Lost and Found: A Daughter's Tale of Violence and Redemption

by Babette Hughes

When Babette Hughes was two years old, her father disappeared suddenly and mysteriously from her life. Although he had been murdered in a turf war with the mafia, and although her uncle -- an innocent... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1579620728
• ISBN13: 9781579620721
• Release Date: January 2000
• Publisher: Permanent Press (NY)
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 1.00 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.8" x 8.8"

Customer Reviews

Lost and Found: A Daughter's Tale of Violence and Redemption

A very delicate story that comes from deep within. Well thought out, and very well written. Babette shares her life, which was a secret for a long time, with the readers. Not many of us can reveal these secrets with the world. After reading this book I was inspired to write my own memoir titled "The Sitting Swing" which will be published fall 2005. Lost and Found is a definate read for anyone that loves memiors like I do.

A daughter's tale that speaks to many of us

Hughes has written a compelling book that explores how family history influences us throughout our lives. In her book she not only tells the particular story of her own family, she evokes a time & place in this country when the sons & daughters of immigrants tried to find their place in America. The book tells a colorful story of a small time crook & dandy - one of the foot soldiers in the Cleveland bootlegging rackets. His violent life & death continues to affect the wife & 2 small children he left behind throughout their lives. Hughes manages to convey a child's sense of bewilderment as she tries to piece together just who this father was & what his legacy to her will be.The book is also the story of Hughes relationship with her mother, a difficult & complex woman who emotionally victimizes her young daughter throughout her childhood. How she is able to break the bonds that tie her to her mother & learns to live a productive & happy life is the real story of this memoir. This is an interesting read for anyone who's taken the journey through their own family history. Although it's filled with the pain of a lonely & emotionally abandoned child, the woman Hughes becomes is able to triumph in the end.

What a life!

This is a book I couldn't put down. Babette Hughes' story is tragic and devastating, yet redemptive and triumphant. The dichotomy of her relationship with her mother is eloquently depicted; I could just hear and feel her saying, "yes, I love her--no, I don't." It must have taken great courage to overcome her fear and then lay it open for all of us to share. It is the kind of life that should make all of our marginally disfunctional lives seem perfect in comparison. I'm recommending this book for my book group and anyone else I know who reads.