clairegunthert's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
3.75
carolynlynlyn's review
5.0
I loved this memoir. Although it was made into a movie, it seemed to touch on very different things. You cried for Antwone. You wanted to jump onto the pages and help him yourself. Give him a hug, something! I highly recommend this one!
ljdavis's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.0
During the memoir Antwone doesn’t just retell his story. He does so in the way that makes you feel as thought you’re walking alongside him during his life story. Antwone provides the reader with the insight of his child self while simultaneously displaying the wisdom he has gained in adulthood. Other reviewers have complained about the “sadness” of the book. While I do think those who may be triggered by mental, physical, and sexual abuse should not read the book such critics of sadness are ridiculous. Antwones life and especially his childhood in the foster care system accurately depict the lives of so many children. The success, wisdom, relationships, and happiness he provided and found for himself in spite of his abusers is truly inspirting.
plcbaker's review
dark
emotional
slow-paced
3.0
I wanted to like this more but it was mostly just depressing. It bothered me that there was a co-author but it was unclear how he contributed. Especially considering the subject matter.
haramis's review
3.0
Library Book Discussion Group - August 2015
Which means, I didn't select this, which is important to know, because I didn't want to read it. I loooooooove library group, but I didn't pick it up to read until I was sure that I had someone to watch my daughter so that I could go. That means that I didn't start this until late Saturday night and had to read until early Monday morning to squeeze it in. I think I may have read it faster, but I had some trouble with the writing in the early chapters (a few other people mentioned this in group, so it wasn't just me). It probably took me a couple of hours of stops and starts to get through the first 20% of the book. After that, I think the writing did improve, but it still took a long time to read for what is a pretty short book.
Almost everyone in the group loved and enjoyed it, and I didn't do either. I didn't love the book. I didn't hate it either, but I certainly didn't enjoy it. It was really, really depressing and emotionally draining to read about Fisher's childhood. Then when he finally breaks out into success in the Navy and his subsequent careers, I found it at turns cheesy and mildly obnoxious (keep dropping those names, Fish). I thought the poetry was underwhelming and the vocabulary amusing.
I'm delighted that Fisher found a way out, but I didn't need an expose that childhood can suck. I wouldn't read this again, and I wouldn't recommend it either.
Which means, I didn't select this, which is important to know, because I didn't want to read it. I loooooooove library group, but I didn't pick it up to read until I was sure that I had someone to watch my daughter so that I could go. That means that I didn't start this until late Saturday night and had to read until early Monday morning to squeeze it in. I think I may have read it faster, but I had some trouble with the writing in the early chapters (a few other people mentioned this in group, so it wasn't just me). It probably took me a couple of hours of stops and starts to get through the first 20% of the book. After that, I think the writing did improve, but it still took a long time to read for what is a pretty short book.
Almost everyone in the group loved and enjoyed it, and I didn't do either. I didn't love the book. I didn't hate it either, but I certainly didn't enjoy it. It was really, really depressing and emotionally draining to read about Fisher's childhood. Then when he finally breaks out into success in the Navy and his subsequent careers, I found it at turns cheesy and mildly obnoxious (keep dropping those names, Fish). I thought the poetry was underwhelming and the vocabulary amusing.
I'm delighted that Fisher found a way out, but I didn't need an expose that childhood can suck. I wouldn't read this again, and I wouldn't recommend it either.