This Boy's Life: A Memoir by Tobias Wolff
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Book Reviews of This Boy's Life: A Memoir
Book Review: Fine, fine telling
Summary: 5 Stars
The fault, of course would be that of any memoir. It's doubtful he got all his stories correct. No matter. Wolff tells great stories, provides brash and honest insight into uncontrolled human nature, and is a wonder with word and phrase.
He's a liar and a thief. His faults are everyone else's faults. Speaking of Arthur, a nemesis, he could be speaking of himself - "He talked himself into reveries where every word rang with truth."
And yet, in the end, we know that his escapades caught up with him. In being forced to grow up, he became, like most of us, the average citizen with skeletons in the closet. I'm glad he chose to share his with us.
Book Review: Among the very best of memoirs
Summary: 5 Stars
It seems presumptuous to write a review of this book. It's capable of standing alone, selling forever, and being widely and deeply admired without anyone ever writing another review of it. Published in 1989, This Boy's Life is a memoir of Tobias Wolff's grim teenage years in which he is pitted in a battle of wills against his abusive stepfather. The intelligence and deception employed by the child prove a nearly equal match against the cruelty of the adult in this equation. In exquisite prose, Wolff leavens the grisly reality with dark humor, and readers are surprised, considering the subject matter, to find themselves not depressed overall, but uplifted.Book Review: MASTERFUL STORYTELLING!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
Wolff is an amazing author! He describes childhood in ways that almost anyone can relate to. He is a master in his craft and is an inspiration to anyone desiring to write a memoir of their own. While you can feel the angst of the writer's plight, you can also laugh your ass off at the hilarity he chooses to make out of it in his later and wiser years.
This book should be required reading for every highschool senior in America (girls and boys alike)!
"Catcher in the Rye" was excellent, but "This Boy's Life" is nothing short of brilliant! I would recommend this to anyone.
Book Review: A boy's life, told by a master
Summary: 5 Stars
Wolff makes great writing seem effortless, which it is clearly not, even for him. The story is excellent, and would be worth reading even if it weren't so masterfully written, but it's the quality of Wolff's writing that places "This Boy's Life" on my short list of required reading. He exposes a lack of self-worth and insight that takes me back to my own adolescence. At times, his level of acceptance and almost forgiveness of Dwight (the abusive stepfather) seems forced, but perhaps Tobias had a better therapist than I had. I can't wait to read "In Pharoh's Army".Book Review: My Favorite Memoir Ever
Summary: 5 Stars
This was first book of Tobias Wolff's I read. And I immediately become a big fan. In fact, he's my favorite writer. I first read TBL out loud with my wife on our honeymoon. Since then I've reread it at least 2 or 3 times--and I rarely reread books [I've also reread TW's In Pharoh's Army]--and bought lots of copies for gifts.
This Boy's Life is a poignant, very honest, and self-deprecating look at a challenging childhood. In the long run, it seems what says Wolff is his humor and that he is on to himself. Highly recommended.