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Storkbites: A Memoir | 
 enlarge | Author: Marie Etienne
Publisher: Alluvium Books
Category: Book
List Price: $19.95
Buy New: $12.56
You Save: $7.39 (37%)
New (14) Used (10) from $6.91
Avg. Customer Rating:  7 reviews
Sales Rank: 291727
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 343
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.4
Dimensions (in): 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.8
ISBN: 0974847402
Dewey Decimal Number: 920
EAN: 9780974847405
ASIN: 0974847402
Publication Date: August 15, 2003
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Product Description
In her memoir entitled Storkbites, Marie Etienne paints a powerful picture of her wealthy Louisiana family - a mother who bounces from sobriety to drunkenness, kindness to vicious cruelty, and an eccentric father who takes bizarre steps to protect his nine children from danger.Storkbites weaves two timelines-one showing a childhood filled with abuse, insanity, and material excess, and the other, the adult trying to make her way in California as a new mom. Murder, suicide, promiscuity, and alcoholism overshadow Mardi Gras balls, Christmas celebrations, and a daughter's bittersweet coming-of-age. Vivid scenes depict Daddy, nightly, tucking his children into bed, and hours later, Momma waking them for a beating. Marie is seduced by her married gynecologist. Pull-the-plug battles emerge as Momma lies dying in ICU. In the midst of a divorce, Marie sees her handprint on her son's back and vows stop the cycle of abuse-both as victim and perpetrator. Filled with hope, Storkbites shows the fierce love between siblings and the determination of one young mother desperate to escape her abusive past.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 2 more reviews...
 More like 3 and 1/2 stars. October 24, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Marie Etienne is an excellent writer. I enjoyed most of her book. Somehow, after about the first 150 pages, I did not look forward to reading it as much as I had in the beginning. What I mean is, some parts of her memoir really gripped me (her abusive and mentally ill mother, her loving yet substance abuse-laden father, all clashing against the setting of her family's upper-crust socio-economic status). But some parts seemed a bit over-written. I wouldn't say she is overly detailed in her writing, but for me, as the book got closer to ending, there was an overabundance of information about each sibling (she had about seven siblings).
That said, the family dynamics, and how intergenerational trauma repeats itself, all against the backdrop of the WASPY South, provides for a though-provoking, and often painful, read.
Most of the information about her siblings is interesting enough, and is an integral part of Ms. Etienne's memoir. I could have done without the descriptions of her high-society events and especially the animal cruelty that went on in her family. (Although I know the animal cruelty is an integral part of her memoir).
I would recommend this book, but with a warning: it could have been about 50 pages shorter. Even so, I applaud Ms. Etienne for her strong and candid writing.
 Page Turner about an Enlightening Personal Journey, July 17, 2006
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
Marie Etienne's Storkbites about her childhood growing up in a loving, yet verbally and physically abusive family in Lafayette, LA draws you in like the savory smells of down home southern cooking. With Money, a big house, luxury cars, Mardi Gras balls, a sweet father, a mother who cooks and cares for her NINE children, this Catholic family suddenly turns from perfect to unbelievably chaotic and cruel. Etienne's parents are alcoholics with deep-rooted problems, shocking behavior, and no clue how to raise children. Each of Marie's eight siblings are interesting characters with distinct personalities you grow to care about. Some of them don't come out of this nice-and-brutal lifestyle as well as Marie did. Her openness and honesty about herself is courageous and admirable.
This book is a page turner, by a talented writer, with a wry sense of humor and easy way of expressing herself. She uses a format which alternates back and forth from present to past to present, which pulls you in and keeps you hooked. Her lists of favorite Louisiana dishes and seafood make a Louisiana native crave the familiar Cajun dishes. Anyone who is not from the south gets a flavor of southern vernacular and traditions.
This story would make a great movie, better than Steel Magnolias or Crimes of the Heart. I highly recommend it to anyone. Keep writing, Marie.
Don't let this one pass you by June 4, 2004
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
Storkbites: A Memoir, is the story of a rich girl growing up in the South. The big family may look picture perfect on their public outings, but all is not well in the big house. With honesty, and not much fluff, Etienne brings out the truth with her intelligent and easy to read style. It makes you wonder how many more stories she has up her sleeve?
Compelling and Eye-opening May 13, 2004
11 out of 11 found this review helpful
This book propels the reader through the roller coaster ride that was Marie Etienne's life growing up in south Louisiana. A ride loaded with alcoholism, physical abuse, drug abuse, murder, suicide, neglect, wealth, love and hate - all the issues that can make any book enthralling. But these issues were all a part of Marie Etienne's family life. The reader will find it unbelievable that this is a true story. I applaud Marie for the courage it took to write her story and especially for surviving her story.
Storkbites is a book you can't put down April 25, 2004
9 out of 10 found this review helpful
Marie Etienne did an incredible job with her first novel "Storkbites." I found myself feeling what she felt in living in a dysfunctional and abusive family in childhood and to her own abusive behavior as she became an adult. Her use of beautiful words immediately transformed you into feeling the area and the feelings that this family went through. This book will make you laugh, cry and be angry that these children had to grow up in such an environment. I say bravo to the author for realizing she needed to change these patterns in raising her own boys. Storkbites is a must read for everyone .
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