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Hi Robert,
I just finished reading your book on your grandmother it was very interesting to say the least. When I put it down I couldn't wait until I read the next chapter. You never mentioned if she ever went back to Glendale in her later years.
My mother always said that Uncle David was her favorite. Neil C. (Annie's brother) use to come to Inverness to visit Mom. I use to see him at my aunt's in Mabou.
Recently I met a man from Glendale who knew the Gillis family. He told me Neil C. was a "moonshiner" and had some brushes with the RCMP. He was not much of a farmer. We laughed at some of the tales he told.
I noticed in Annie's address book of Josephine Gillis, Mann Ave. Inverness. She was married to my uncle Angus Gillis. They had worked in Boston all their lives but retired to Inverness. They are both dead now and buried in Stella Maris cemetery in Inverness. There are stories of when they went home to Cape Breton Angus would park his car and he and his brother in Mabou would hitch up the wagon & drive to Glendale to visit Neil C. and his moonshine.
There were fourteen in my Mother's family, seven boys & seven girls, the last of the family Margaret died in Millnocket, Maine last Christmas. She had lived there most of her life.
Again Robert thanks for the book. It was a good read.
Best regards. John
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Allbooks Reviews
In the 1930's being a single mother was not only shocking, it was a challenge overcome by only the strongest of women. Anne Gillis was such a woman, and with her stubborn determination she managed to take care of her and her son's financial needs, and went on to leave an indelible imprint on the next generation as well.
Robert Gillis has written an extraordinary tribute to his uniquely lovable grandmother, Anne Gillis. The story follows her from her birth in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, through her years as a dutiful nurse to the elderly as the soul proprietor of Uphams Corner Rest Home, to the humorous and bittersweet final years of her life. With great pride and honesty, the author does a remarkable job of remembering and relating the part of the story that occurs during his childhood as if he were still using the eyes of a child. It is also with great skill that he captures the poignant moments near the end of a life well lived, as well as the grief of those who have been deeply affected by it.
Biography can often be a difficult genre: to produce an enjoyable and moving book, the author needs to have true passion for his subject. There is no doubt Robert Gillis has the required intense-love, and the result is that the reader is privileged to call Anne Gillis a new friend.
Robert Gillis lives in Foxboro, Massachusetts, where he works as a computer programmer and writer for a local paper.
A wonderfully sweet book, I strongly recommend it.
Nancy Morris
Allbooks Reviews
The author begins by taking readers to Cape Breton, Nova Scotia where he provides them with the family lineage for Nana beginning with her grandparents. He describes the rural, farming village of Glendale where Nana was born on May 20, 1902. The background of the family is presented interestingly enough to appeal to all readers which demonstrates the author's talent and is pertinent to understanding Nana as well as the other family members. Mr. Gillis is obviously proud of his heritage and plans a future visit to Glendale.
Nana, at the age of 17, left her homeland and went to the United States with her older sister Mary. In Boston she did secretarial work and cooked and cleaned for rich families. Because Nana worked hard and saved her money, she was able to send for her parents in 1929. Other than one brother, all the surviving Gillis children--as well as an uncle--eventually moved near Boston.
Nana's only son, Robert Joseph Gillis, was born on March 7, 1937 in Medford, Massachusetts. Because Nana was never married, most of the circumstances regarding Bobby's birth remained a mystery. People in the 1930's were unforgiving toward unwed mothers; therefore, it took a strong woman to keep and raise her son, especially with her time restraints and work schedule. She referred to herself as Miss Gillis and referred to Robert as her nephew. Sadly the two of them were never close; however, with the passage of time, though Nana did not openly display affection toward her son, there were signs of veiled love.
In 1941 Nana, who had training as a nurse, purchased a large house in Dorchester--a beautiful mansion where she and Bobby would live. However, this intelligent and hard-working woman also had other plans for the 12-room house on 10 Trull Street. After making the necessary renovations, she operated it as Uphams Corner Rest Home which was a boarding home for elderly persons. Nana worked unceasingly as she bathed and dressed patients, fed them home-prepared meals, washed their clothes in a washtub, and dealt with city inspectors who always found clean and healthy patients. Despite the challenges, this determined woman did very well financially and was extremely generous when it came to loaning money to family members. In 1965 she went out of business and began renting rooms in the home to tenants.
Nana's son Bobby married a lovely woman named Marguerite in January of 1964--a woman Nana truly liked and one who would help look after her in her later years. Then Bobby, Jr., the author of this book, and his sister Theresa were born. When little Bobby was five or six, his grandmother offered to pay him some small change if he would bring newspapers to her home during the weekdays. He agreed and the ten minute visits were the beginning of a long and wonderful relationship that developed between the two of them. When he was older, Bobby, Jr. worked alongside his father who had been doing most of the work in maintaining the house on 10 Trull Street. Though he didn't graduate from high school, the older Bobby could fix anything and, despite his lack of parental supervision while growing up, he was a sensitive and kindhearted man. This reviewer saw many examples of these same qualities in his mother. After the older Bobby died, his son took over the upkeep of Nana's house.
Regardless of how busy his schedule was, Bobby managed to spend quality time with his grandmother, listening to her tell the same intriguing stories over and over, taking her on trips, helping her shop and, of course, making repairs on her home. Many of his wonderful memories were--and still are--associated with 10 Trull Street, and readers will enjoy his description of the various activities that took place there.
This book is extremely well-written and contains valuable information as to how one can help senior citizens with their needs. The author loved his grandmother, recognizing her exceptional qualities and acknowledging that--like all of us--she wasn't perfect. He helped her when she was recovering from an illness or accidental injury; he made tough decisions when he realized that she could no longer care for herself. At the appropriate time, Bobby--though his heart was aching--gave her permission to let go of this life so that she could be with other family members in Heaven. This sweet and inspiring book is one that entire families will enjoy. Just as Nana gave so much to her grandson, he gives so much to readers.
Bettie Corbin Tucker, for Independent Professional Book Reviewerswww.bookreviewers.org
What a beautiful story. It was a wonderful "peek" into your life, and I appreciate that! It takes courage to open up your life like that, not only to the people that know you, but to the people you have never met before. Not everyone can do that! I don't think I could!
Your book touched me in so many ways. I lost my Nana Ann in February of 1996. She was a lot like your Nana. A real spitfire of a lady. Independent, strong willed... only my Nana's mouth was rough; she could have made a truck driver blush with what came out! Your book made me reflect on MY relationship with her, what did I really know about her life? She didn't talk much about her childhood or her life. In the last few years of her life she would tell us stories that would make our head's swirl … one of five kids. How I wish I had taken the time to get more stories from her. Tape record our visits as you did with your Nana.
Your book also got me thinking of my Nana Helen. She is 84 years old and lives only in Stoughton. Bob, I don't see her enough, and your book made me realize how precious she is to me. How a simple ride only 15/20 minutes away is so easy for me to do! She won't be there forever! So for that I thank you. I thank you because I vow here and now to spend more time with her. To take the kids over there for no reason at all but a hug and a cup of tea. She means so much to me; I'm not ready to give my time with her up.
Thank you Bob for a touching story. It was special. It made me cry... a lot! Your Nana would be so proud of you... although I have the feeling she already was! I've said it before Bob, you are an amazing writer. I enjoy reading your articles in the Reporter. You have such a sense of humor that I truly enjoy! I look forward to another book someday... I'm so proud to have your book and to say that I know you!
Thank you again Bob... I enjoyed reading about your relationship with your Nana and all that you both encountered in life.
:) Wendy
Wendy added this a few days later...
And just so you know I wasn't blowing fluff about spending time with my Nana Helen. I called her at 9:30 this morning and she came over and spent an hour with us. I told her it was just the beginning....
THANK YOU FOR THAT!!!
:)wendy
read your book and thoroughly enjoyed it. What a wonderful tribute. A terrific journey through the turbulence of life of a purposeful woman. You have every right to be proud of her. You had a great opportunity to be such a close part of her life for so long. It was amazing to watch both your characters develop and progress through the decades. Good work!
I can identify because I also grew up in my grandparents' home.
The meeting was great last night. You inspired some heartfelt conversation. Lots of us remembering how we lost our loved ones. What we did do for them or how we could have done more.
I really enjoyed your book. I thought it was going to be all fluff but soon realized your Nana to be a down to earth person with her faults as well as her wonderful attributes.
"I think the Title should have been "Me and Nana" - The book was about 80% of your personal relationship with your grandmother, which was perfectly fine except when I first saw the title... I thought it was going to be about Anne Gillis and her relationship to everyone. Obviously, I realize YOU wrote the book so that is the voice the book would be in. But, I think your legacy to her is you have "memorialized" what she meant to you... not what Anne Gillis meant to the world.
It seemed all through the book...you were just too good of a grandson! I went through a similar situation with my grandmother when my mother died. I was the legal guardian and the only family member who took care of her. As much as I loved being with her...there were times I felt burdened by having to "take care" of her...and I was only there 3-4 times a week and for only 2 years! It seemed as though you must have had a negative feeling or two somewhere along the way...I was waiting for that moment when you "opened up" and let us all know you were human when it came to your dedication to her.
When reading about Nana's death... I had a real hard time... You captured the moment and put us all in your shoes where I was truly hurting for you. It brought back a flood of memories of my mother and grandmother and my being there at the end.
The honesty of what your grandmother was really like. Not the apple pie and cheek squeezing type, but the hard working, Scarlet Letter wearing and straight shooting matriarch. That was refreshing (although depressing at times.) I think most people would have glossed over the faults.
The fact that you actually published a book really impresses me...I have wanted to write a book for years and have written miles of pages to no avail. It is so much harder than it sounds. You are able to say that you wrote and published a book and that is truly impressive. It also means alot to me to say I am good friends with a published author. : )
Overall, I enjoyed the book and would recommend it to anyone who knows you or is dealing with an elderly loved one.
That's about it from me... Congratulations again!
Tom
P.S. We spent over an hour of book club discussing your book and maybe 20 minutes discussing the Agatha Christie book. Good, heartfelt criticism was shared and an overall consensus where everyone was glad they read the book."
You have shared a remarkable relationship with Nana and can look back with great pride that you made her life happier because of your unselfish devotion and love. Thanks for sharing."
"Over the past few weeks, I have been fascinated while getting to know a most remarkable lady, one Anne Gillis, your beloved Nana.
How fortunate she is to have a grandson who loves her so much, and who did such a remarkable job penning a tribute to her and how she touched the many lives around her.
Your effort reflects so much more than a grandson's tribute to someone he loved so dearly. Your story is a finely crafted social commentary on the times, the social norms, the hardscrabble life and the oft unheralded influence of dedicated women of those times who worked so hard to hold everything together.
What little you told me about your literary effort prior to asking me to review a copy did nothing to prepare me for its content. This isn't simply a man recalling his devotion to someone very special in his life: it is a slice of Americana at its intimate, detailed, loving best.
The only time I had the urge to pick up the editor's blue pen was direct quotes made so many years ago, but then my mind went back to her prolific notes, etc. and I said yes - that was possible. Even if it wasn't, don't change anything for fear of breaking the spell. It is a finely crafted narrative and you have the perfect mix of voice, tone and measure. Don't screw it up!
Well done, Bobby Gillis. There will be a lot of smiles over this one: the broadest will be on the face of a white-haired old darling you called Nana.
Good luck. Thanks for the opportunity to meet such a remarkable lady."
I have to say I could not wait to comment on it until I was finished. I have not been able to put it down! It just draws you into the story and life as if you were having a cup of tea and reminiscing
about a family member.
What grabs me most, Robert, is your down to earth honesty. It shows how human we all can be and we love and forgive each other in spite of our shortcomings.
You really "got" what your grandmother was all about at a young age.
Your writing style makes me feel like I am opening a front door, going in and sitting in front of a crackling fire.
I will give you my final analysis when I finish, which at this rate will be very soon.
***
Hi Robert,
I am writing, as I promised, to give you complete feedback now that I have finished your book. Well done! I was not disappointed.
What a wonderful journey you shared through your days with your Nana. I cannot believe the devotion you showed her by your visits and helping her around the house as your father had done.
That you also had frustrating moments with her, made it all the more honest and human. You did not put yourself up on a pedestal and told it as it really was.
I admired your Grandmother Anne's strength of character and compassion for the elderly. That came through so strong in your book and it was obviously a trait she was able to pass along to you. It must have been so hard being a single Mom in those days and difficult to show her son love. Although you could tell she loved your Dad in her own way. She reminded me of my Mom in that sense.
The book was very therapeutic for me actually, which surprised me.
What really touched me the most is family helping family and you allowing your Nana to talk of old days gone by. That's hard to do when you are young. My 23 year old daughter rolls her eyes at me and my son just commented the other day how every story begins with died dead, or obituary LOL.
I always loved my elders telling stories.
Genealogy is a game of patience and I enjoy every step of the way and love helping find something for someone not related to me. It is very fulfilling.
I am proud to have your book in my collection . Who knows maybe we link somewhere along the line. I had a Christy Macphee, actually married to a Peter Gillis. She also moved to the states.
Take care Robert."
Dolores
I have always been honest when I say I am lucky to have a friend like you, now I know more of why I am so lucky.
Obviously you reached this reader, which makes a book work. Great job!
Honored to be your friend,
Laureen
[Laureen House later added... ]
My boss is currently reading Nana. She says that she is enjoying the book very much. But the one thing that is sticking out to her right now is your Dad. How he was someone revere as much, even more so than Nana. She wants to know when there will be a book about him.
She also wanted to know if now that you don't live with your parents, do you visit them as often as you did Nana. She sounded like she hadn't gotten to the part where your Dad was declining in health, so I didn't say much in that regard.
We did talk about how Nana treated your Dad, she feels as if Nana blamed him. That she should have been kinder to him. Also, the admiration that he stayed on the good side of things. He lived in a neighborhood that continued to breed the undesirables, yet he stayed away from that and focused on being a supportive son.
We talked a bit more, but that is all I have time to write for now.
Laureen
I finished reading your book a few weeks back but was delayed in writing you as my third and last brother passed away following surgery. In recalling the life of your beloved Nana Anne, the first thought that came to my mind was your recall of events that you were involved in which spanned so many years and your ability to draw on the past which occurred long before you were born. Second thought was your steadfast devotion which had to take its toll on you especially when you were a college student and juggling studies, work and caring for your Nana Anne.
I can understand your depression after she passed away and I wonder if your Nana didn't suffer from depression herself, as she was a person who was so motivated in her first half century on this earth and then, as many people do seem to do, fail to take comfort in the memories of the past and the family who were so close, and just slide into a funk. I felt sad for you and even sadder for her.
I feel indeed blessed that in nearing my 85th birthday, and widowed at age 57, I have been able to be independent, in fact I take pride in that and live alone in the 17th century home which was scheduled for demolition when we bought it in 1948. My 2 sons stop by and call, as do my grandsons who live in the area. The day may come when I will need to rely on them, but it is my hope the day is far in future.
I have friends who have no support family and I feel for them. Your Nana Anne Gillis was indeed blessed.
You'll love Cape Breton. Don't wait too long as it is slowly losing its uniqueness.
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