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thejourneyofmybooks's review
4.0
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a review.
Prior to this book, my introduction to Adam Schefter was through his reporting on ESPN, often breaking the news of the biggest basketball and football stories. Just glancing at the title of this book, I concocted the idea that this story was about Schefter and his possibly estranged father. Within the first few chapters, I learned that definitely was not the case: Adam's father was very present in his life. The man Schefter never met was Joe Maio, who had died in the terrorist attack on the Twin Towers on September 11, 2001 leaving behind his wife, Sharri and a 27 month year old.
This seems like it would depressing material, but this was an uplifting, inspiring read. The writing is definitely that of a seasoned journalist - Schefter writes an emotional, detailed, but concise narrative that was extremely well documented (thanks to his daily journaling habits).
The book is not truly a memoir in the sense that Schefter doesn't dive into his life history or a story about 9/11, but it is more of a tribute to Joe, who was loved by many, including Sharri, Schefter's future wife, and about moving forward with life after tragedy.
Prior to this book, my introduction to Adam Schefter was through his reporting on ESPN, often breaking the news of the biggest basketball and football stories. Just glancing at the title of this book, I concocted the idea that this story was about Schefter and his possibly estranged father. Within the first few chapters, I learned that definitely was not the case: Adam's father was very present in his life. The man Schefter never met was Joe Maio, who had died in the terrorist attack on the Twin Towers on September 11, 2001 leaving behind his wife, Sharri and a 27 month year old.
This seems like it would depressing material, but this was an uplifting, inspiring read. The writing is definitely that of a seasoned journalist - Schefter writes an emotional, detailed, but concise narrative that was extremely well documented (thanks to his daily journaling habits).
The book is not truly a memoir in the sense that Schefter doesn't dive into his life history or a story about 9/11, but it is more of a tribute to Joe, who was loved by many, including Sharri, Schefter's future wife, and about moving forward with life after tragedy.
amandalee0429's review
3.0
The story of a man who married a 9/11 widow. It was a personal look at the country’s most public tragedy. Not the most interesting 9/11 story that I’ve read but it was ok. I kept waiting for a life lesson or point of the story but it’s really just a glimpse at one family’s experiences with 9/11 and the aftermath.
reviewsbylola's review against another edition
5.0
With the exception of Netgalley reviews, I rarely review books on Goodreads (all books I read are, however, reviewed on Litsy.) That said, I found this memoir so powerful and touching that I feel compelled to offer a review.
Every year around September 11, I become a bit obsessed with reading news articles and reading books about the tragedy. My husband teases me because for a week or two, I am absolutely immersed in and haunted by and 9/11 information I can get my hands on. It's my way of paying homage to all the people that senselessly lost their lives that day.
I had actually moved on from my 9/11 reading frenzy when I got notification from my library that my hold for The Man I Never Met had come in. I went to pick it up a few days later and started reading it that night. By chapter 2, I had tears just running down my face. I cried on and off throughout the entire book, which I stayed up past midnight that night to finish.
Adam Schefter met and married Sharri Maio years after the 9/11 attacks. She told him immediately that she was a 9/11 widow, her husband Joe Maio having died after being trapped in the offices of Cantor Fitzgerald, and that she was raising a son who had been only 15 months old at the time of the tragedy. Adam detailed a bit of his background before meeting Sharri, and although his ideal partner was not a widow with a child, he was at that point desperate for a romantic companion to spend his life with and so had no qualms about going on a date with Sharri.
Adam and Sharri had a pretty whirlwind courtship. Adam was forthcoming about the struggles he and Sharri have faced over the years, and didn't try and sugarcoat the difficulties of stepping into the parent role when you have no child rearing experience. It was a perspective I could relate to, being a step parent myself, but it wasn't the aspect of this book that I found so powerful.
Adam Schefter is one of the most selfless people I have ever come across. The way he paid tribute to Joe Maio was so humbling and inspiring. He'd never met Joe, yet Joe has had one of the biggest impacts on Adam's life, and Adam chooses to honor Joe every day.
The last lines of TMINM brought me to tears, once again, and as I told my husband about the book the next morning, I was able to quote them from memory, they had impacted me that much. As I recited them, I started crying again (and I can promise that never has a book made me cry just by discussing it).
"I've lived in this house for twelve years now, far longer than Joe did. But every time I come home, I feel like I'm walking into Joe's house. And I am."
Every year around September 11, I become a bit obsessed with reading news articles and reading books about the tragedy. My husband teases me because for a week or two, I am absolutely immersed in and haunted by and 9/11 information I can get my hands on. It's my way of paying homage to all the people that senselessly lost their lives that day.
I had actually moved on from my 9/11 reading frenzy when I got notification from my library that my hold for The Man I Never Met had come in. I went to pick it up a few days later and started reading it that night. By chapter 2, I had tears just running down my face. I cried on and off throughout the entire book, which I stayed up past midnight that night to finish.
Adam Schefter met and married Sharri Maio years after the 9/11 attacks. She told him immediately that she was a 9/11 widow, her husband Joe Maio having died after being trapped in the offices of Cantor Fitzgerald, and that she was raising a son who had been only 15 months old at the time of the tragedy. Adam detailed a bit of his background before meeting Sharri, and although his ideal partner was not a widow with a child, he was at that point desperate for a romantic companion to spend his life with and so had no qualms about going on a date with Sharri.
Adam and Sharri had a pretty whirlwind courtship. Adam was forthcoming about the struggles he and Sharri have faced over the years, and didn't try and sugarcoat the difficulties of stepping into the parent role when you have no child rearing experience. It was a perspective I could relate to, being a step parent myself, but it wasn't the aspect of this book that I found so powerful.
Adam Schefter is one of the most selfless people I have ever come across. The way he paid tribute to Joe Maio was so humbling and inspiring. He'd never met Joe, yet Joe has had one of the biggest impacts on Adam's life, and Adam chooses to honor Joe every day.
The last lines of TMINM brought me to tears, once again, and as I told my husband about the book the next morning, I was able to quote them from memory, they had impacted me that much. As I recited them, I started crying again (and I can promise that never has a book made me cry just by discussing it).
"I've lived in this house for twelve years now, far longer than Joe did. But every time I come home, I feel like I'm walking into Joe's house. And I am."
cyndilouwho5's review against another edition
3.0
I think the only reason this book was at all interesting to me is because I’ve followed Adam Schefter since he was the Broncos beat writer. This would have made for a great short story, but he had to repeat things to stretch it into a book.
thejourneyofmybooks405's review against another edition
4.0
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a review.
Prior to this book, my introduction to Adam Schefter was through his reporting on ESPN, often breaking the news of the biggest basketball and football stories. Just glancing at the title of this book, I concocted the idea that this story was about Schefter and his possibly estranged father. Within the first few chapters, I learned that definitely was not the case: Adam's father was very present in his life. The man Schefter never met was Joe Maio, who had died in the terrorist attack on the Twin Towers on September 11, 2001 leaving behind his wife, Sharri and a 27 month year old.
This seems like it would depressing material, but this was an uplifting, inspiring read. The writing is definitely that of a seasoned journalist - Schefter writes an emotional, detailed, but concise narrative that was extremely well documented (thanks to his daily journaling habits).
The book is not truly a memoir in the sense that Schefter doesn't dive into his life history or a story about 9/11, but it is more of a tribute to Joe, who was loved by many, including Sharri, Schefter's future wife, and about moving forward with life after tragedy.
Prior to this book, my introduction to Adam Schefter was through his reporting on ESPN, often breaking the news of the biggest basketball and football stories. Just glancing at the title of this book, I concocted the idea that this story was about Schefter and his possibly estranged father. Within the first few chapters, I learned that definitely was not the case: Adam's father was very present in his life. The man Schefter never met was Joe Maio, who had died in the terrorist attack on the Twin Towers on September 11, 2001 leaving behind his wife, Sharri and a 27 month year old.
This seems like it would depressing material, but this was an uplifting, inspiring read. The writing is definitely that of a seasoned journalist - Schefter writes an emotional, detailed, but concise narrative that was extremely well documented (thanks to his daily journaling habits).
The book is not truly a memoir in the sense that Schefter doesn't dive into his life history or a story about 9/11, but it is more of a tribute to Joe, who was loved by many, including Sharri, Schefter's future wife, and about moving forward with life after tragedy.
book_beat's review
3.0
Thank you for gifting me a copy #netgalley #stmartinspress.
SCHEFTER SHARES STORY OF LOSS, HOPE
Adam Schefter, NFL analyst and reporter, opens up about his family in his memoir, "The Man I Never Met” out September 4. Schefter says his purpose for this memoir is to show how good can come from the worst kind of evil, how life can continue and even grow from pain.
The story starts with Schefter's wife, Sharri. She is a widow and single mother to Devon, who was only 15 months when Joseph Maio, their husband and father, died in the 9/11 attacks. Schefter, a New York native, relates his stories and connections to the attacks, the state of his career and personal life, in parallel to the Maios' disaster. These two timelines eventually lead to the story of Schefter and Sharri meeting.
At the beginning, Schefter feels like an awkward choice for an author about Joe's life. As the story continues, the reader will start to trust Schefter because he is honest and earnest. He holds nothing back and honors Joe's memory.
The writing in the advanced copy has many errors and is a little choppy and repetitive, which takes the reader out of the story a bit. An absolute highlight in this story are the people, specifically Joe's parents. They are incredibly resilient, loving, and selfless.
This story feels unique and powerful: how can someone cope with this heartache? But the hopefulness of this story is that this resiliency isn't unique to the Schefters and Maios. This is a story about all of humanity; all who keep going and find good along side the pain.
SCHEFTER SHARES STORY OF LOSS, HOPE
Adam Schefter, NFL analyst and reporter, opens up about his family in his memoir, "The Man I Never Met” out September 4. Schefter says his purpose for this memoir is to show how good can come from the worst kind of evil, how life can continue and even grow from pain.
The story starts with Schefter's wife, Sharri. She is a widow and single mother to Devon, who was only 15 months when Joseph Maio, their husband and father, died in the 9/11 attacks. Schefter, a New York native, relates his stories and connections to the attacks, the state of his career and personal life, in parallel to the Maios' disaster. These two timelines eventually lead to the story of Schefter and Sharri meeting.
At the beginning, Schefter feels like an awkward choice for an author about Joe's life. As the story continues, the reader will start to trust Schefter because he is honest and earnest. He holds nothing back and honors Joe's memory.
The writing in the advanced copy has many errors and is a little choppy and repetitive, which takes the reader out of the story a bit. An absolute highlight in this story are the people, specifically Joe's parents. They are incredibly resilient, loving, and selfless.
This story feels unique and powerful: how can someone cope with this heartache? But the hopefulness of this story is that this resiliency isn't unique to the Schefters and Maios. This is a story about all of humanity; all who keep going and find good along side the pain.
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