Part of the journey from being a teenager to a functional adult involves seeking one's own identity, independent of what friends and family think. Tobias Wolff's struggle with this aspect is what makes his book such an engaging read.

He grew up in 1950s Washington state, and while his life experiences may differ from mine, the core feelings of adolescence remain the same regardless of circumstances.

Wolff's struggle is made more difficult by his mother's poor choices in men. At the start of the book, she is on the run from a bad relationship, with Tobias in tow. A truck with brake troubles passes them and crashes and burns, which serves as an apt metaphor for Wolff's life as described in the book. Although listed as an autobiography, it reads like a novel, avoiding a mere recitation of facts.

What made Wolff's adolescence even harder was a cruel and demanding stepfather. Dwight, his stepfather, elicits strong feelings in me, as it has been a long time since I wanted to throttle a character from a book. Growing up with an abusive father, I can understand Wolff's struggle to maintain his sense of self in the face of an overbearing parent's endless abuse.

Wolff shares that when he speaks to his children in anger, he can hear Dwight's voice in his own. His youngest daughter, shocked by his tone, asks him if he loves her.

The book is not just a gloomy catalogue of bad times; Wolff relates his problems with a fair amount of wit and humor. Moreover, the problems he faced are not neatly resolved in this book.

Highly recommended.

An excellent account of growing up in challenging circumstances is presented here. He finds himself constantly inventing himself as he progresses through life. The journey is not without its setbacks as he often fails to live up to his own high expectations. However, he gets close enough to those expectations to sustain hope. Despite the difficulties and disappointments, he refuses to give up. He continues to strive and push forward, always believing that he can do better and achieve more. His story is one of perseverance and determination in the face of adversity. It shows that even in the most challenging of circumstances, one can find a way to grow and succeed, as long as they have the will and the courage to keep going.

"The human heart is a dark forest." -- page 143

This Boy's Life stands as a curiously unique memoir. In this low-key coming-of-age story, there aren't really any earth-shattering surprises or developments. After all, it's hard to avoid knowing that the titular young man will grow up to be an accomplished writer and college professor. Yet, it remains compulsively readable. Set in the mid-to-late 1950s, Toby 'Jack' Wolff is uprooted from sunny Florida by his divorced mother and they trek westward across the nation to settle in the dreary Pacific Northwest. His mother soon remarries, introducing the antagonist of the tale - the shifty Dwight. Dwight is an unpleasant, manipulative, and hard-drinking man who makes many mistakes, both intentionally and unintentionally, in his 'fathering' of Jack. There is some limited physical abuse, but the mental cruelty and general irresponsibility are far more prevalent. This so-called parental figure, along with growing up in a distressed and remote working-class town, provide the impetus for Jack. He skates dangerously close to full-blown criminal-level juvenile delinquency, but then attempts to gain acceptance (by any means necessary) to a Pennsylvanian prep school to escape his dismal situation. As I read, I laughed, I cringed, and I was deeply moved. I truly wanted this young man to have his chance at a successful life.

Excellent! I also watched the movie.

The movie was truly a remarkable experience. From the very beginning, it had me captivated with its engaging plot and well-developed characters.

The special effects were outstanding, adding a whole new level of authenticity to the story.

The acting was top-notch, with each actor bringing their character to life in a believable and emotional way.

I found myself completely immersed in the movie, laughing at the funny parts and on the edge of my seat during the thrilling moments.

Overall, it was a movie that I would highly recommend to anyone. It had everything I look for in a great film - a great story, excellent acting, and amazing special effects.

I can't wait to watch it again!

This book offers me a fascinating and thrilling look into the life of a boy in the 1950s. At first, I didn't expect to like it as it's a memoir, and I usually find biographies dull.

However, once I got past the introduction, I was completely hooked. It's astonishing to think about all the experiences Toby had as a child. It gave me my first insight into the life of someone before the 2000s.

I found Dwight extremely irritating! When I read the part where he killed Champion, I was shocked and furious. The dog didn't deserve that fate! And when Dwight hit Toby, I couldn't help but imagine all the ways Toby could have retaliated.

It's really sad that in that era, women believed they had to get married. Rosemary and Norma are prime examples, getting married just for the sake of it. Rosemary thought she had to marry Dwight when her roommates got married and left. Nora married a man who loves to argue verbally, and it's clear she's not happy.

Toby had the opportunity to stop his mom from marrying Dwight, considering he was abusive, so I'm not sure why he didn't. These kinds of things make me grateful to be living in this century.

I'm extremely curious about the current lives of all the characters. I assume most of them are probably dead, but I still want to know what they did with their lives. In fact, I'm going to search for all their names on Google right now.

I truly enjoyed this memoir that delved into Tobias Wolff's early life.

What struck me was his almost carefree style when writing about what was actually a rather tragic youth. His parents divorced, and his brother went to live with their dad, while he remained with his mom. They moved around quite frequently until his mom married Dwight, who was a truly horrible human being, both as a husband and a stepfather.

Toby, it seems, was a rather wild kid. He appeared to be constantly drawn to trouble! As I was reading, I found myself constantly wondering how he managed to turn his life around as an adult. I suppose it's not overly unusual for those with rotten childhoods to emerge as talented and creative writers.

I'm now looking forward to reading more of his work and also to seeing the movie adaptation. I'm eager to further explore the world that Wolff has created through his words and see how it translates onto the big screen.

All of Dwight's complaints against me had the aim of giving me a definition of myself.

He seemed to think that by pointing out my flaws and shortcomings, he could somehow box me in and make me fit into a certain mold.

However, his attempts had the opposite effect.

Instead of feeling limited or confined by his words, I found myself empowered.

I realized that his complaints were not a true reflection of who I was, but rather a projection of his own insecurities and biases.

I used his words as a catalyst for self-reflection and growth.

I took the time to examine myself objectively and identify areas where I could improve, but I also recognized my strengths and unique qualities.

In the end, Dwight's complaints succeeded in giving me a definition of myself, but not the way he wished.

They helped me to become more self-aware and confident in who I am, and for that, I am grateful.

I know that this book is a darling of many, and I'll admit that there were moments when I breezed through Wolff's occasionally exceptional prose-work. However, what bothered me greatly were his glaring sins of omission.

Though I won't delve into specific details here, I found the story to be highly contrived. So much seems sanitized - even two-dimensional at times.

I've heard this billed as a redemption story, a "coming-of-age" tale. But that couldn't be further from the truth. Wolff portrays himself as a "bad kid with a heart of gold" who, in the book at least, never matures. And I never saw the story progress beyond the tired BKWAHOG trope. He engages in activities like playing with guns, stealing, lying, drinking, and fighting. Okay, sure. But so what? There are few efforts to offer perspective or context. And while that may be Wolff's stylistic intention - to write a tale of "THIS IS HOW IT WAS" - I never believed that this was an accurate portrayal of reality. There are too many chronological leaps and too many situations left unexplored. Is this a reflective exercise by the author? It doesn't seem to be very therapeutic.

My biggest gripe, though, is that it is essentially an anti-empathy novel. What do I gain from spending 288 pages in his shoes? I don't require social commentary or profound conclusions about the nature of men, his life, or the challenges of a single-parent household. But I do need to sense that the author cares about other people. He makes claims throughout the novel - in brief asides as an adult - about how foolish, silly, or unnecessary many of his actions were. Yet, he writes in the style of a tough guy, which implies the necessity and authenticity of his actions. Then he writes something as callous as this:

"The sheriff came to the house one night and told the Bolgers that Chuck was about to be charged with statutory rape. Huff and Psycho were also named in the complaint. The girl was in my class at Concrete High - one of a pack of hysterically miserable girls who ran around in tight clothes, plastered their faces with makeup, chainsmoked and talked in class and did their best to catch the attention of boys who would be sure to use them badly. Somebody knocked her up. She'd kept the pregnancy secret for as long as she could, and she was so fat to begin with that this deception came within two months of bringing her to term. Her name was Tina Flood, but everyone just called her The Flood. She was fifteen years old."

He's not writing as a tough guy; he's writing as a jerk. You might argue that this is the point. Well, I don't need beloved "coming-of-age" novels where jerks remain jerks.

This book is a captivating memoir that delves into the life of a young boy, Toby (Jack) Wolff, and his extraordinary experience of living a life on the run.

After separating from Jack's father, he and his mother are constantly on the move. The story commences with their relocation to Utah in the hope of making a fortune through uranium mining. Jack shares a deep bond with his mother, who had endured an abusive childhood herself. Unfortunately, his mother continuously involves herself with violent and abusive men, which forces Jack to constantly seek refuge in his vivid imagination and lies. He convinces himself that these fabrications are real in order to find solace and make himself feel better.

Some of the recurring themes in this novel include escapism, imagination, self-recognition, guilt, broken promises, lies, and betrayal. Through reading this memoir, I have learned that in life, it is essential to confront situations head-on rather than retreating into one's own world. We must have the courage to face the truth and deal with the challenges that come our way, rather than relying on falsehoods and逃避现实. Only by doing so can we truly grow and find inner peace.

I truly find myself at a loss for words when it comes to this award-winning book.

All I can say is that, having been a boy myself in the past, it provided great entertainment and I thoroughly relished it.

The story within its pages seems to have a certain charm that draws the reader in and keeps them engaged from start to finish.

It takes the reader on a journey through the eyes of a boy, experiencing all the adventures, challenges, and joys that come with that stage of life.

The characters are well-developed and the plot is filled with twists and turns that keep you guessing.

Overall, this book is a must-read for anyone who enjoys a good story, especially those who can relate to the experiences of a boy growing up.

It's a book that will make you laugh, cry, and everything in between, and it's one that I would highly recommend to others.

A boy grew up in the fifties and early sixties in a rather challenging situation. He had a single mother whose decisions regarding men were far from ideal. As a result, he developed into a bit of a little con man. This memoir was penned in the eighties, and I had always intended to read it. However, it was only in a recent interview when I heard David Sedaris singing the praises of Tobias Wolff that I finally decided the time had come. And I'm so very glad that I did. The audio version was read by Oliver Wyman, and he did an excellent job. His reading brought the story to life, making it even more engaging and enjoyable. It was a wonderful experience to listen to this memoir and gain insights into the boy's life and the events that shaped him.

This classic memoir of a childhood in the 1950s is perhaps better-known because it was made into an excellent movie. The movie hews fairly closely to the outlines of the story here in the book. However, as is almost always the case, the book is approximately 37 times better than the movie.

The incredible thing is what a troubled youth this boy was. He was constantly in trouble and making trouble, and seemed to be on such a clear path to a wasted life. But then, somehow, that didn't happen. Instead of a life in and out of jail, he became a writer and an educator.

The towns that step-father Dwight bring them to east of Seattle were built as part of a hydroelectric project. Lights went on in my head because I know something about these towns. A few years ago, I visited a region close to the US border in the Skagit Valley in BC that was flooded by the dam. The reservoir that helps power Seattle extends into Canada and was hugely controversial at the time. Washington State still pays compensation for the intrusion to this day.

The question remains: what impels one child towards achievement and another child towards self-destruction? The twists and turns of fate remain a mystery, as is delineated in this book with the friend Chuck, the minister's son. He refuses to marry the teenage girl he has lain with and faces statutory rape charges.

Our young hero in the memoir, known as Jack in his youth, Jack Wolff, takes care of his mother and lies to her face. He appeases, admires, and resists his abusive step-father. He steals from the step-father who has stolen from him, forges reference letters and transcripts to gain admission to school, and perhaps most tellingly has a rich imaginary life that is both frustrating and aspirational. But many of the boys around him also dream of escape, so how is he any different?

The writing in this book is clear and precise, and deservedly is recognized as a masterpiece in the genre. It offers a profound exploration of a troubled childhood and the forces that shape a person's life.