This Boy's Life: A Memoir by Tobias Wolff
|
List Price: Our Price: $6.64 You Save: $9.31 (58%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $0.74 (click here) Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of This Boy's Life: A Memoir
Book Review: a poignant look back
Summary: 5 Stars
I was impressed by this eloquent account of a young man who found his conscience under the most trying circumstances imaginable. Writing with painful honesty about the deceipt around him as well as self-deceipt, he reveals how he broke through with new-found empathy that temporarily paralyzed him (the others around him misunderstood the motives for his action) but ultimately, I believe led to his most genuine, heartfelt response. This reader ached for him because he could not access the support he needed at this crucial juncture of his moral development, yet I am full of admiration for the strength it gave him, and how it seemed eventually to prepare him for his experiences in Viet Nam. I am eagerly looking forward to reading the sequel to this book which reveals his experiences there.Book Review: wow.
Summary: 5 Stars
This book was "wow." I read it twice and the secondm time I only read it in three days. I was still amazed by the content of the book the second time I read it and I will most likely read it again. It was full of happiness, anger, depression, and many other feelings that just made the book awesome! Tobias Wolff has a real talent for writing about anything. This book kept me on edge 99.9 percent of the time and I wish that I knew the auther. I think that those who like true stories should definately read this book and read it twice and read it real good the second time. The book is always better the second time.
I am sorry that I can't write no more, but I think that I have a writers block. I have more to say but it just won't come out.
Book Review: A Must Read
Summary: 5 Stars
I've read this book twice. Love it! The story is very compelling: a young boy and his divorced mother trying to find their way in the world. But it is Wolff's clear, colorful writing style that makes this so wonderful. And his honesty. He pulls no punches, especially on himself.
What intrigues me is how someone who had as difficult a childhood as "Jack" (Tobias Wolff) was able to pull himself up and become so accomplished. Wolff is now the head of the English department at Stanford. He is also one of the country's most respected short story writers (if you haven't read his short stories you are missing out).
So read the book. And all of his work. You won't regret it.
Book Review: Quit reading the reviews -- Add to your Shopping Cart!
Summary: 5 Stars
You will not be disappointed by Tobias Wolff's memoir of his unusual boyhood. True, the book is grim at times, but it is also filled with sensitivity and a quiet hopefulness. If you've never read Toby Wolff before you are in for a real treat. If you've seen the Leonardo di Caprio, Robert de Niro, and Ellen Burnstyn movie (which was pretty good itself), you should read the book as well. You might also want to consider BOY (ISBN: 0141303050) by Roald Dahl and STAND BEFORE YOUR GOD (ISBN: 0679759417) by Paul Watkins for similarly comic tragedies of boyhood. Personally, I think that Geoffrey Wolff's memoir, THE DUKE OF DECEPTION, rivals or even surpasses THIS BOY'S LIFE, as fine as it is.Book Review: This Boy's Life: Pure Reading Pleasure
Summary: 5 Stars
Tobias Wolff describes his childhood before the expression "dysfunctional" began to be used. When reading his account, which seems questionable at times, you have to wonder if this is all true. It's impressive that this juvenile delinquent turned out to be such a famous writer. I liked this book so much that I bought all his other books and read many articles about him. Once at a book-signing, his mother was interviewed and she said had she known her two sons would be such prolific writers, she might have lived her life differently (I have also read all of Geoffrey Wolff's works). When asked whether everything was true in their books, she answered 85%. So I had my answer.