Sandi K W. (Sandiinmississippi) reviewed on 8/27/2015 + 265 more book reviews

'Too Close to the Falls' by Catherine Gildiner is a supposedly true account of the daughter of a pharmacist and her growing up in the 50s and early 60s. Kind of splitting the difference in a review because the first half of the book was totally entertaining but I disliked the end. It did feel like when you hear a friend telling a familiar tale which has, with each retelling, gotten larger and more amazing. The child is allowed to work in her father's pharmacy from a very early age and has remarkable freedom. However, as she progresses through school and sees how unusual her family behaves - they eat out every night and her mother does not believe in following many conventions - Catholic school becomes a poor fit for Catherine. And after a rather startling adventure with a young priest the book simply cuts out! It is as if the author got tired or found she did not feel up to revealing her future adventures and decided not to finish up. And, we have become fond of her, so it is most disappointing. Glad I read it though.

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