Last Dance in Shediac: Memories of Molly Lamb Bobak, My Mum - Softcover

Anny Scoones

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1771511389 ISBN 13: 9781771511384

Publisher: TouchWood Editions, 2015

Synopsis

A vividly wrought memoir, Last Dance in Shediac is a collection of the authors personal memories of her mothercelebrated Canadian artist Molly Lamb Bobakand a tender meditation on life and death.

I had always assumed that neither of my parents would end up in an old folks home. And yet here was Mum, ensconced in a world of pad-covered recliner chairs, legion singalongs, ball-tossing exercises done sitting down, plastic cups of juice, Jell-O, and fluorescent lights. Mum, this really isnt a home; its more like a hotel for old people, Id tell her, and that temporarily softened the blow for both of us. An excerpt from the book

Molly Lamb Bobak (19222014) was the first woman to travel overseas as an official Canadian war artist. She was also the daughter of famous Canadian artist Harold Mortimer-Lamb, whose contemporaries included Emily Carr, A.Y. Jackson, and Jack Shadbolt. In this homage to her artist mother, Anny Scoones rounds out her mothers public profile by revealing personal stories.

Annys memories reveal the funny and touching details of her relationship with Molly, from the road trips they took together to the visits Molly would make to Victoria to visit Anny on Glamorgan Farm, and the lovely chaos that ensued when Annys five dogs would greet Molly in the car. Anny shares their little inside jokes and the memories they made together in a way that brings their connectionbeyond motherdaughter bond to close friendshipto life for the reader.

As her mother ages and becomes increasingly frail, Anny spends more and more time in Fredericton. Their road trips grow shorter, and Annys reflections on how it feels to finally watch her mother go are tender, heartbreaking, and memorable.

About this title

About the Author

Anny Scoones was raised in Fredericton, New Brunswick, has served as an elected city councillor, and now teaches English in Victoria. Anny lives in the neighbourhood of James Bay in Victoria, British Columbia.

Review

"This book is the perfect read for a retreat ... truly delightful ... I know Shediac is in New Brunswick, but the heart of the book lives here." --Tofino-Ucluelet Westerly News

-- (11/04/2015)

"A meandering memoir, told in [Scoones'] unique and quirky voice. It is a bouquet of a book." --Times Colonist

-- (11/07/2015)

Anny Scoones shares a few family stories with CBC's Shift, including the touching story behind the memoir's unusual title.

-- (11/29/2015)

"Anyone who might be disappointed in not learning more about Molly Lamb Bobak the artist will come away from Last Dance in Shediac with something that transcends art." --BC Studies

-- (12/01/2015)

"It's obvious that this family has a lot more going on below the surface than Scoones is prepared to reveal, but rather than disappointing me, it made me read and reread the book more closely, as I savoured whatever tiny glipmses I could get of anything that would help fill in the picture of Molly Lamb Bobak's inner life." --Patty Osborne, Geist

-- (07/01/2016)

Edition details

• Publisher: TouchWood Editions
• Publication date: 2015
• ISBN 10: 1771511389
• ISBN 13: 9781771511384
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 240