Welcome to Litsy!

This was a well written memoir of growing up at China Lake. It was also a look into a particular American experience that I haven‘t been exposed too much, so I appreciate it. I have some questions that will probably never be answered. For example “How could two scientists be so willing to send their children to such a horrible school?”

You can create life and tell stories, stories that are true.

In this age of “fake news” and “alternative facts” true stories are a valuable commodity.

Eh. I liked the parts about the missile base, but not so much her personal life.

#memoir

So far an interesting look at growing up on a missile base.

#memoir #memoirlove #memoirs

If you liked Hidden Figures. . .
.
Karen Piper grew up at China Lake, a rocket testing facility where both her father and her mother worked on the sidewinder missiles.
.
This book wasn‘t my favorite— it delves into Piper‘s adult life, which I found less interesting than her descriptions of China Lake. However, it did deepen my understanding of female “computers.”
.
Here‘s an excerpt published today on Nautilus: https://tinyurl.com/ybfrng69

I liked this memoir - an interesting story, artfully written. I enjoyed how she linked her personal and family history to moments in the history of American politics, war, and activism. Definitely makes me want to learn more about the China Lake weapons facility (just a few hours away from me, but I knew nothing about it before hearing the author talk about the book on Fresh Air).

A Girl's Guide to Missiles by Karen Piper is about her childhood in the Mojave Desert while her parents worked designing missiles at China Lake. It's also about civilian vs military life, fundamentalism, and how much of childhood can be held on to. Plus some funny descriptions of Eugene and Oregon weather from the perspective of someone accustomed to desert climate. I got a little bogged down in the middle but came back around.

This was a wonderful memoir about growing up on China Lake Base and growing up in general. But it doesn't come out until August. I will remind you all then.