One Life - My Mother's Story

I very much enjoyed reading the memoir One Life - My Mother's Story by Kate Grenville.  I had seen the author interviewed on ABC1 about her book which she has written well after her mother died.  Her mother left behind exercise books with stories of her life.  The book is based on the information the author had and presented in a way that engages the reader as only a good writer can.  Nance was born in 1912 and lived till 2002 so her life spanned most of the 20th century.  I was thoroughly absorbed in Nance's life and her character.  Grenville says in her Prologue "My mother wasn't the sort of person biographies are usually written about. ... Just the same, I think her story is worth telling."  This speaks to me as an oral historian.  Most of the people I've interviewed reveal their otherwise unknown lives.  Highly recommended. 5/5