Review by Viczboy16 -- Gardening With Guns by AJ Wootton

[viczboy16]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Gardening With Guns" by AJ Wootton.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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Gardening with Guns by AJ Wootton is a well-written emotional memoir that talks about the traumatic life in which Amber had encountered whilst growing up and in her marital life as an adult. Amber is a married career woman with three kids and a wonderful job. Everything seems perfect in her life. This memoir reveals the challenges Amber faced in her relationship with her husband, brothers, dad, stepmothers, stepfather, and biological mother.

The book kicks off with Amber waiting for an interview in her car for a new job which is less time-demanding, enabling her to have more time for her family. She then proceeds on vacation with her husband and her kids after securing her new job. While on her vacation, she receives a call about the death of a family member. She unites with her two brothers to plan the funeral of her late family member, and this brings back bitter memories of her past. She also finds out that her husband isn’t exactly who she thinks he is, as he lives a secret life, and her suspicion about him becomes a fact. This further inflicts pain and hurt in their marriage. Now, she contemplates divorce, the major element in her traumatic childhood, but hopes the effect doesn’t affect her loving children. Does she end her marriage or endures the pain for her children's sake?

AJ Wootton did a wonderful job in writing this memoir in the form of a novel. She tells us her story in the first-person narrative. The book is divided into 51 short but interesting chapters, with each chapter title linking to what the chapter talks about. For example, chapter 9 is titled “FOX IN THE HENHOUSE," and it narrates how Amber was sexually abused in their residence by Glen, her stepfather.

Initially, I felt I shouldn’t have picked this book because I felt memoirs and biographies could be a bit boring, but I was highly disappointed. The details she included made the memoir really interesting. For instance, the fact that she included the actual names of cars in the book, such as Nissan Murano, Corvette, and Mustang, left me smiling. I enjoyed how she seamlessly moved from present to past and back to present while telling her story. Despite her traumatic experiences, she was very optimistic in her story, and she gave her readers a form of hope. As a result, I had a picture of her as a strong woman. In summary, the book tells us that bad-parenting and divorce, in most cases, can be traumatic to children while growing up.

I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. It deserves a full rating as it was professionally edited. I found no errors in spelling, punctuation, and grammar. I also enjoyed the writing style used by the author. I recommend this book to lovers of memoirs and biographies. As stated earlier, the book is highly emotional with scenes that contain suicide, sexual abuse, child abuse, and homosexuality, hence not suitable for children.

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Gardening With Guns
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[Sou Hi]

Thanks for your detailed review. This sounds like an appealing memoir filled with pain and struggles. The title is quite interesting for a biography, too.

[viczboy16]

Thanks for your detailed review. This sounds like an appealing memoir filled with pain and struggles. The title is quite interesting for a biography, too.

I agree with you. It is highly emotional.

[Rayah Raouf]

Sounds like an interesting book. Thank you for your review.

[Nicholus Schroeder]

Excellent review, pleasant to read and concise great work keep it up

[smolbird]

I loved your detailed review. I'm also a bit hesitant when it comes to reading memoirs, but I think you sold me on this one. I can't begin to imagine the struggles she went through. Thanks for the review!

[viczboy16]

Sounds like an interesting book. Thank you for your review.

Thanks for your feedback. It is really interesting.

[viczboy16]

I loved your detailed review. I'm also a bit hesitant when it comes to reading memoirs, but I think you sold me on this one. I can't begin to imagine the struggles she went through. Thanks for the review!

It's a memoir but the author made it seem like a novel. Memoirs can be a bit boring but this is highly engaging and interesting.

[viczboy16]

Excellent review, pleasant to read and concise great work keep it up

Thanks for your positive feedback.

[Mtibza eM]

Great review! I must say, the title looks inviting.

[viczboy16]

Great review! I must say, the title looks inviting.

The title looks inviting and the book is worth reading.

[63tty]

This book seems like it would make me cry. Great review.

[Joy Phill]

Moving forward and backward in time sustains my interest in a book. Thanks for highlighting the key features in this book and for a great review.

[Malve]

 I usually don't read biographies, but you convinced me. In my opinion, it is important to address such issues and not be dead silent. As you said, it can give hope to other sufferers. Can’t wait to read it!! Thank you for your great review. 

[viczboy16]

This book seems like it would make me cry. Great review.

I didn't cry though but I believe you wouldn't get to the point of crying, unless you are very emotional.