Dance with Me, Papa: Life with(out) My Celebrity Father

As a little girl, Rita Reinecker only wanted a normal family. Instead, she had a mother who verbally and emotionally abused her while overtly favoring her brother, and a famous father who was constantly distant, both emotionally and physically. Her parents were actually separated for most of her childhood; they finally divorced when she was a teenager, although they kept that fact a secret for three years. She spent much of her adolescence struggling in school and feeling unwanted by both of her parents. Reinecker’s troubled childhood affected her life in profound ways. From her mother’s cruel words, Reinecker developed a distorted perception of herself and low self-esteem. Because of her absent father, she became almost desperate for love, and most of her romantic relationships went astray.

Reinecker wrote her memoir, Dance With Me, Papa, as part of her efforts to find herself and understand exactly who she is. Her words will resonate with anyone who grew up in an unhappy household, and especially with readers who lived with abuse or without a father figure. Reinecker’s father was Herbert Reinecker, well known in Germany as the writer of several big television shows as well as numerous other films, radio plays, and stories. He is less known here in the United States, but the effect of his fame on her life makes Reinecker an interesting character regardless. Her youth in war-torn Germany makes for some great anecdotes, and she provides interesting insight into how her country’s school system affected her education. Reinecker is a strong woman despite her tumultuous past, and it shows a completely different kind of strength to examine her life in such a stark manner. Dance With Me, Papa is a fascinating book that is sure to appeal to readers from all walks of life.