UNPACKING THE ATTIC

Author, illustrator, and music composer Mracek combines memoir and self-help in a book that presents a childhood shaped by pain, silence, and the search for love.

When the author was tasked with emptying her parents’ longtime home after they moved to an assisted-living facility, the process unearthed distant memories. Various objects triggered recollections: a thermos, Epsom salt cartons, a sand-stuffed camel toy—all became emotional waypoints on a nonlinear journey through familial dysfunction and long-buried trauma. What emerges in this book is not a tidy chronology, but a patchwork of vignettes depicting scenes of parental disconnection, aching solitude, and a child’s longing to be seen. Mracek recalls a heartbreaking memory of a grandfather who never spoke to her, and how she would sit alone on a couch while the family ate dinner in the kitchen. She also tells of how her mother withheld cherished items from her, for unexplained reasons. The author also recalls happy moments with her beloved dog Jacques, an entertaining parakeet named Billy, and a menagerie of other animals that her father brought home. Her dad’s “language of love” is addressed in an account of his building a playhouse for the author, as well as other keepsakes. She also weaves in moments of intuitive insight, recounting visions, spiritual nudges, and recollections of the comforting presence of spirit guides and angels. Mracek speaks to readers directly and openly, encouraging them to pause, look back on their lives, and find the courage to heal. Each chapter ends with a takeaway about forgiveness, a truth about trauma, or a reminder that self-acceptance is always within reach. The book’s cathartic power is undeniable, and Mracek’s voice is warm and candid. The angelic elements add dimension but never overwhelm the story. Overall, this is a layered and emotionally honest work that’s likely to resonate with readers in similar situations.

A heartfelt remembrance that presents a tender reckoning with the past.