Margaret Rose Stringer is one of the first bloggers I chose to ‘follow’. Right away I loved her blogging style and eventually I discovered she had written a book – she is not shy about self-promotion. While others set up their author platform and follow the guidelines about being too pushy, Margaret Rose (aka M-R) goes ahead and does what she likes and says what she thinks.
In fact, on her website, she has changed the tagline of her novel back from the publisher’s A Memoir to her own original pre-publication tag of Still and Moving Pictures, so don’t get confused if you should decide to get hold of a copy for yourself.
I must have said something sensible during a comment on one of her posts because – I am unable to fathom why – M-R added my blog to the 30 days/ 30 blogs challenge she had set herself, resulting in an unsurpassed spike in my stats. Her action was stunning to me because she is the most awful snob when it comes to intelligence.
I had already picked up on that before I decided to buy her book. In it, I discovered her obstinate refusal to suffer fools has led to some interesting asides in her memoir.
M-R writes honestly and intimately about her soul mate and husband – Charles ‘Chic’ Stringer – one of the Australian film industry’s most respected stillsmen. She speaks of their 31 years together, and remains determined to do all she can to keep her husband’s memory alive. He remains the other half of herself.
But I found this story more than the sum of her relationship with Chic. We get to see inside M-R, herself, as she reveals her first 31 years. She speaks disarmingly of abandonment, love, death, and how her mind works, often not in her favour.
M-R’s closing words: of the day after seeing Chic on TV, shooting stills for Grundy’s, in a movie about ABBA in Australia.
Three all-too-brief times I saw him in the mêlée surrounding the Swedes – always with one of his cameras in his hands, looking for a position in the ongoing madness.
There was no grief; only unutterable joy at the sight of him – young, beautiful, professional …
He was the most exciting person I have ever known.
I found ‘And Then Like My Dreams’ honest, funny, revealing, passionate, even slightly shocking, but always entertaining. I smiled, I cried, I was appalled, my mouth dropped open, I giggled, I cried again and thought surely my heart would break for these two people I have never met.
Above all, I was entertained.
I LOVE this. It bloody vindicates me !!! You don’t just give me geraniums, Christine, you give me joy …
Thank you from the heart.
Oh M-R, I’m so pleased you like it. I’ve been and clarified the book tagline thing (as mentioned on your blog). I’m not great on doing book reviews (and you didn’t even ask me to do one) but I said I would write something. 😀
And you wrote something indeed ! – hilarious !!!! 😀
And also nice. It wasn’t all funny, as it wasn’t meant to be; and perhaps you didn’t even mean the first part to be, either … but to me it’s hilarious, the ‘intro’ !
A fab review Christine, I found it difficult to write a review without writing another book, there is so much to say and you captured it all.
I’ve read it twice now. You know, I sent for it right after I read your passionate review. I thought I’ve got to have some of what she’s having! It was hard finding the right words for the review, I kept putting it off, but in the end it was easy enough. Thanks for dropping by.
Excellent review Christine! You have summed it up beautifully.
Thank you Barbara. 🙂
Mm. I am a recent addition to the M-R
Fan ClubStableCollection and I am already discovering some of these qualities you describe. The Book is on its way to my letterbox as we speak and I look forward to discovering more. Loved your review – made me laugh!I aim to please. 😀 You are going to enjoy the read. I have never read a memoir more than once, until now, and I know I’m not done with it yet.
Many thanks for dropping by.
Really enjoyed your review Chritine. I too had the honor of reviewing M-R’s book. Your description of how you felt, the multiple moods, really spoke to me. Well done!
Thank you Sue, I’ve read yours too. After awhile one just has to give in and see what everyone is talking about. 🙂
You are most welcome. A very good read and yes I hope our reviews bring many people to purchase M-R’s book.
Christine, you say honestly with crystal clarity what is in your heart. You have great intelligence and it is obvious why MR chose to follow your blog…and why I did, also.
An admirer,
CA
Hi Carol Ann, you are very kind. 🙂
Such a wonderful review, Christine, from the point of view of “reader” and “I know the author” (because, honestly, I feel we all “know” each other with our blogosphere connections – I share a little more with you all than I do with my extended family!).
Yeah, the book seemed more special because I’ve ‘met’ M-R, so the speak. I know what you mean. 🙂
Very good review. I am reading the book at the moment, and I feel the same. I´m shocked and I laugh out loud. Good review!
Hello Katrina, thanks for dropping by. M-R certainly takes us from one extreme to the other, often without warning. Enjoy. 😀
Haha. Yes. That is very true!!! :)))
Just ordered the book from Amazon. Lovely post.
You will not be sorry, Kayti.
I have sitting waiting in the middle of my ‘to read’ pile and the suspense is really getting to me.
😀 😀 😀
Forgot to say, thanks for dropping by Hilary.