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Kitchen Privileges: Memoirs of a Bronx Girlhood

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A peek into Mary Higgins Clark's formative years
A GENEROUS SHARING OF LIFE EXPERIENCES
It should have been longer

Kitchen Privileges: Memoirs of a Bronx Girlhood

Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster Audio
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

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Limbo: A Memoir

ASIN: 0743529200
Release Date: 2002-11-19

Book Description

Even as a young girl, growing up in the Bronx, Mary Higgins Clark knew she wanted to be a writer, The gift of storytelling was a part of her Irish ancestry, so it followed naturally that she would later use her sharp eye, keen intelligence, and inquisitive nature to create stories.

Along with all Americans, citizens of the Bronx suffered during the Depression. So when Mary's father died, her mother opened the family home to boarders and placed a discreet sign next to the front door that read, "Furnished Rooms. Kitchen Privileges."

The family's struggle to make ends meet; her days as a scholarship student in an exclusive girls academy; the death of her beloved older brother in World War II; her marriage to Warren Clark; writing stories at the kitchen table; finally selling the first one for one hundred dollars, after six years and forty rejections -- all these experiences figure into Kitchen Privileges.

Her husband's untimely death left her a widowed mother of five young children. Determined to care for her family an& to make a career for herself, she wrote scripts for a radio show. In her spare time she began writing novels. Where Are The Children? became an international bestseller and launched her career.

When asked if she might consider giving up writing for a life of leisure, Marv has replied, "Never. To be happy for a year, win the lottery. To be happy for life, do what you love."

Customer Reviews:

A peek into Mary Higgins Clark's formative years.......2005-12-09

In Kitchen Privileges, suspense writer Mary Higgins Clark writes about her formative years and the first half of her adult life. She does through through a series of vignettes and stories, showing the places, people and experiences that influenced her.

Her tone is honest, but modest, and often funny. Sometimes it assumes the tone of someone recollecting their favorite scenes from life, scenes which have a lot of meaning to the teller, but not so much to the listener. But Clark's spirit dances throughout the memoir, a spirit that gave her the persistence to continue writing despite years of rejections, to write, work and raise five children, to pursue her interests and values in an era where women were not given much freedom, and to continue to find joy even after the deaths of her parents, husband, brother-in-law, and all siblings.

The audio CDs are read by Clark herself, making her story very personal. Kitchen Privileges is worthwhile listening (or reading) for Clark fans or for those interested in a woman's life in mid-twentieth century America. For younger listeners, it's an interesting personal account of an era so different from today.

A GENEROUS SHARING OF LIFE EXPERIENCES.......2002-12-21

Does any reader have to be told who Mary Higgins Clark is? I think not. But, now with this remarkably candid and affecting memoir the author of 27 bestselling novels tells her personal story. Not only that, this recollection is related in her own voice, making it all the more meaningful. Rather than through a fictional protagonist she speaks directly to us with words of encouragement and hope.

Beginning with a childhood in the Bronx during the Depression Ms. Clark had dreams - she dreamed of becoming a writer, and her mother encouraged her even though the older woman struggled to make ends meet by renting out rooms. A sign was placed by the front door reading, "Furnished Rooms. Kitchen Privileges."

Ms. Clark's days as a student at an exclusive girl's school came to an end; she lost an older brother whom she deeply loved during World War II. She tells with affection and sensitivity of her marriage to Warren Clark, and the birth of their children. A devastating blow occurred when he died unexpectedly leaving her widowed with five young children.

Nonetheless, she soldiered on, writing at a kitchen table. For her labors? Forty rejections. Determined to reach her goal and support her family she wrote radio scripts and began work on a novel.

The rest is literary history. Ms. Clark generously shares her life experiences, reminding us that dreams can come true when someone is willing to persist and fight mightily for them.

- Gail Cooke

It should have been longer.......2002-12-10

A surprising glimpse into the world of Mary Higgins Clark from her childhood which took a sad turn with the early death of her father. Her mother then was forced to rent out rooms (with kitchen privileges)in order to try to make ends meet. Some of their tenants were interesting to say the least.

Before marrying, Ms. Clark was an airline stewardess and she has a few interesting stories about that. She married the man she had had a crush on and was blissfully happy until he suffered a fatal heart attack leaving her with 5 children.

She writes about her struggles to become published and also of her fantastic life since.

The only thing wrong with the book is that it is so brief. Like I said at the beginning, we only get a glimpse into the life of this fascinating woman.

Average customer rating:

My 80 year old mother loved it
Great Memoir
Clark's voice comes through clearly
Touching book by a wonderful author
Touching book by a wonderful author

Kitchen Privileges : A Memoir
Mary Higgins Clark
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0743206053
Release Date: 2002-11-19

Book Description

In her long-awaited memoir, Mary Higgins Clark, America's beloved and bestselling Queen of Suspense, recounts the early experiences that shaped her as a person and influenced her as a writer.

Even as a young girl, growing up in the Bronx, Mary Higgins Clark knew she wanted to be a writer. The gift of storytelling was a part of her Irish ancestry, so it followed naturally that she would later use her sharp eye, keen intelligence, and inquisitive nature to create stories about the people and things she observed.

Along with all Americans, those who lived in New York City's borough of the Bronx suffered during the Depression. So it followed that when Mary's father died, her mother, deciding to open the family home to boarders, placed a discreet sign next to the front door that read, FURNISHED ROOMS. KITCHEN PRIVILEGES. Very shortly the first in a succession of tenants arrived: a couple dodging bankruptcy who moved in with their wild-eyed boxer; a teacher who wept endlessly over her lost love; a deadbeat who tripped over a lamp while trying to sneak out in the middle of the night...

The family's struggle to make ends meet; her days as a scholarship student in an exclusive girls' academy; her after-school employment as a hotel switchboard operator (happily listening in on the guests' conversations); the death of her beloved older brother in World War II; her brief career as a flight attendant for Pan Am (a job taken after a friend who flew with the airline said ever so casually, "God, it was beastly hot in Calcutta"); her marriage to Warren Clark, on whom she'd had a crush for many years; sitting at the kitchen table, writing stories, and finally selling the first one for one hundred dollars (after six years and some forty rejections!) -- all these experiences figure into Kitchen Privileges, as does her husband's untimely death, which left her a widowed mother of five young children.

Determined to care for her family and to make a career for herself, she went to work writing scripts for a radio show, but in her spare time she began writing novels. Her first, a biographical novel about the life of George Washington titled Aspire to the Heavens, found a publisher but disappeared without a trace when the publisher folded. (Recently it was rediscovered by a descendant of the Washington family and was reissued under the title Mount Vernon Love Story.) The experience, however, gave her the background and the preparation for writing Where Are the Children? which went on to become an international bestseller. That novel launched her career and was the first of twenty-seven (and still counting!) bestselling books of suspense.

As Mary Higgins Clark has said when asked if she might consider giving up writing for a life of leisure, "Never! To be happy for a year, win the lottery. To be happy for life, love what you do."

In Kitchen Privileges, she reflects on the joy that her life as a writer has brought her, and shares with readers the love that she has found.

Customer Reviews:

My 80 year old mother loved it.......2006-07-19

My Mother has been suffering from memory issues. We recently lucked out and found a prescription drug that has helped her focus more than she has in years. We couldn't believe it when she told us she read a book (the only book she's read in several years) that she borrowed from a friend at her Assisted Living facility. Apparently it was in large print and she loved it. I personally haven't read it, but she did pass it on to her older sister (83) and youger sister (77) and my sister 50) who all read it and said it was great. So, probably good gift idea for those form the depression era.

Great Memoir.......2005-03-18

A member of my church loaned me this book and to be frank, I wasn't all that interested in it. I had never read anything by Mary Higgins Clark before, and why did a writer name her book after a kitchen anyway? I was also intent on reading the Elsie Dinsmore books, and so put this book down, thinking that I'll return it after a week or so.

Two weeks passed and I finally realized that I should at least make a seventy-something woman happy by reading it and so I began reading it after reading another borrowed book, "The Secret Life of Bees" (see my review on that superb novel). From Chapter One, I was hooked.

Mary Higgins Clark writes her story with charm, wit and detail. She tells us the story of her childhood in the 1940s, the death of her father, her first jobs, her marriage and the births of her five children. She discusses her dream of becoming a writer and I can relate to this. I love to write, but my work is either rubbish or incomplete or both.

However, the book was very short and left me asking some questions. She's written a lot of books, but only goes into detail about writing two of them-one of which was a failure. The epilogue leaves you asking questions that she doesn't answer, especially since she devotes an entire sentence to her second, failed marriage. Wow...

Despite these flaws, I am going to read Mary Higgins Clark's fictional works and see if they are as well-written as this book is. I encourage any aspiring writer to read this book.

Clark's voice comes through clearly.......2003-11-09

The voice of Mary Higgins Clark comes through clearly to her many readers in "Kitchen Privileges." Her story-telling skills are on display as she relates the events through the decades of her life. Populating the story are family and friends, dear to her, and a theme throughout (though understated) is her warm Irish pluck, that courage that enabled her to raise five children when she was left on her own as a young widow. Clark is modest about her highly-honed writing ability; also, she never overplays her unfolding story. Instead she carries the reader along in a highly competent, yet matter-of-fact style---it's like she's
refusing to take the role of heroine. The woman we meet in these pages is modest, immensely likable, and still young in spirit after all these years and all these best sellers. Clark's memoir deserves the highest recommendation.

Touching book by a wonderful author.......2003-08-06

I've been reading Mary Higgins Clark's well-woven tales of mystery since I was a little girl. I long admired and enjoyed Mrs. Higgins Clark's gift for writing entertaining mysteries with characters that still seemed like "real people". When I saw her memoir available I scooped it up immediately and read it in one afternoon. Several times I laughed out loud and cried tears of sorrow reading about her life from its humble, beautiful beginnings in the Bronx to her struggle as a young widow with five small children. I had no idea that the author had undergone such a road in her life to reach the success and fame she now well deserves. I highly reccomend this book to any Mary Higgins Clark fan, or anyone who would like to read an account of a resourceful, tender on the inside, tough as nails on the outside lady. Bravo!

Touching book by a wonderful author.......2003-08-06

Average customer rating:

DO NOT judge THIS book by it's cover!
A heartwarming autobiography
Difficult Times+Intriguing Career Development+Family
Inspiring and real!

Kitchen Privileges: A Memoir
Mary Higgins Clark
Manufacturer: Pocket
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0743412613

Book Description

Dear Reader,

Kitchen Privileges is a book that I feel as though I have been writing ever since I was twelve years old.

In these pages, I've tried to show how my mother's belief in me kept alive my dream to be a writer. My father's early death left her with three young children to support. A generation later my husband's early death left me in exactly that position except that I had five children.

Mother supported us by renting rooms, allowing our paying guests to have the privilege of preparing light meals in the kitchen. I supported my family by writing radio shows. Very early in the morning I put my typewriter on the kitchen table before I went to work in Manhattan and spent a few privileged and priceless hours working on my first novel.

I have found that dreams do come true, and I hope that anyone reading this book may feel encouraged to follow his or her own dreams even when the odds against achieving them seem great.

Customer Reviews:

DO NOT judge THIS book by it's cover!.......2007-04-18

This memoir is truly a great example of what a special person Mary Higgins Clark is.

This woman was born under a special star and her mother had the wonderful insight to recognize it and encourage it to blossom.

As I read this I actually felt as if I were one of those neighbors who were privileged [but didn't know it at the time] enough to be allowed to came and sit and chat at the kitchen table and listen in to the wonderful stories.

Mary Higgens Clark has had her share of grief and yet she is humble enough to share those private moments with us and to managed to rise above the pain to become the wonderful sister, daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, and writer that she truly is.

I really felt honored to be allowed to share in her life story and was sadden when the book ended.

You won't regret reading this one!
I read it in one sitting and one day--I couldn't put it down. Trust me--you won't be able to either.
A-Must-Read for those who love Mary Higgens Clark and Memoirs.

A heartwarming autobiography.......2004-05-04

I have been a fan of Mary Higgins Clark since junior high school when I first read, "A Cry in the Night". As a 31-year old working mother of two, I barely have time to read anything leisurely anymore! Over the years I have read many of her books, but I have found this one the most entertaining to date. This book brought me to tears on more than one occasion. This is a truly inspiring human story of love and loss that many people will relate to. I applaud her determination in making all of her dreams come true. I have forwarded the book to a dear aunt who writes short stories to give her some encouragement. I hope this review has been helpful.

Difficult Times+Intriguing Career Development+Family.......2004-01-21

The Memoir, especially as written by a fellow writer, has become
my genre of choice lately.

"Kitchen Privileges" came highly recommended and I enjoyed the
reading. I am not a big reader of Mary Higgins Clark: I have only tried out three or four of her page turners. Nonetheless, discovering her life through this memoir was quite fascinating.

Tidbits that surprised me (and at the same time, brought me to
say "Oh, ofcourse!) include the many tragedies that make up her
life. Even as I call them "tragedies" I can almost feel her disagree.

Her spirit seemed to recognize and acknowledge the less-than-idyllic factors which make up the tapestry of her life AND at the same time, she didn't ever allow those to stop her.... she had a life to live, after all, as we all do.

My favorite "fact tidbit" was to read about Mary Higgins Clark's original writing jobs as well as her original writing group. It really reinforces how important it can be for ALL writers to participate in critique and writing groups with other writers.

She has one particular career in writing that made me say "OH!
So thats how she honed the craft of 'page turning writer' compelling the reader to find out more". I don't want to give it away, though..... instead I invite you to experience the book yourself.

Inspiring and real!.......2004-01-16

I listened to the CD version (unabridged). I am usually not all that fond of autobiographies, but I found this one highly entertaining, with many funny personal stories. It was also honest and real. This is the life story of someone who too often was given lemons, but always chose to make lemonade. I enjoyed every minute. She brings you right into her world. Incidentally, listening to the CD was also wonderful because the author did the recording, so she knew just where to put the emphasis.

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Kitchen Privileges
Mary Higgins Clark
Manufacturer: Pocket Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Kitchen Privileges [UNABRIDGED] (Audiobook)

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Kitchen Privileges [UNABRIDGED] (Audiobook)
Mary Higgins Clark
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

Nonfiction | Books on CD | Formats | Books
ASIN: 1402540345

Product Description

International best-selling author of suspense Mary Higgins Clark delivers a poignant memoir about her life growing up in the Bronx and how the Depression affected her family. She shares the pain of losing her father and brother, and the joy of marrying the man who she secretly loved for years. In this moving tale, Clark reveals what experiences helped shape her novels and the importance writing has had on her life.

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Kitchen Privileges

Manufacturer: Simon and Schuster
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 0739431331

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Summer in Sodom With Kitchen privileges
Florence Holland
Manufacturer: Exposition
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 0682489689

Product Description

A wry and riotous romance of Depression days

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" ... with kitchen privileges."
Louise Andrews Kent
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B0007E4LWC

Con Derecho a Cocina/ Kitchen Privileges (Best Seller)

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Con Derecho a Cocina/ Kitchen Privileges (Best Seller)
Mary Higgins Clark
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 8497934067

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Kitchen Privileges: A Memoir

ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 0641567316

Product Description

From the Publisher Even as a young girl, growing up in the Bronx, Mary Higgins Clark knew she wanted to be a writer. The gift of storytelling was a part of her Irish ancestry, so it followed naturally that she would later use her sharp eye, keen intelligence, and inquisitive nature to create stories about the people and things she observed.

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