Growing Up Ugly: A Story of Finding Beauty Within

by Donetta Garman

I fantasized about people loving me and standing in line to be my friend. I waited to become a swan. Growing Up Ugly is a moving memoir about coming of age and realizing the beauty in this life we are... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1604627549
• ISBN13: 9781604627541
• Release Date: June 2008
• Publisher: Tate Publishing & Enterprises
• Length: 128 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 5.4" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

A Truly Exceptional Book

Growing Up Ugly is a memoir of the life of the author. And what an amazing life she's had thus far! Each chapter tells of her recollections of growing up while recovering in a hospital from a stroke at a young age. As she fades in and out of consciousness, memories spring to mind as she sleeps. Very detailed memories. Fond and not so fond memories. Though to some her childhood would be construed as stemming from a very dysfunctional family, the family itself had a bonding between them that only love could hold. Through tragedy, mental illness, alcoholism, poverty and health issues, this family stayed together and protected each other in a way one can only admire. Ms. Garman felt awkward, ugly and had a very low self-esteem during her childhood, experiencing many things in life at a very young age that we would hope today, no child would have to go through. And yet, it's those very same experiences which God led her through to get her past it and to the point in life she is at now. Some would have never survived. Others would have aged with bitterness and regret. Many who experience similar experiences never emerge, but drown. But as we all know, God has a plan for all of us, if we will only open the door for Him to enter into our hearts. Still struggling with issues, she met and married a man who had been down some of the roads she had been down and together they grew. Now he is the pastor of a small church and together, they enjoy a much different life full of the joy and the beauty God created. She learned that beauty is not an outward appearance others can see, but something which can only come from inside. Beauty is within our souls, not our physical bodies. I felt many mixed emotions as I read her story and feel blessed to have had the opportunity to do so. Ms. Garman has a unique talent for telling a story and her memoir is a story you will not want to miss. A truly exceptional book! Garman is an exceptional writer with a unique talent and I look forward to reading more of her work.

I can't praise this author enough, Cheryl Ellis Allbooks Review

Dysfunctional is a term used when there is a failure to function `normally.' This may include addictions, emotional disturbance, abuse and more. The author, Donetta Garman, has written this engrossing and expressive memoir; inspired while drifting in and out of consciousness, throughout a medical emergency. Good and bad memories flooded back to her, and by writing her story, she has bared her inner soul. All in hopes that others will learn; there is hope for survival and even a happy life, if one has the courage and faith to pursue it. Donetta and her siblings were raised in a small town. Their mother was unable to face her own demons. She suffered with addictions along with violent and suicidal tendencies, causing her to be in and out of mental institutions. Her father was an enabler, who worked and played hard, unfortunately teaching his children that rules are meant to be broken. From birth, her mother convinced Donetta, that she had a face only a mother could love, totally destroying her self-esteem. Children can grow up hurt, angry and confused by their parents. There were some very good times between the traumas. Forgiveness may be given, but memories are rarely erased, still love prevails and binds them together as a family. As Donetta matures she becomes the responsible one, the glue. She tries to hide their personal life, an impossible feat in a small town. Eventually you are old enough to recognize the knowing looks and sympathetic peeks. As a teenager she searched for her own recognition, love and value. Desperately timid and afraid, she looked in all the wrong places, not realizing how those decisions would have an impact on her and the lives of her family. Finally with the help of AA, faith in God and a loving husband, Donetta is living proof of recovery and triumph over dysfunction and addiction. Classed as `personal growth' she writes no self help suggestions, she enlightens us with one of life's most important lessons. As much as we try to blame others for our downfalls, in the end we have to face the facts. Ultimately we are responsible for our own actions. Donetta has now been married 20 years to Gar Garman, who has become a pastor, in a rural Baptist Church located in the Ozark foothills. Their blended family is complete with four children and grandchildren. When you see a picture of her, you can see through her smile that she has truly found her inner beauty and peace. She spends her time helping in the church, managing a small antique shop and fortunately for us, her writing. At this point I am unable to express enough praise for this well written memoir. It is not only written for those afflicted with some of these problems, but would profoundly benefit the people around them. After reading this truthful account, it may help to understand the person's actions or reactions, proving that only strength of love and commitment will see them thro

I Couldn't Put This Book Down!

Reviewed by Paula Friedrichsen for Crossmap.com & PositivelyFeminine.com "Growing Up Ugly" is a fast paced, completely engrossing memoir. Full of twists and turns, it almost reads like a novel. Garman doesn't offer up "self-help" suggestions--or go on yards about the lessons to be learned from her experiences. She simply tells the story of her sometimes difficult, sometimes wonderful childhood, while occasionally sharing her own personal growth with readers. The day I received this book in the mail I had a stack of eight books to read and review. Yet there was just something about the title (and the interesting cover art) that compelled me to read this book first, and I'm so glad I did! I would recommend this book to anyone desiring a quick, easy, and entertaining read. Also, "Growing Up Ugly" would be helpful and encouraging for those who have struggled with alcohol or prescription drug addiction personally, or with a loved one.

I wrote this book

This unique book tells a story of growing up ugly in a world where outside beauty is often more important than what lies beneath the surface. It is a story of overcoming dysfunction and addiction. It is a story of the soul and inner self and the potential beauty in all of us. Growing Up Ugly is a moving memoir about coming of age and realizing that the beauty in this life we are all searching for is within our grasp, just for the asking. This poignant drama reminds us that life can take an unexpected turn at any moment. "I vaguely remember my doctor telling me he was going to have me transported by ambulance to a hospital in Kansas City. They had a brain and stroke ward. I tried to answer, but I couldn't." Join new author, Donetta Garman as she drifts in and out of consciousness and recalls some of the events in her unusual but loving childhood. After a particularly traumatic birth, Donetta was left homely, clumsy and awkward. As she grew up she learned to cope with being "ugly" by laughing at herself and trying to help hold the family together. She writes, "As a child my favorite fairy tale was "The Ugly Duckling". I would dream of the day when I would be the one winning beauty pageants, the day that no man would be able to resist me and that when I walked down the street, people looked at me in awe of my beauty. I fantasized about people loving me and standing in line to be my friend. I waited to become a swan." While her family climate was dysfunctional, the cohesiveness of the family unit was undeniable. Donetta's brilliant and fun loving mother began the descent into mental illness, drug addiction and alcoholism. Her father, ill equipped to handle the seriousness of an emotionally unstable environment, taught Donetta and her siblings how to cope the best way he knew how, by working hard and playing hard. The memoir Ms. Garman creates in Growing Up Ugly is infused with the intense love and resilience of a peculiar but fiercely devoted family. With the help of her family, children, husband, friends and God, Donetta finds that beauty really is only skin deep and there is a "swan" just waiting to escape in all of us. Growing Up Ugly