I am guessing that Meadowlark Songs: A Motherline Legacy feels like one of the children of the author Joy Neal Kidney. Writers often feel that way about their creations. If so, I am hoping I can call myself one of the book’s many grandparents. My chapbook Kin Types, a collection of poems and flash prose, reinvented the lives of my female ancestors. Kidney mentions my book as one of her favorite resources, which tickles me more than I can tell you—because the genre seems fresh and new and so dear to my heart. And now I see it reimagined by Kidney who has created a gorgeous, well-researched, and organized delve into the lives of the women of her family who came before her.
Meadowlark Songs is primarily a poetry collection illustrated with family photographs and supplemented with informative prose. Each “mother” before Kidney has her own section, as part of the “motherline.” The cover design by Nelly Murariu beautifully captures the feel of the book.
The ancestors in the book began their lives on the east coast of the United States, but gradually moved farther inland, as far as Nebraska but the family put down deep roots in Iowa. The women’s lives come to life in Kidney’s poetry. These women are strong, resolute, and inspired by their Christian faith.
Family stories and legends are also captured in the poetry. For instance, in “Startled by Santee Sioux,” we read how Laura Goff, Kidney’s great grandmother, was a Nebraska pioneer when a couple of Santee Sioux men walked into her home. She negotiated a trade for dress goods by bartering her chickens to the men. The book is full of fascinating anecdotes such as this.
Probably my favorite part of the book is the last section, about the author herself, “The Memory Keeper,”—and her passion for creating a lasting storyline of her family through this book, as well as her previous books. We read about what formative experiences she had, and how her faith has been her guidance through it all.
I’ve cried and laughed reading Kidney’s other books, but I felt even closer to this book as she connected with the women who made her who she is today. Such a powerful experience for any woman.
You can connect with the author here: https://joynealkidney.com/
Click on the book image above to purchase through Amazon.
Joy Neal Kidney is the oldest granddaughter of Leora Wilson and author of four “Leora books.” She lives in central Iowa with her husband, Guy (an Air Force Veteran of the Vietnam War and retired Air Traffic Controller). Their son and his wife live out-of-state with a daughter named Kate.
A graduate of the University of Northern Iowa, Joy has lived with fibromyalgia for two dozen years, giving her plenty of home-bound days to write blog posts and books.
Sounds like a beautiful love song to me.
How could your work not be influential in this collection?
Wonderful.
Onward.
Thank you, Sheila, for your comment!
What a lovely way to put it, Sheila!
A big congratulations to Joy! I am so looking forward to reading this collection.
Thank you, Liz. Your “Grief Songs” also inspired this one!
Thanks, Joy! I’m so glad.
You will love what she did with this project!!!
I know I will!
Sounds interesting. She is lucky to have details going back that far.
Thank you, Kate. I discovered genealogy just before my husband was sent to Vietnam. It was a hobby until my son was born. He’s 50. While my mother was still living, I began collecting her stories. Her mother left a memoir with compelling details from her growing up years! I’ve become the keeper of their stories.
So lucky. I didn’t get interested in genealogy until after my mom’s generation was gone. There were “family stories” some of which weren’t quite right. My ancestors worked in vineyards, not breweries. Some information isn’t available but I was able to piece a lot together. Just not enough.
Chiming in here. Some of my ancestors had vineyards in Germany. But here in the US they made beer. Maybe there was some confusion there because they were acquainted with both?
Maybe. Wish I could talk to my grandfather (who died when I was 7) one more time. He flew back to Austria a few times to visit the old country. Two of my grandparents were gone when I was born. My maternal grandmother died when I was 3. Unfortunately, my remaining grandfather only spoke German and I didn’t. I’m active on Burgenland ancestry groups which is where my grandparents came from. I was contacted by a man who was cleaning out a house with a lot of old pictures from America. I was able to get a family portrait of my dad’s family when he was about 10. That was such a find. There aren’t many pictures in my family before the 50s and this was in the 1920s so it was a miracle.
Hurrah for those miracles!
Such an AMAZING discovery. Wow. That is so cool.
So fascinating. Family stories and research.
A lovely review, Luanne. Congratulations to joy
Thanks, John!
John, it’s a well-timed and lovely gift!
A beautifully positive review
And such a timely gift. Thank you, Derrick!
Thank you, Derrick! I think Joy’s book will be inspirational to many to look back at those who came before them.
I agree it is a wonderful review, Luanne, and congratulations to Joy!
Thank you, Lavinia! Such a yummy book!
Thank you so much, Lavinia!
Wonderful review! I loved the book! It is the kind of book you could read many times over!
Yes, I think so, too. Or dip into certain parts that you think of and want to refresh your memory. Thanks, Linda!!!
Thank you, Linda. I hope it stirs up lots of family stories!
Thank you for sharing this book with us. I loved the way you combined poetry and prose in your book. Someday I’d like to do that as well. I’ll look forward to looking at Joy’s book too.
Thank you, Deborah. I am working on another chapbook with flash and poetry–this time there are more flash stories than poems. I really hope you write one!!!!
Thank you, Deborah. Meadowlark Songs is mostly free verse (meets genealogy), but there are some prose sections as well. I hope you’ll get started on yours!
This is a wonderfully descriptive review of “Meadowlark Songs.” A big thumbs up for Luanne-and for you! You’ve obviously written a very compelling book, Joy. 🙂
Thank you, Nancy. I think it’s because the little stories stir up a reader’s own family stories, which is such a poignant bonus.
Nancy, I’m so sorry. Your comment was in my spam folder! Thank you so much for reading. Yes, you would love Joy’s book!
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