Book Nook: How I Got Here - A Memoir

From her first memory at the age of 2 all the way into the present, Ceil Lucas takes you through the journey of how she got here. "Here" meaning America. How I Got Here: A Memoir, a book I recently got to review the e-copy of, will teach you readers how Ceil worked on a memoir about her childhood in Guatemala and Italy, and found that she had to include the stories of her ancestors that she uncovered while working on her family's genealogy. Those fascinating stories include one about her first ancestors on her mother's side who were among the Scottish Prisoners transported to Maryland's Eastern Shore in 1654 by Oliver Cromwell.

Personal histories are often more intriguing than broad historical pieces, at least for me, and this was also intriguing to see her journey, combining her stories and her family's stories. I love finding out tidbits about my ancestors as well, and luckily I have relatives who have done a good job of researching the information out there. Ceil also has tips for those who are interested in genealogy: how to find your own family ancestry, things you should know before getting started, and the importance of your memories.

Ceil Lucas, author of How I Got Here: A Memoir, is professor emerita of Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., where she taught linguistics through American Sign Language for 31 years before retiring in 2013. She began teaching Italian at all levels in 1973 and continues to do so. Lucas was born in the United States, but raised from ages 5 to 21 in Guatemala City and in Rome, Italy. She has edited or co-authored 22 books and also is editor of the scholarly journal, Sign Language Studies, published by Gallaudet University Press.