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Perfect in Memory: A Son's Tribute to His Mother
Perfect in Memory: A Son's Tribute to His Mother is the third and final volume in Rick D. Niece's award-winningFanfare for a Hometown series. Shared from the perspective of an adult son looking back with loving nostalgia on how his spirited, nurturing mother shaped his life, Niece's heartfelt stories are celebrations of family and the timeless endurance of a mother's love. As Dodie Niece's life comes to a bittersweet end, Niece and his family gather at her bedside and share tender memories of their experiences in idyllic DeGraff, Ohio. Written as a tribute to a remarkable woman, Perfect in Memory focuses with tender reflection on the richness of simple gestures that make life so beautiful.
226 pages, Paperback
Published September 1, 2016
3 people are currently reading
315 people want to read
About the author
Rick D. Niece
3 books22 followersFollowing in his father‘s footsteps, Rick D. Niece, Ph.D., is a lifelong educator who has served as a classroom teacher, a public school administrator and a university professor, provost and president. In 1997, he was named President of the University of the Ozarks in Clarksville, Arkansas, and remains steadfast in his devotion to the University's success. After his retirement on July 1, 2013, he was named President Emeritus of the University of the Ozarks.
A small-town boy who has maintained his small-town values, Dr. Niece remembers his childhood with fond nostalgia. Growing up in picturesque DeGraff, Ohio, young Rickie was influenced by many endearing friends and neighbors who taught him the important life lessons that shaped his future-especially Bernie Jones. Confined to a wheelchair with severe cerebral palsy, Bernie became Rickie‘s friend, inspiration and superhero, opening a world of compassion, trust and adventure that benefitted them both. From Bernie, Rickie learned the value of unconditional acceptance, kindness and the triumph of the human spirit-lessons he took with him from his years as a newspaper boy to a career in academia.
Side-Yard Superhero is Dr. Niece‘s first book in the Fanfare for a Hometown series about his upbringing in DeGraff, an "automythography" describing his childhood in rich, vivid detail. Considering himself a "memory keeper," Niece takes readers with him on a poignant journey back in time to a safe haven of heartfelt remembrance. Vibrant, poetic and charming, his stories make DeGraff an open book that everyone who appreciates sentiment will want to read.
Dr. Niece is the recipient of multiple awards, both as an author and an educator. He and his wife, Sheree, are now retired and living in Hot Springs Village, Arkansas. Rick is now able to devote more time to his writing.
A small-town boy who has maintained his small-town values, Dr. Niece remembers his childhood with fond nostalgia. Growing up in picturesque DeGraff, Ohio, young Rickie was influenced by many endearing friends and neighbors who taught him the important life lessons that shaped his future-especially Bernie Jones. Confined to a wheelchair with severe cerebral palsy, Bernie became Rickie‘s friend, inspiration and superhero, opening a world of compassion, trust and adventure that benefitted them both. From Bernie, Rickie learned the value of unconditional acceptance, kindness and the triumph of the human spirit-lessons he took with him from his years as a newspaper boy to a career in academia.
Side-Yard Superhero is Dr. Niece‘s first book in the Fanfare for a Hometown series about his upbringing in DeGraff, an "automythography" describing his childhood in rich, vivid detail. Considering himself a "memory keeper," Niece takes readers with him on a poignant journey back in time to a safe haven of heartfelt remembrance. Vibrant, poetic and charming, his stories make DeGraff an open book that everyone who appreciates sentiment will want to read.
Dr. Niece is the recipient of multiple awards, both as an author and an educator. He and his wife, Sheree, are now retired and living in Hot Springs Village, Arkansas. Rick is now able to devote more time to his writing.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 4, 2017
What a powerful, stirring book of a man's loving memories of home, childhood, and the years beyond, but always connected to those anchors of a good life! This book--the last in a series of three--honors the author's mother, just as the title indicates, but also describes the painful and very difficult process of being with her as she dies. There are a number of enjoyable poems included which were written by Dr. Niece and appropriate to the theme of the chapter which they follow. For those of us who cannot put our memories on paper in the honest, smooth, and humorous way done here but do have sweet memories of our own, reading these books is a kind of catharsis as we become older and lose our own beloved family members. My review comes with my highest recommendation--reading it may make you cry, but it will also remind you of the joy of having had a loving mother!
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review of it.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review of it.
December 18, 2016
Reviewed by Carol Hoyer for Reader Views (12/16)
“Perfect in Memory” by Rick D. Niece is a tribute to a mother’s love, devotion, and sacrifice. As the author states, all his mother ever wanted was to, “Be a good mother and make it perfect for my boys.” What mother doesn’t want things to be perfect for their children?
The story itself is written in an unusual way. The author’s intent was to write about childhood memories to share with his mother while she was home bound with pulmonary fibrosis. He never got the chance. One of the things he remembers was that he and she were always remembering events while the children were growing up, and this was the only bond he and his mother shared. He wrote this book with encouragement from his wife, to bring some hope and love to his mother prior to her passing.
As I was reading these memories, it reminded me of times when life was simple, family values meant something, and we often learned to do without. It will remind readers how we are so caught up in technology today that we have forgotten how to have a real conversation, visit people in person and even say “I love you” face to face, as we now do these things through texts or on social media. Niece does an excellent job of turning back time and helping readers remember the way things used to be, and that regardless of strife in families, one can always remember good times.
At the beginning of the book, the term automythographies is discussed. I had never heard this term. The definition is basically, “Memories are based on an author’s life in no particular order, and are based on what he/she thinks they remember and how he/she thinks they remember it.” Each family member might remember things or events in a different way, but it is the author’s thoughts first and foremost.
"Perfect in Memory" by Rick D. Niece will have readers laughing and crying as it brings up their own memories. For this reviewer, it meant don’t wait until tomorrow to tell significant others how you feel.
“Perfect in Memory” by Rick D. Niece is a tribute to a mother’s love, devotion, and sacrifice. As the author states, all his mother ever wanted was to, “Be a good mother and make it perfect for my boys.” What mother doesn’t want things to be perfect for their children?
The story itself is written in an unusual way. The author’s intent was to write about childhood memories to share with his mother while she was home bound with pulmonary fibrosis. He never got the chance. One of the things he remembers was that he and she were always remembering events while the children were growing up, and this was the only bond he and his mother shared. He wrote this book with encouragement from his wife, to bring some hope and love to his mother prior to her passing.
As I was reading these memories, it reminded me of times when life was simple, family values meant something, and we often learned to do without. It will remind readers how we are so caught up in technology today that we have forgotten how to have a real conversation, visit people in person and even say “I love you” face to face, as we now do these things through texts or on social media. Niece does an excellent job of turning back time and helping readers remember the way things used to be, and that regardless of strife in families, one can always remember good times.
At the beginning of the book, the term automythographies is discussed. I had never heard this term. The definition is basically, “Memories are based on an author’s life in no particular order, and are based on what he/she thinks they remember and how he/she thinks they remember it.” Each family member might remember things or events in a different way, but it is the author’s thoughts first and foremost.
"Perfect in Memory" by Rick D. Niece will have readers laughing and crying as it brings up their own memories. For this reviewer, it meant don’t wait until tomorrow to tell significant others how you feel.
September 26, 2016
An excellent addition to the Fanfare for a Hometown series. Niece eloquently captures a difficult time in his life by recalling loving, family times, the nostalgia of growing up in a supportive small town, and the beautiful relationship of his adoring parents. Readers will laugh and cry as they, too, remember.
April 2, 2017
Reviewed by Sarah Rollins of Readers Favourite
Perfect in Memory: A Son’s Tribute to His Mother, by Rick D. Niece is the third non fiction book in a series by this author. This is a touching tribute written by a son reflecting on the loving memory of his dear mother. The author writes of his memories with love and affection, detailing his family, the small town he lived in, and the relationships that impacted his youth. It was especially touching as I read about his parents and the love and respect that they shared for one another. The author clearly doted on his mother, and this book gives the reader a perfect insight into that relationship.
Perfect in Memory, also takes you as a reader back to a special time that some of us may still remember; the days without social media and technology, and the simplicity of life as a family where dinner times were important and communication was important to a relationship and sense of family. The author demonstrates a good sense of humour, and brings the reader in emotionally, leaving me with a lump in my throat in many parts of his story. He writes in a way that draws you in without effort, and as I put the book down after the final page, I found myself looking up the earlier two stories of this series. I commend Rick D. Niece for his transparency and passion in this touching memoir, and I recommend anyone who holds their mother close to their heart to read this story, as it truly reminds you to cherish what you have in life.
Perfect in Memory: A Son’s Tribute to His Mother, by Rick D. Niece is the third non fiction book in a series by this author. This is a touching tribute written by a son reflecting on the loving memory of his dear mother. The author writes of his memories with love and affection, detailing his family, the small town he lived in, and the relationships that impacted his youth. It was especially touching as I read about his parents and the love and respect that they shared for one another. The author clearly doted on his mother, and this book gives the reader a perfect insight into that relationship.
Perfect in Memory, also takes you as a reader back to a special time that some of us may still remember; the days without social media and technology, and the simplicity of life as a family where dinner times were important and communication was important to a relationship and sense of family. The author demonstrates a good sense of humour, and brings the reader in emotionally, leaving me with a lump in my throat in many parts of his story. He writes in a way that draws you in without effort, and as I put the book down after the final page, I found myself looking up the earlier two stories of this series. I commend Rick D. Niece for his transparency and passion in this touching memoir, and I recommend anyone who holds their mother close to their heart to read this story, as it truly reminds you to cherish what you have in life.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews