Title: It’s Me The Early Years: Letters to My Daughter
Author: Walter Benesch
Publisher: Bookwrights House
ISBN: 978-1965552322
Pages: 354
Genre: Historical Biographies
Reviewer: Alyssa Avina
Hollywood Book Reviews
While it may not be the same for everyone, there are lessons to be learned from a person’s parents or parental figures in their lives. Whether it comes in the form of repeating mistakes that a parent knows all too well from their youth or discovering hidden gems, or secrets from the past which reveal a whole other side to the parent a person thought they knew, there are many ways in which a parent’s past can help direct and inform their children to make the best decisions for themselves moving forward. That lesson is at the heart of author Walter Benesch’s It’s Me The Early Years: Letters to My Daughter. The book is a biography and memoir collection of original letters sent from the author to his daughter. Recounting the author’s life from his earliest childhood memories to the later years of college and so much more, the book blurs the line
between memory and creativity as the author shares his most personal self with their daughter and with readers as well. A truly thoughtful and memorable read, the book is expertly crafted in a way which feels honest, sincere, and conversational in tone, allowing the reader to connect to the author and his words with ease. The letter style of format gave readers a sense of familiarity and casualness, giving them the opportunity to relate to the author’s life and experiences during a time in which everyone had their own story to tell. The vivid imagery brought the author’s memories to life in extreme detail, and the heartfelt delivery of the author’s life stories gave an almost narrative and cinematic quality to the book, as if watching an indie drama with a powerful narrator regaling audiences with
their life experiences.
Fans of non-fiction work will flock to this book easily, especially those who enjoy autobiographical works with an emphasis on family, activism, and storytelling elements as well. What stood out was how many stories were told in these letters felt like a mix of real-world experiences and more in-depth emotional connections which spoke to imagination and the root of storytelling passed down from generation to generation. More sensational stories such as experiences with UFOs and WWII stand out in this. book, but one memory in particular through the letters was fascinating, which was the past-life experience the author felt he had during a drive to their new home in Connecticut, and the powerful experience this made to have a lasting impression well into his adult years. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab this amazing non-fiction read today.