Author, Catherine Gildiner

Praise For Too Close To The Falls - A Personal Memoir Of Childhood

What makes Gildiner’s childhood memoir Too Close To The Falls (1999) unique is that hers is not a story of survival from abuse and hardship; it is a story of a quirky girl with guts and good morals. Young Cathy McClure (Gildiner) is a tomboy and an outsider whose parents are her best friends. Despite this she has a rich, happy childhood experience living in Lewiston, close to the Niagara Falls.

Cathy is a handful for her parents, even before she starts school her doctor advises her parents to put her to work to provide her with enough activity; she helps out at her father’s pharmacy, organizing shelves and assisting the illiterate delivery driver, Roy in finding addresses for prescription delivery. This affords Cathy the opportunity to meet several interesting people including Marilyn Monroe as well as an infamous former madam of Lewiston.

Cathy’s lack of exposure to kids her own age proves to be a disadvantage when she is old enough to attend school. Defending herself against a bully gets her into to trouble and a trip to a shrink. As she enters pre-adolescence she attends Catholic school. A caper gone wrong, resulting in the humiliation of a priest ends her time in Lewiston, NY.

This book speaks from the heart and will make you laugh out loud. Young Cathy McClure (Gildiner) reminds me of Scout from the classic To Kill A Mockingbird with her honesty, naivety and serious likeability. This is the best memoir I have read to date.

Praise For After The Falls – A Coming Of Age Book

After The Falls (2009) begins with the McClure’s moving from Lewiston to Buffalo, NY for a fresh start. After her expulsion from Catholic school, Cathy finds herself in a new town beginning the seventh grade as an outsider. Borrowing her dad’s car without permission is her first step to becoming a master of fitting in. She even conceals the fact that she is a late bloomer and not all that interested in dating or school for that matter.

Gildiner explores adolescent angst, the beginnings of womanhood, and the changes taking place in the 1960’s in America. Cathy discovers her passion for equal rights and her first real love, a football star and equal rights activist being investigated by the FBI.

She also endures hardship caring for her ailing father. As with her first memoir, readers are treated to a few good laughs and a unique perspective of life, as well as a touching father – daughter story. Gildiner’s devotion to her parents during the progression of her father’s brain tumour is simply beautiful. I am very pleased with this page turner.

About The Author

Catherine Gildiner is the author of two memoirs, Too Close To The Falls (1999) published by ECW press and After The Falls (2009) published by Vintage Canada. She is also the author of the novel Seduction. Gildiner spent many years as a clinical psychologist and she currently lives in Toronto.