Molly ONeills father believed that baseball was his familys destiny. He wanted to spawn enough sons for an infield; so he married the tallest woman in Columbus; Ohio. Molly came out first; but eventually her fathers plan prevailed. Five boys followed in rapid succession and the youngest; Paul ONeill; did; in fact; grow up to be the star right fielder for the New York Yankees. In Mostly True; celebrated food critic and writer ONeill tells the story of her quintessentially American family and the places where they come together -- around the table and on the ball field. Mollys great-grandfather played on one of the earliest traveling teams in organized baseball; her grandfather played barnstorming ball; and her father pitched in the minor leagues; but after being sidelined with an injury in the war; he set his sights on the next generation. While her brothers raged and struggled to become their own men; Molly; appointed "Deputy Mom" at an age when most girls were playing with dolls; learned early how to be the model Midwestern homemaker and began casting about wildly for other possible destinies. As her mother cleaned fanatically and produced elaborate; healthy meals; Molly spoiled her bro-thers with skyscraper cakes; scribbled reams of poetry; and staged theatrical productions in the backyard. By the late 1960s; the Woodstock Nation had challenged some of the ONeill values; but nothing altered their conviction that only remarkable achievement could save them. Mostly True is the uncommon chronicle of a regular family pursuing the American dream and of one girls quest to find her place in a world built for boys. Molly ONeill -- an independent; extraordinarily talented; and fiercely funny woman -- showed that home runs can be hit in many fields. Her memoir is glorious.
#993795 in eBooks 2006-05-02 2006-04-25File Name: B000GCFXSQ
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Has some useful info but not very interestingBy nannyl0veNot a big fan of the book. I really dislike how he uses the term Chicana/o as a blanket term. The term is really a political statement and emphasizes an awareness of our history and oppression. I dont believe people should be labeled as such when some may not even know what the term means. Also he talks about Chicano/a in urban zones in the southwest in the 1920s when the term Chicano/a didnt even exist then. Im not too far into the book but so far it seems a little broad and repetitive and it is difficult to stay interested. I think this would have been better simply as an article in some type of a journal versus making it into an entire book.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. GoodBy Samuel gutierrezEverything was as advertised. Good service