As a writer and motivational speaker, Woods' uplifting success story is both inspirational and endearing. Her sense of personal expansion continues throughout the collection. Readers will root for Terry with the turn of every page as she reveals her rags-to-riches life.
In 1954, when she was 11 years old, she began keeping a diary. One of her first entries reads, "I'm the person who is writing in this diary and telling about the thrilling, funny, and sad stories of my life." Unbeknownst to Terry, this innocent line would encapsulate her 65 years of diary writing.
The author has lived a remarkably full life, although distinctly divided in two. Born in Brooklyn, she spent her first 12 years on a dairy farm. After her parents divorced, her mother moved back to Brooklyn where Woods writes, "I feel like a naïve farm girl," as she slips into a series of unhappy and dangerous relationships.
After her mid-30s, she gained valuable mentors, wrote a self-help book, published a magazine, and traveled extensively for 15 years.
The most delightful aspect of reading her diary excerpts is how they observe the blossoming of Woods' self-confidence while living with her aunt who supported her dreams. She writes, "My enthusiasm is making me a winner. My self-love grows and my horizons expand." -- KIRKUS REVIEWS
