The Crocodiles Will Arrive Later

by Kathy McCoy

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Kathy McCoy had three major fears: first, that she would grow up to become a suburban housewife with no power of her own; second, nuclear annihilation; third, that her father would kill her. One wasn't out of the question; her alcoholic, mentally ill father threatened his children's lives on a daily basis. Her dad called his explosive mood swings 'crocodiles,' he feared they would devour him as they had his mother. He wasn't the only one. A memoir of horror and humor, "The Crocodiles Will show more Arrive Later" tells the story of growing up in mid-century suburban Los Angeles. It is a story of hope and learning how to let go of a painful past to create a very different future. show less

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akblanchard 970 reviews

I remember Kathy McCoy’s byline from TEEN magazine back in the 1970s. She wrote common-sense articles about health-related topics and never talked down to her adolescent audience. I was happy to stumble across her memoir earlier this year.

McCoy’s self-published book tells a sad story. Her father was beset by mental illness and alcoholism, and her mother was powerless to protect her children from his vicious tongue, drunken rages, and paranoid delusions. The condition of the family’s house mirrored the father’s mental state. Somehow, McCoy and her two siblings grew up to become reasonably well adjusted adults, but at a steep cost.

The Crocodiles Will Arrive Later is a harrowing tale that illustrates the lasting damage untreated show more mental illness can cause in a family. It ends on a sentimental note that I don’t think was entirely earned. Still this memoir is worth reading. show less

Aug 15, 2023

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