Melody
ISBN-13: 9780984235872
Publisher: Synergy Books
Published: September 2010
232 pgs
Source: Publicist




When the publicist contacted me and asked if I was interested to review Bobo's Daughter, I was skeptical at first because I rarely read memoirs. However, I was attracted by the gorgeous cover but what most intrigued me is this memoir is about the relationship between the author and her father, who makes his career as a clown. I've to admit I wasn't a huge fan of clowns since young; while some children think they are funny I often thought of them a bit creepy and intimidating. I've to blame it on the bright paints that they put on their faces.

Now as an adult and though my feelings towards them hasn't changed, I've grown to respect and admire their zest by always putting on a smile and their best performance to their audience. Bobo's Daughter chronicles author Bonnie Barnett's journey of getting to know more about her father and searching for him as he travels to places as a circus clown.

Bonnie first met her father, Chester "Bobo" Barnett, at the circus when she was 4 years old. She knew nothing about him, and her mother did not mention much about him considering he had chose to leave them behind for his career as a world famous clown. Despite that, Bonnie was mesmerised after watching her father's performance, and she told herself she would like to get to know him better. Needless to say, her mother didn't share her sentiments and felt somewhat betrayed that Bonnie wanted to meet him. Nevertheless, Bonnie never give up her intention of reconnecting with her father throughout the years and this book is the result whereby she shares with her readers about her struggles growing up, and finally finding peace and forgiveness after what she's been through.

This memoir also covers the relationship between Bonnie and her mother, who used to be a girl clown and how she gave up her clowning career to raise Bonnie all on her own. I really appreciate the author for including a few pictures of her parents and herself in between the chapters as they enable me to glimpse more deeply of the life she's been living on top of her written words. In a nutshell, Bobo's Daughter is only only a moving memoir about reconciliation and forgiveness between a daughter and a father, but also about having hope and the courage of finding oneself and learning through experiences without giving anything up. Today, Bonnie works as a Marriage, Family, and Child Therapist and Life Coach near Durham, North Carolina.


About the Author:
Bonnie Barnett currently lives in Durham, N.C., where she owns a private, in-home outpatient therapy practice. She also works at Agape Corner where she helps at-risk children and families living below the poverty line. She holds a bachelor’s degree in fine arts with a minor in psychology from California State University at Los Angeles and a master’s degree in clinical psychology from Pepperdine University.

(Many thanks to the publicist, Lindsay Marshall for sending this book to me for review.)
8 Responses
  1. Julia Says:

    Sorry you didn't enjoy the book as much, that the appreciation of showing pictures and glimpse of life seem interesting. I hope the next book you read would be more enjoyable :)


  2. Darlyn Says:

    Hmm..I seldom read memoirs but I really thought of trying to read them quite sometime.Thanks for sharing!


  3. violet Says:

    You know I love memoirs, this one sounds really different though. I love when authors insert pictures in memoirs too.


  4. Sandy Nawrot Says:

    I love memoirs (I like any true story) but I would definitely have to push myself to read about a clown. I have a clown phobia.


  5. The Bookworm Says:

    This sounds like an interesting memoir. I like when photos are included throughout the book as well.
    Great review Mel.
    http://thebookworm07.blogspot.com/


  6. Alice Says:

    I like the sound of this one, actually. I like memoirs and some of them are really good. Thanks for sharing about this one, Melody!


  7. My mother-in-law is deathly afraid of clowns. She finds them rather creepy too, I think, as you did as a child. It's not something she ever grew out of. It sounds like an interesting memoir. Thanks for the great review, Melody!


  8. Veens Says:

    I am scared of clowns too. I don't like them and I don't find them funny either.
    I am not much of a memoir reader, but I do appreciate a good book. This sounds great, but not for me. It is very nice of the author to insert pictures.

    It is so like a mother to feel betrayed if the child decides to do something on her own accord.


Post a Comment

Thanks for stopping by! I would love to hear from you.