On A Personal Note
Rita MacNeil
Key Porter Books
Fans will love this book for its references to Rita’s songs. An abundance of lyrics are interspersed among the pages, and anyone who is familiar with the songs will appreciate the “I wrote this then because” and “that experience inspired me to write this” or “this song is for? because”. I really enjoyed reading On A Personal Note because it’s a compelling story, an interesting story of one person’s rise to fame full of familiar people and places. It touches on the things that happen in life and along the path of following one’s dream.
Nicely written with Anne Simpson, I could almost hear Rita’s TV variety show voice and delivery as I read it. And 16 pages of pictures detail various times and people of her life.
The story starts with a drive to Big Pond, describing the village as she arrives, taking us back to where she’s from. As the seasons change and school starts, Rita’s childhood comes to life and reflection on church and religion, Christmas, and relatives set up the perspective in which to view the life of this woman who has had the rare opportunity to follow her dream. Through hard times and happy days, this book offers a telling glimpse into the life of an extraordinary woman.
