Book Description

A funny, poignant coming-of-age memoir of love, loss, and the shoes that carry us through. From baby booties to orthopaedic brogues (and all the killer heels in between), shoes mark important rites of passage, reminding us of both the good and bad times- the road not taken, the prince who fled, and the people who've meant the most along the way. A longtime shoe enthusiast, Patricia Morrisroe has a vivid memory of the confirmation wedgies that celebrated her entrance to adulthood; the granny boots that marked her first love; the ostrich flats she wore to a girlfriend's funeral; and the New Balance sneakers she bought her elderly mother who was losing her balance and too proud to use a cane. Weaving tidbits of cultural history into her personal story, Morrisroe gives us a brief survey of shoes through five decades, as well as a witty and compassionate look at the unforgettable men and women who walked beside her. There's the grandfather who gave legendary foot massages after dinner; the Woody Allen-type boyfriend who fell in love with her Annie Hall oxfords; the husband whose vast collection of vintage Puma sneakers threatened to overwhelm their apartment and detail their marriage; and most important, the spirited and invincible mother who admired and sometimes envied her daughter's freedom and opportunities. With Morrisroe's charming sense of humor and irresistible voice, 9� Narrowis an authentic, entertaining, and ultimately poignant tale of an every-woman's life in shoes. Praise for 9� Narrow'9� Narrowis a 10! A girl becomes a woman and shares her memories, her loves, her family, and her shoes. You'll identify with Patricia - laugh with her and at her - page after page.' Ilene Beckerman, author of Love, Loss, and What I Wore'9� Narrow is an utterly charming - I might say fleet-footed - memoir about entering life with big (but narrow!) feet and bigger dreams. Patricia Morrisroe depicts the agonies of growing up as a born sophisticate in a Catholic family and a small town with an enviable lightness of touch - and a comic's sense of timing. It is hard to read this book without laughing - or occasionally grimacing - in recognition at the truth of an observation or situation, leaving one wondering how someone else has figured out exactly how you feel about everything from getting a bad perm to Bergdorf's shoe department.' Daphne Merkin, author of The Fame Lunches'Patricia Morrisroe writes with the sharpness of a stiletto and the wit of a Louboutin.' Patricia Volk author of Shocked My Mother, Schiaparelli, and Me'I love shoes, and this delightful memoir shines a light on all things shoe, as well as all things personal. Patricia Morrisroe's life unfolds through her wedges, ruby shoes, T-strap heels, and Manolo slingbacks. As I read it, all my memories came back in a flood, and yours will too.' Delia Ephron (7� Narrow) author of Sister Mother Husband Dog- (Etc.)