death, and Kathleen finds herself overwhelmed with the same confusion and frustration that had haunted her for years after her father died. As she reflects on the impact of her father’s death in everyday events and casual conversations and sets out to once again find joy and meaning in her life, Kathleen weaves original poetry into her narrative, painting a tender portrait of a child’s journey to adulthood.
“My Pink Room” is an empowering story of perseverance and hope that proves that sorrow does not have to overshadow the joy of life.
Review
Life is a journey – one that will never go as smoothly as people want it to – or as linear – life is chaotic…life is an experience. There are ups and downs and certain parts define someone more than others – some memories shape someone more significantly than others. What’s most interesting about a memoir is the fact that the snippets are chosen as glimpses into the life of the author, but they are just that – small moments captured to illustrate the parts of her life that are most significant to her.
Kathleen Mackey Gallanar’s memoir, My Pink Room, starts in present time with a challenge to clean out her mother’s attic – the boxes of memories that are there lead her to flashbacks/memories of her life that shaped the person she became. One overpowering recollection that has impacted her life the most is her father’s death and the subsequent years without him. As she goes through the boxes and works through the memories, her raw emotions and conflicting thoughts are exposed in the memoir. The chaos of her life actually suppressed those memories, forcing them away, but when they are brought out, they must be worked through, or they will fester and cause more pain than necessary. So as much as Kathleen would like to keep the past in the past, she knows that is no longer an option and does what she needs to, to shed the demons buried in the back of her psyche.
Through the memoir, she sheds the pain – tells the stories – accepts the outcomes and finally feels free to move on. She investigates her past through the kept artifacts; each one represents her thoughts/feelings at the time – a tangible way to store the memories. Even in purging some of the materials in the boxes, the painful memories can never be completely discarded; they are still there pushing themselves to the forefront at times. The earliest memories presented revolve around her father’s illness/death…each recollection is accompanied by a reflection of sorts, helping readers to understand the ways in which she was shaped by the events. She also inserts letters to her father and poetry in the memoir to illustrate the multiple ways she worked through her pain. Her poetry is cathartic; it’s a way for her to express her pain and emotions in a creative way- the way her mind works.
After sorting through the memories, Kathleen ends back in her childhood room, her pink room, where, in a way, the painful memories began. But this time, she has come full circle, finally moving on from her memories and putting them to rest, which is where it all started; her acceptance allows her to heal and move on, relishing now in the good memories and working through the bad ones.
In My Pink Room, Kathleen Mackey Gallanar allows her readers to journey back in time with her and share the memories of her past. Like any memoir, the experiences she presents are life changing moments where deep emotions are felt. Her recollections are her own, so readers may not completely understand the author’s reactions or choices made, but, in a way, that’s not the readers’ job. In a memoir, judgment should not be passed because it’s not our life that is being exposed. The goal is reflection, and if readers are meant to understand anything from this therapeutic experience, it’s that there are moments in people’s lives that mold and change them; they help to tell their story and illustrate who they are because of those incidences, and if it allows for others to reflect then going through the process is worth it for more than just the authors themselves.
A complimentary copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.
4.5 poison apples
About the Author
Kathleen Mackey Gallanar has enjoyed writing poetry since childhood. A graduate of Boston College, she is currently a human resources professional who has worked for Fortune 100 and privately held companies. She resides in Ipswich, Massachusetts, with her husband and two children, where she enjoys playing the piano, walking the beach and boating.
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