Life's a Dance

In Life's a Dance: A Memoir, Roberta M. Roy takes readers on a journey of resilience and self-discovery from age eight to twenty-seven, beginning in the challenging era of the Great Depression when money was scarce, and housing was a perennial problem. Driven by determination and the desire for stability, she navigates the challenges of her early life, overcoming economic hardships through hard work and risk-taking. Aided by scholarships, Roy's journey culminates in becoming a licensed speech-language pathologist, filled with adventure and rich human experiences illuminating her path. This deeply moving and richly detailed memoir chronicles the author’s growth, experiences, and evolution from childhood to adulthood. 

The narrative is structured into “In the Arms of Family” and “The Suitcase Years,” highlighting the passage of time and significant shifts in Roy’s life. The themes of familial love, grit, sacrifice, and the yearning for independence permeate the memoir. Roy presents her family as a source of support and strife—her mother's activism and her father's struggles with work and self-worth are underlined by their commitment to the family. This commitment ultimately shapes Roy's values and ambitions. The author's writing is lyrical and observant, often blending vivid descriptions of her surroundings with emotional introspection. Roy’s reflections are laced with nostalgia, particularly when recounting her childhood memories, such as the warmth of family dinners and her mother’s relentless devotion to caring for others. Her early experiences of joy mixed with adversity frame her views on love, loss, and the unpredictability of life. This complexity is mirrored in her encounters with peers and the friendships she forges.

Life's a Dance is a title that can be understood as a metaphor throughout the memoir. It captures the nuances of navigating life's unpredictability—sometimes leading, sometimes following. Roy's journey demonstrates that life is not about mastering the moves but embracing the spontaneity of the dance itself, allowing for growth, learning, and discovery. As Roy ventures into adulthood—marked by her time at college, her work experiences, and her travels—she struggles with identity and self-discovery, exploring her role in society as a woman, a teacher, and ultimately, a speech-language pathologist. Her candid reflections about her struggles with speech highlight her determination to overcome obstacles. This memoir transports readers to a historical moment marked by depression, offers powerful lessons about life and success, and entertains beyond measure.