REVIEWS/TESTIMONIALS
An intriguing overview of the author’s incredible life, peppered with questionable non sequiturs.
These memoirs take the reader on a journey through the barren landscapes of Manitoba and the burgeoning United States middle class. Chapel begins with his birth in 1919—he was the tenth of 13 children—which occurs while the family home accidentally burns down. From there, the narrative leaps around in time, abandoning a traditional linear format for a more casual, anecdotal description of his life. The author includes one of the last letters written by his mother, who penned an account of immigrating to the Canadian countryside while in the final stages of cancer. From this sober moment, Chapel travels cross-country—back from Manitoba to California and then to visit his sister in Delaware. Chronology becomes fuzzy as readers are transported to 1952, treated to faint mentions of the author’s military service and passing remarks about his brothers and sisters’ locations across the continent. His tangents frequently derail the book’s flow. Chapel recounts a hunting trip with his brothers, but suddenly takes a darker turn by describing their eventual fates, abandoning the original anecdote. He is aware of his propensity toward editorial tangents (“I wish I could have my thoughts better organized,” he writes), but the book remains disjointed. Readers soon learn about Chapel’s brief relationship with Patricia Smith, who he speculates is the alter ego of Broadway star Ann Miller. Chapel begins a long, circumstantial search to prove this, even getting the FBI and police involved. Here, Chapel’s whimsical narrative takes an oddly murky tone—it reads like an obsessed fan justifying his mania with random newspaper clippings, photographs and faulty “documentation.” From there, the lengthy memoir becomes even more disordered, cluttered with Chapel’s inconsecutive accounts of property disputes, minor legal matters and international travels.
An odd, untraditional memoir which will confuse readers.
Author’s Thoughts
In reference to the Kirkus Review of “Having the Time of my life” it is a shabby effort starting with “a journey through the barren landscapes of Manitoba and the burgeoning United States middle class”. Obviously the reviewer had never traveled through Manitoba, and the “burgeoning United States middle class” reference makes one feel as if in the mind of the reviewer he puts them down as a sub species of mankind. It makes him appear as someone shallow in his understanding and empathy of his fellow human beings. Where the reviewer is right is in his criticism of my organization skill which tens to disrupt the flow. But in memoirs it was easy to resort to stream of consciousness.
In reference to the author’s seven month relationship with Patricia Smith the reviewer’s intent seems to totally discredit the author’s credibility. He begins relating in the present tense: “who he speculates is the alter ego of Broadway star Ann Miller”. The fact that the author had absolutely no knowledge of the existence of Ann Miller until more than a year after his last date with Patricia Smith is ignored. One of Patricia Smith’s last requests of author was that they remain friends and the friendship was never broken while Patricia Smith or her “alter ego” Ann Miller, a star of stage and screen remained alive. The Photographs and documentations are not faulty but necessary to establish that the two were one without any doubt. Seemingly the review’s judgment is confused by a jaded view of young love and friendship that could remain true for a lifetime. Why Patricia Smith was not free she took to her grave where the author was concerned and that subject matter is strictly taboo in the government and higher commercial culture of make-belief and glitz. One may say the same when the Kirkus Reviewer tries in his cavalier fashion to demolish totally the author’s credibility in his profound conclusion: “[Chapel] like an obsessed fan justifying his mania”. Can it be that Kirkus is protecting its aspiring upper class culture from any taint of overlooking President Abraham Lincoln’s declaration a hundred and forty three years ago giving freedom to all? Kirkus takes care that “the burgeoning United States middle class” is not confused.
Author’s Letter to Kirkus
- Original Message -
From: Peter Chapel
To: Molly.Simms@nielsen.com
Cc: peter chapel
Sent: Saturday, February 07, 2009 3:09 PM
Subject: Review of HAVING the TIME of MY LIFE
Dear Ms Simms,
I may say I was somewhat appalled at first receiving the Kirkus Review of my memoir: HAVING the TIME of MY LIFE. Except for my short book of song lyrics: IMPRESSIONS and REFLECTIONS for which I had gotten a very good Bowker Review I had never authored or published anything. Hence I've had no other experience with book reviews.
Providentially, I had, by sheer chance, met Angela Lansbury, a famous star of stage and screen, and spoke to her of my book of song lyrics, indicating that the girl in the song cycle: The Ballad of My True Love is someone she may know quite well. She was very interested, gave me her home address and asked me to drop off Impressions and Reflections in her mail box if she were not at home. Angela Lansbury acknowledged by mail her receipt (copy in Having the Time of My life). She recognized that the ballad was very personal and her comment was "I admire you for having it published". Ann Miller and Angela were contemporaries and each separately starred on Broadway in the play MAME. Angela saw validity in my portrayal of Ann in the character of Claudia Storm.
By contrast whoever did the Kirkus Review of my book seemed intent on destroying my credibility, or lacking the capacity to understand what a person would do for love and act in friendship. I knew Patricia Smith for seven months. What I did not know was that Ann saw poverty as a child and as an adolescent at 14 in her profession she had to pass herself off as an 18 year old. She had no normal childhood or adolescence. From roles on the screen she came to star on Broadway in George White's Scandals at the age of 16 in 1939 and at that time I was a "soda jerk" for a few months at one of the liggett's Drug Stores at the age of 19. In the spring of 1940, as a clerk ai the cigarette and candy counter, I was introduced to Pat Smith by a young Fordham University student, who worked ccasionally behind the lunch counter as a "soda jerk". Pat Smith struck me at that time as a girl of high school age, but the next time I saw her was in September. I did not recognize her; she was dressed fashionably as a lovely young lady and she remembered my name. She was a student at Marymount on the Hudson in Tarrytown, NY, she said.
She arrived by train at the Grand Central Station in Manhattan in the morning on Saturdays, walked across Vanderbilt street and would stop at the Liggetts Drug Store where I worked right next to the entry door. At 7:00 PM promptly she had to take a train back, she claimed, although she may have had to take a subway to Times Square and George White's Scandals where she was starring on a part time basis in 1940-41 season and also did shows out of town.
Pat and I corresponded and saw each other on a regular basis for 7 months. I had 6 sisters, three younger than myself and three older. I showed the same respect and concern for her welfare as I would have for anyone of my own sisters. What started as a friendship rapidly developed into a very strong bond and when for the first time she clung to me in my arms at the St Morilz night club dance floor my blood surged with a force that I had to gently press her away for the embarrassment were it obvious to people at ringside tables as we were to return to our own table. Both of us were aware that our relationship had developed beyond the platonic, but any future on that basis, everything considered reasonably, can not possibly be in the cards.
Numerously Pat had told me that she was not free; that I must never try to get in touch if she should have to leave. She showed me the picture of a young man in her heart-shaped locket. "They" came to get his address from her, she said; no one else knew it, and then something happened: "people have been hurt; peoples lives have been ruined because of her”, and I must never ever try to see her or try to get in touch if she asked me. She asked me to promise her that.
On the night of our parting- it was my decision- she said "I wanted to see how other people lived"- she had no plan to fall in love .. "I can't marry anyone; I have nothing", I explained. "But I know someone" she quickly spoke and stopped short. I continued: "You are always hiding something from me." "I will tell you everything" was her reply, but I stopped her. Her secret seemed to have been so important to her that suddenly I was afraid to hear it.
It was not until a year and a half later that I thought I recognized Pat as Ann Miller in her role in a movie Go West Young Lady and I wrote her a very short fan letter making no suggestion of thinking I may have known her as Pat Smith. I was at that time in basic training in the US Army stationed at Camp Lee, Virginia. Six months later I received a photograph of her signed:''Yours in Taps", in green ink and no more. I was at Fort Benning, Georgia then.
Ann Miller would never acknowledge openly that she, under the pseudonym of Patricia Smith, had known me. There was some danger to her and I may have suffered the tragic fate of the young man whose picture she had kept in her heart- shaped locket no matter how humiliating it might have been to her. But for my benefit covertly she showed the connection all her life even in her obituary.
Ms. Simms, the space I had devoted in my memoir to the subject of Pat Smith aka Ann Miller is to honor her memory; my documentation is not faulty, but the person who reviewed my book either scanned the subject matter superficially, or personally never experienced true love and incapable of seeing it in others.
My memoir may have its shortcomings technically, but I'll stand by my integrity. It covers my long life and my interaction with many people, some who have been dear friends and others who had shown their common vein of deceit and fraud. If those were successful in their schemes as entrepreneurs then they should welcome given the credit.
I see that my contract with Kirkus entitled me to a Kirkus Discoveries Review and 5 million promotional e-mails at a cost of $3,999. I would like to see the exact wording of the promotional e-mails, but I will forego the listing of the review on your web site. But I may have it listed on my own web site with an explanation of my action. I would prefer to have a potential reader come to his (her) own decision rather than be deterred by the poison of a prejudiced review.
Respectfully yours,
Peter Chapel
Letter from Santa Monica Library (Cynni Murphy)
----- Original Message -----
From: Cynni Murphy
To: Peter Chapel
Cc: Jill Tsutsui
Sent: Wednesday, May 27, 2009 11:39 AM
Subject: "Having the Time of My Life"
Hello Peter,
Normally the Library does not accept self-published books that are not reviewed in professional sources, but the Santa Monica history content of your work makes this of interest for the Library’s local history collection.
Thank you for your gift of this memoir which will add to the information we have about Santa Monica. Please be aware that it takes a period of time for gift books to be processed and added to the Collection.
Sincerely,
Cynni Murphy
Librarian III
Reference Services
Santa Monica Public Library
601 Santa Monica Blvd.
Santa Monica, CA 90401
310-458-8630
cynni.murphy@smgov.net
Letter from Library and Archives Canada
Peter Chapel
1243 Princeton St.
Santa Monica CA 90404
U.S.A.
Dear Mr. Chapel,
Thank you for donating two copies of your self-published memoirs, "Having the time of my life" and one copy of your book of song lyrics, "Impressions and reflections."
Please be assured the your works will be appropriately preserved and will be made available to a national and international audience through our library catalogue.
Thank you again for your interest in Library and Archives Canada.
Gifts and International Exchanges
Library and Archives Canada
395 Wellington St.
OTTAWA K1S 3J3
Letter from Manitoba Culture, Heritage, Tourism and Sport Legislative Library
August 21, 2009
Peter Chapel
1243 Princeton Street
Santa Monica CA 90404
USA
Dear Sir:
I wish to acknowledge receipt of the following publications
- Impressions and reflections / Peter Chapel
- Having the time of my life / Peter Chapel
It is generous donations such as yours that make our Library such a valuable information resource for researchers from Manitoba and abroad. Thank you very much.
Sincerly,
Mattew Handscombe
Head, Collection Development
MH/lg
Letter from Winnipeg Public Library
To: <peterchapel@verizon.net>
Sent: Tuesday, September 08, 2009 2:01 PM
Subject: Book donations to the Winnipeg Public Library
Dear Mr. Chapel,
I am writing to acknowledge our reception of your biography Having the Time of My Life” and book of poetry “Impressions and Reflections” by the Winnipeg Public Library. After review, it has been decided to include the two titles into the Local History collection, which specializes with local authors from Manitoba.
I thank you for your generous donation.
Sincerely,
Winnipeg Public Library
251 Donald St.
Winnipeg, Manitoba
R3C 3P5
Phone: (204) 986-4183
THE GREATER LOS ANGELES WRITERS SOCIETY AT THE 2009 WEST HOLLYWOOD BOOK FAIR
The Greater Los Angeles Writers Society is proud to present a talented slate of authors at the 7th Annual West Hollywood Book Fair on Sunday, October 7th at West Hollywood Park from 10am to 6pm at Booths E27-E28 In the North Park. Authors will appear and have their books available for purchase and will autograph them for attendees. Author/members scheduled to appear are listed below:
Author Bios and Their Books:
PETER CHAPEL - My first attempt at stringing words together resulted in a small book of song lyrics entitled "Impressions and Reflections", a consequence of being a captive in my automobile twice a month fur 14 years while driving eight hours at a stretch, mainly at night, to my weekends work retreat in Santa Cruz Mountains. The opportunity to reminisce made me recall incidents and people who for one reason or another left an indelible impression on my mind. With a small tape recorder by my side, I decided one day to express my thoughts, memories and feelings. As words formed phrases and sentences they fell into a rhythm and evolved into melodies. This mode of creativity lasted for about four years.
One time, while on jury duty, I became acquainted with a young man with a master's degree in music from UCLA who transcribed-all my songs to paper, and as time went on made various instrumental arrangements for all. Some 30 years later, after rebuilding, following the Lorna Prieta earthquake of 1989 and finally being relieved of the responsibility of owning the property, at the insistence of a nephew, I decided to translate my late mother's long letter describing her familys experience as pioneers in Manitoba in the late 1800s. This part of a heritage was never envisioned by the younger generations, and they were anxious to hear more. As a consequence I learned the fundamentals of using a computer and began to type out my memoir "Having the Time of My Life".
I had attended UCLA under the GI Bill but for the following 55 years all my work and main hobbies were a struggle for survival requiring time-consuming physical energy which had no connection with intellectual life; I read no books. I was aware there were definite forms in writing novels or short stories and likely memoirs. At that time I felt drained, physical and mentally, I began simply as memories came in a stream of consciousness. I had no need to invent anything; it was all there in my memory to be tapped. After the publication of the memoir I discovered a few typographical errors; one date missed the mark by 100 years and another by a year. I am aware that the work falls far short of academic excellence. But, it is a representation of the "culture of the times" that has spanned just a month short of 90 years through which I had lived and been a witness to.
For more information, visit: http://www.glaws.org/weho/
Letter from the Young Research Library
From: "Brunner, Marta" <martab@library.ucla.edu>
To: <peterchapel@verizon.net>
Cc: "Snyder, Lise" <lsnyder@library.ucla.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, October 13, 2009 8:46 AM
Subject: FW: Donation of 2 books
Dear Mr. Chapel,
I just received the books that you dropped off at the Reference Desk this morning. Thank you very much! It will be my pleasure to have these books added to our collections. If you have any questions, or would like an official deed of gift and acknowledgment letter, please don't hesitate to contact me.
Many thanks,
Marta Brunner
****************
Marta L. Brunner, Ph.D.
Librarian for Digital Humanities, U.S./U.K. Literature & History,
Comparative Literature, and the History of Science
A 1540 Charles E. Young Research Library
UCLA - Box 951575
Los Angeles, California 90095-1 575
Tel: 310-825-1249
Fax: 310-825-3777
martab@li brary.ucla.edu
http://guides.library.ucla.eduihistory
http://guides.1 ibrary .ucla.eduil iterature