janet's review
2.0
First: Let it be known that I am a HUGE Mary Tyler Moore fan. Though not as obsessive as I was years ago, I'll still read or watch anything having to do with her.
Recently I discovered that this book existed; I'd never heard of it before, which is strange for someone like me who oft Googles MTM to see what I can find. This book is part of a series called "Great Achievers: Lives of the Physically Challenged." I figured it could make for good guided reading (or, for a more clinical word, bibliotherapy) for someone with a physical disability or chronic illness. Wrong. The person who wrote this, Margaret Finn, sure is sincere, but her style is that of an overzealous, way-into-adjectives high school student composing something for an essay contest. The book outlines not just Mary's life but the storylines of every movie and TV show she's done, rarely discussing how her battles with serious diabetes, alcoholism, and depression affected her day to day life. Yes, we get the pat ending in which Finn compares Mary to a phoenix, but throughout the short book, Finn misses out on MANY opportunities to bring Mary's illnesses into play.
The book's layout and look make it seem as if the series is geared toward young people, but the content would probably bore anyone under 14 (unless the reader is a HUGE fan looking to read MTM trivia).
Recently I discovered that this book existed; I'd never heard of it before, which is strange for someone like me who oft Googles MTM to see what I can find. This book is part of a series called "Great Achievers: Lives of the Physically Challenged." I figured it could make for good guided reading (or, for a more clinical word, bibliotherapy) for someone with a physical disability or chronic illness. Wrong. The person who wrote this, Margaret Finn, sure is sincere, but her style is that of an overzealous, way-into-adjectives high school student composing something for an essay contest. The book outlines not just Mary's life but the storylines of every movie and TV show she's done, rarely discussing how her battles with serious diabetes, alcoholism, and depression affected her day to day life. Yes, we get the pat ending in which Finn compares Mary to a phoenix, but throughout the short book, Finn misses out on MANY opportunities to bring Mary's illnesses into play.
The book's layout and look make it seem as if the series is geared toward young people, but the content would probably bore anyone under 14 (unless the reader is a HUGE fan looking to read MTM trivia).
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