 |
At eighty-four years old, Oliver has seen great changes occur in the United States both politically and culturally. She begins her memoir by sharing stories of her early life and her family's history. Her mother's grandfather, Warren Sibley Cushman, was a talented artist, and her maternal grandmother was a musician. On the paternal side of her family, her father's grandfather was a plantation owner on the Mississippi and Louisiana border. When her mentally ill sister, Jean, was institutionalized, Oliver spent weekends with her at the institution. Oliver contended with her mother's depression and borderline personality disorder as a child. She and her husband have been married for sixty-three years. They have witnessed such historical events as the sexual revolution, the fight for women's rights, the civil rights movement, and the assassinations of a president and two of the country's most important leaders.
Oliver's memoir is filled with fascinating stories. Her reflections on her sister's illness and the time she spent with her in the institution are heart-wrenching, as are those of her mother's recurring depression, which was so profound she would detach from the family. After the death of her parents, she became the guardian of her sister and learned that Jean was autistic. Her encouragement for her sister's artistic endeavors led to Jean's paintings being displayed in the Carter Center and the governor's mansion in Tennessee. Her detailed descriptions of her life offer a glimpse into a fast-changing world. She writes with insight and a unique perspective on some of the most turbulent times in history. The author has produced a beautiful work and one certainly worth reading.