Girls of Tender Age (Abridged): A Memoir Audiobook

" Part memoir- part true crime. Wonderful read. "

" Memoir of growing up in a 1950's family of modest means and the effect a local murder has on the author, her family and her neighborhood. Filled with period details and social observation. Especially touching was the plight of her family due to the strains of raising an autistic child, especially when it was so alien and misunderstood. "

" The author wrote this novel about her life with a large extended family, an autistic brother and her parents - one parent who essentially checked out and one parent who was completed devoted to her brother's care. Interestingly, the devoted parent was her father. Central to her life was the murder of a school friend that occurred when she was 9. The murder was never discussed at home or school despite the fact that it happened just blocks from her home. Later in life, after the author had written several novels, she decided to learn more about the murder, the trial and the killer's life. The result is this novel. "

" Great book. I don't know if I just really liked it because it took place in the South End of Hartford, but it was well written, good story, and gave an interesting history of Hartford. "

" Because I needed to do a lot of traveling this pass month, I decided to listen to an audio book and choose "Girls of Tender Age" because the story took place in my home state of Connecticut. The narrator was the author, Mary-Ann Tirone Smith, who reads brilliantly and who is also a gifted story-teller as is reflected in her memoir. She engages the listener instantly with her unique style of writing and her verbal delivery of "her" story. I really enjoyed this story even thou the subject matter was heavy, it made driving this month a joy! "

" A memoir...woman's brother has autism, family's denial of what's really happening with him. But she grows up to be a writer and writes about a murder of a child that happened in her neighborhood as a child. I liked this a lot. "

" A thought-provoking memoir of how the world has changed "

" This is a true story of the author's childhood. It brought back a lot of good childhood memories for me but, while the author and I shared the ERA, she had a horrible experience and a dysfunctional homelife! A bit confusing at times. "

" Memoirs of messed up childhoods and those who triumph over them are my favorite genre, especially ones in mid-twentieth century America; this one was pretty much as good as they get. "

" I love a good memoir and this one was terrific. I loved the way chapters alternated between Smith's childhood perspective, Serial killer Bob and Smith's shy friend Irene. "

" I re-read this book recently and found it just as compelling as I did the first time. It is an exceptional memoir that blends personal history, true crime, and a portrait of autism - seamlessly. I wish I could write like Mary-Ann Tirone Smith. "

" A memoir set in Hartford in the 1950s. A good read for locals, but also great storytelling about childhood. "

" I loved this book. Many different compelling story lines - some funny - some tragic. Love a book that makes me laugh and cry. "

" One of the best memoirs I've ever read. "

" This was not a book I would have picked up on my own but my neighbor lent it to me and said she liked it. I did find it interesting to read about Hartford, CT but I doubt that would have held me if it were not of local interest. "

" Not so interested in the abduction/murder part, but her description of place and era were what I really enjoyed. "

" I LOVED this book. I also tend to love memoirs. I especially liked reading about a Catholic family in the fifties...it helped me understand my mom and her generation better. In addition this author has a wonderful style, I found I couldn't put the book down! "

" A very poignant and gripping memoir of a woman who grew up in Hartford, Connecticut with her "working stiff" parents, (Italian and French-Canadian) and their lives over generations, and the parallel life of a troubled man, culminating in one horrible night in December, 1953. "

" An evocative memoir of growing up in the fifties. "

" Excellent; Smith tells her story of growing up with an autistic brother, a disinterested mother, and the rape and murder of a childhood friend at age 7. "

" WOW! I really liked this, but it was an emotionally hard read. Again two stories both come together and the author does a great job handling the sensitive material involved. "

" This memoir reminded me of Lovely Bones. Good read - I like it enough to look up other books by the author. "

" Interesting, but wouldn't recommend it. "

" A scary, interesting story "

" A memoir, a murder mystery, a psychopathic profile, all in one. I would actually give this one 3 and a half stars. Very readable. Two little girls growing up in the 1950's. One lives to tell about it. Compassionate and insightful. "

" I was really into memoirs for awhile. This is an amazing one. Still remember the story although I read it nearly 4 years ago. "

" Gripping crime memoir, based on an actual case. Disturbing how long it took for a child molestor to be caught. "

" A thought-provoking memoir of how the world has changed "

" Excellent; Smith tells her story of growing up with an autistic brother, a disinterested mother, and the rape and murder of a childhood friend at age 7. "

" Part memoir- part true crime. Wonderful read. "

" I loved this book! I laughed ,I cryed, I got angry.This book was truly a goodread ! "

" Not so interested in the abduction/murder part, but her description of place and era were what I really enjoyed. "

" I liked the first 2/3 of this book, but then it gets a little slow. Definitely worth reading though. "

" A very poignant and gripping memoir of a woman who grew up in Hartford, Connecticut with her "working stiff" parents, (Italian and French-Canadian) and their lives over generations, and the parallel life of a troubled man, culminating in one horrible night in December, 1953. "

" This book tells two parallel tales. I;ve read it twice and liked it better the second time! Set in New England. "

" This is a wonderful book! A lot about the art of writing. It is a memoir of growing up in a big French-Italian family. She has an autistic brother. The father eventually takes over total care of the brother. An interesting character is the mother-a golfer. "