Review: My Own Two Feet
Beverly Cleary's Account of Life During the 1930s and 1940s.
Beverly Cleary's memories from her post-high school move to Southern California through World War II and her first book success.
Beverly Cleary’s memoir My Own Two Feet is a “sequel” to her first memoir, A Girl From Yamhill, but it isn’t necessary to have read the first book to enjoy the second. My Own Two Feet (first published in 1996), like its title, stands alone. Fans of the author -- or those who simply enjoy a good memoir -- will find it easy to read the book from cover to cover.
The Author
Cleary, best known for children's books such as the Ramona series and Henry Huggins (as well as the young adult novels Fifteen and Jean and Johnny) reminisces about her life from post-high school graduation to her first successes as a writer. The memoir starts with Cleary moving from Oregon to Southern California in the 1930s, where she stayed with relatives and attended junior college. The memoir spans through the 1940s and moves from Southern California to Northern California and Washington state.
The Setting
Cleary descriptions of Southern California are fascinating – it’s a land of outdoor dining, oranges and avocados and evening swims. Cleary remembers that before moving to Southern California she didn't know how to pronounce the word "patio"; she had only seen the word in reading (and thought it was pronounced such as pay-show.)
Later, her observations during World War II are equally interesting and give readers a peek into history. Her first job was as a librarian, and this leads to many memories as well.
The People in Cleary's Life
Cleary describes her college roommates, friends, boyfriend (future husband), parents and acquaintances with such description that readers will grow to love or at least understand them. Her talent as a writer is apparent here, with memorable moments and dialogue peppering every memory.
The Audience
Though Cleary is a children’s author, adults may appreciate My Own Two Feet more than kids. The personal observations and memories of life during the 1930s and 1940s are enthralling. The memoir, however, is kid-friendly. The writing flows easily; it's an enjoyable "quick read". However, it may not be the best for the youngest of readers (though there’s nothing specific, Cleary discusses, for example, how some girls at her junior college had already had sex; Cleary, however, was not one of them).
When the memoir ends, readers are left wanting even more! It's a shame that Cleary doesn't write a third memoir about the rest of her career. However, My Own Two Feet is an ideal length for an ideal book.
Where to Find
My Own Two Feet is available in paperback on Amazon. 352 pages; also contains pages of photographs.
