Them There Eyes

If a review of this book ever emerges, the headline might read, "Psychologist Turns Detective to Piece Together His Mother's Career." Or, "Idiot Son Neglected To Inquire About Mother's Career While She Was Alive." Or both...

This book is many things. The overarching theme is the biography of a composer but, because it is being writ- ten by her only child, it is also in small degree, an autobi- ography. It is both a paean to her life and work, and an apology for not taking an interest when information was there for the taking and she was there for the talking. For not only is my mother gone, but so is just about anyone with direct knowledge of her life and career. So, of necessity, it is a detective story. And since I am a psychologist by trade, it is also an "analysis" of both her and me.