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A review by sjgrodsky
Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen
5.0
Whew! Bruce is a hard worker. At his peak (the 1980s) he did four hour concerts when the standard was half that. So it's no surprise that his autobiography is a monumental work.
The first few hundred pages, covering his childhood and years as the guitar player with a few different Jersey bar bands, are the best. The story of paying the Lincoln Tunnel toll with borrowed pennies recalls a different America, one where a working class Jersey boy followed his passion into homelessness, not law school.
The book has its weak points. He misstates a few facts and dates. He uses ALL CAPITAL letters to express enthusiasm. He is repetitious on some topics and close mouthed on others.
But here is Bruce's real magic trick. His songs and his autobiography inspire us to believe in our dreams of hope and glory.
And so I give him a pass. A different author would get a numbered list of snarky critiques. Bruce gets five stars.
Excuse me. I need to listen to "Thunder Road" again. Those opening notes. The plangent evocation of teenage summer. Mary's dress waves.
The first few hundred pages, covering his childhood and years as the guitar player with a few different Jersey bar bands, are the best. The story of paying the Lincoln Tunnel toll with borrowed pennies recalls a different America, one where a working class Jersey boy followed his passion into homelessness, not law school.
The book has its weak points. He misstates a few facts and dates. He uses ALL CAPITAL letters to express enthusiasm. He is repetitious on some topics and close mouthed on others.
But here is Bruce's real magic trick. His songs and his autobiography inspire us to believe in our dreams of hope and glory.
And so I give him a pass. A different author would get a numbered list of snarky critiques. Bruce gets five stars.
Excuse me. I need to listen to "Thunder Road" again. Those opening notes. The plangent evocation of teenage summer. Mary's dress waves.