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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
reflective
slow-paced
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
An evocative telling of the author's childhood, warts and all. Beautifully written, and I did appreciate Wolff's honesty to reveal the less savoury aspects of his character. A great example to recommend to anyone waxing lyrical about how everything was better in the 1950s.
challenging
emotional
sad
slow-paced
A reread for school. It holds up pretty well on a second reading and I'm looking forward to teaching it.
Okay yes he writes well and compels you to read to find out how he messed up and survived it all. And after reading Old School I can see why the characters in that, and their attempt to create a new identity, felt so authentic. But part of me asks why he never seems to think about how the life he was in impacted others? How they felt and how they survived? It all swirls around him and cruel Dwight. Maybe that’s to come in another book? Some sort of exploration for others?
This book just wasn’t for me. Some parts were interesting, but for the most part my mind faded away from the story. It’s the first memoir that I read, so that’s why I probably didn’t know what to expect, or how to rate it.
I think the story itself was okay, not too bad, but not great either. That’s why I give it 2 stars. Would I reread it? No. Would I recommend it? Sure. If you like memoirs, or are interested in Tobias Wolff, I think this book would be fun to read. It just wasn’t for me, personally.
I think the story itself was okay, not too bad, but not great either. That’s why I give it 2 stars. Would I reread it? No. Would I recommend it? Sure. If you like memoirs, or are interested in Tobias Wolff, I think this book would be fun to read. It just wasn’t for me, personally.
adventurous
dark
reflective
medium-paced
At the beginning I was glad this was a true story and not fiction but then it quickly lost my interest especially being very anti-climactic. Toby, or rather Jack, would jump around in the story and not keep it straight. He wasn't a likable character at all, instead he was just a loser. I couldn't tell what was true or lies in his story telling.
Plus, I hated it that he didn't move to France and live with his cousins. That would have been all neat. Although, it was queer that his uncle wanting him to change last names and legally adopt him. That was suspicious.
Plus, I hated it that he didn't move to France and live with his cousins. That would have been all neat. Although, it was queer that his uncle wanting him to change last names and legally adopt him. That was suspicious.
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Alcohol