I truly adored the manner in which Dillard portrays her reading as being subversive. It's as if her words have the power to pull me into a much broader and more captivating world.

When she writes about reading, it's not just a simple act of consuming words on a page. Instead, it becomes a revolutionary experience that challenges the status quo and opens up new perspectives.

Through her descriptions, I can vividly imagine myself being transported to different places, meeting new people, and experiencing emotions that I never thought possible.

Dillard's writing makes me realize that reading has the potential to be a powerful tool for change, both within ourselves and in the world around us. It allows us to break free from the constraints of our own lives and explore the infinite possibilities that exist beyond our immediate surroundings.

In conclusion, her words have left a lasting impression on me, and I will forever be grateful for the opportunity to have been introduced to her unique and inspiring perspective on reading.

I really liked this entire book. In fact, I loved certain parts of it, especially the chapters that were about her mom!

It had both similarities and differences when compared to my own childhood. The concept of "awakening" in child development is something that I find truly interesting.

Overall, this book was a really easy and enjoyable read. It didn't require a lot of effort to get through, yet it managed to keep my attention throughout. The author did a great job of presenting the story in a way that was engaging and relatable.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a light and fun read that also has some depth and meaning. It's a great way to spend an afternoon or a weekend.

Before the concept of performing random acts of kindness emerged as a widely embraced cultural imperative, Dillard, who was still a child herself at that time, had an interesting realization. She discovered that by leaving pennies here and there in her Pittsburgh neighborhood for young children to stumble upon, it brought about a sense of joy within herself.

It has been approximately 15 years since I last read the book, yet these two aspects have remained firmly etched in my memory. Firstly, Annie Dillard's magnificent writing style simply would not be possible without the profound wisdom that she possessed. Her words seemed to flow with an almost magical quality, captivating the reader and transporting them into her world.

Secondly, there is the curious admonition of never dropping a coin without ensuring that it is head-side up. This simple yet somewhat mysterious rule adds an element of charm and intrigue to the act of leaving pennies for others to find. It makes one wonder if there is a deeper meaning or superstition attached to it. In any case, these two things serve as a reminder of the power of small acts of kindness and the beauty that can be found in the simplest of gestures.

This is an American childhood. Imagine if your family owned American Standard and had such an abundance of wealth that your father could simply walk away from his job and decide to embark on a journey, boating down the Ohio River to New Orleans. However, Ms. Dillard is not primarily focused on discussing her family's wealth. Instead, she is mostly interested in描绘 the development of her mind.

As a young child, she immerses herself in both nature and books. Her mother takes her to the nearest branch of the Pittsburgh Public Library, which happens to be in an area of the city predominantly inhabited by African-Americans. There, she reads A Field Guide to Ponds multiple times and is amazed to see how many other patrons have done the same. In the summers, she accompanies her paternal grandparents to their summer home on Lake Erie, where she further indulges her love for nature.

Her private school offers an excellent, albeit conventional, education. But when puberty strikes, Ms. Dillard's raging hormones lead her into one scrape after another, ultimately resulting in her arrest for participating in a drag race with other teenagers. This incident leads to her suspension from school and her being sent to a rather strict girls' college. Throughout all of this, she never seems to question her fate. Maybe she doesn't want to, but with such a lively and inquisitive mind, it is indeed a disappointment.

Dillard's writing is truly amazing.

I found her memoir so captivating that I simply couldn't put it down.

Born in 1950 to her parents, Frank and Pam, Dillard presents us with a series of vignettes from her life.

The first part focuses on her childhood and her family, painting a vivid picture of those early years.

The second part covers her preteen and teenage years, filled with the typical challenges and experiences of that stage.

And the last section delves into the time when she rebels, quitting and later returning to her Presbyterian Church.

The Epilogue reflects on her adulthood.

What I loved most about her memoir was how she shared her vivid memories, which in some cases even brought back memories of my own childhood.

Her father was an especially interesting character. How many dads would leave home to embark on a journey down the river to New Orleans?

I also greatly appreciated that for whatever books she mentioned, she made it possible for the reader to look up the title, in case they wanted to explore those works on their own.

She is truly a great writer, and this is a great memoir that offers a fascinating glimpse into her life.

Magnifique lecture!

It is truly an ode to youth and naivete, to nature and to literature, of course.

Although there were a few passages that didn't quite resonate with me as strongly, Dillard's skill in making memories resurface and in intricately weaving them together to give them meaning is simply delicious.

This author has already fascinated me!

The way she describes the world around her, the details she notices, and the emotions she conveys are all so vivid and engaging.

It's as if I am right there with her, experiencing everything she does.

I can't wait to explore more of her works and see what other wonderful stories and insights she has to offer.

Overall, this was a truly remarkable reading experience that has left a lasting impression on me.

This book was truly too boring for me to endure. I simply couldn't bring myself to finish it.

On the other hand, Pilgrim at Tinker Creek had its moments. There were a few redeeming parts that managed to capture my attention.

However, this particular book felt as if someone had taken me hostage at a party. They were relentlessly telling me stories from their childhood, stories that I couldn't care less about.

It was a tiresome experience, like being trapped in a never-ending loop of uninteresting tales.

I found myself constantly looking for an escape, hoping to find something more engaging and captivating.

Alas, this book failed to deliver on that front, leaving me disappointed and longing for a better read.

Perhaps it's just a matter of personal taste, but for me, this book was a definite miss.

I'll be on the lookout for something more exciting and worthwhile in the future.

What can we make of the inexpressible joy of children? It is a kind of gratitude, I think.

It is the gratitude of the ten-year-old who wakes to her own energy and the brisk challenge of the world. You thought you knew the place and all its routines, but you see you hadn't known.

Whole stacks at the library held books devoted to things you knew nothing about.

"Private life, book life, took place where words met imagination without passing through the world."

I could just pack this little review with quotes. I flagged so many. What a joy this memoir is and it really captures the wonder of childhood, unlike anything else I have read.

A rock, a leaf, a moth, a baseball mitt and of course the mystical discovery of books and all the doors and windows that are flung open.

Dillard can dip into the metaphysical at times, leaving the reader somewhat confounded. But she always returns to the narrative, with lovely abandon.

Her writing style is unique, filled with vivid descriptions and profound insights. It makes the reader feel as if they are right there with the author, experiencing the joys and wonders of childhood.

This memoir is not just a story about growing up, but also a celebration of the power of imagination and the beauty of the world around us.

It is a must-read for anyone who wants to relive the magic of their own childhood or discover the wonder of it for the first time.

In An American Childhood, Dillard embarks on a journey that traces her life from the tender years of early childhood all the way into the complex realm of adolescence. Her self-proclaimed project is to vividly illustrate how a child gradually "wakes up" to the realities of life. This transformation involves a shift from the self-centered and immediate now-ness of early childhood to the stirrings of consciousness, that profound awareness that one is alive and part of a larger world.

As if to emphasize her stance as an "example" of childhood rather than the sole subject of the work, she commences her autobiography by painting a detailed picture of Pittsburgh's topography and rich history. This is then followed by a captivating chapter that delves into her father's adventurous trip down the Mississippi in search of the origins of jazz. As she progresses to describe her mother, her neighborhood, her boundless energy, and her insatiable interest in books, art, rocks, flora, fauna, and the act of consciously "seeing," she repeatedly appends, like a revealing denouement, the fact that she was waking up.

"I woke in bits, like all children, piecemeal over the years. I discovered myself and the world, and forgot them, and discovered them again. I woke at intervals until, by that September when Father went down the river, the intervals of waking tipped the scales, and I was more often awake then not. I noticed this process of waking, and predicted with terrifying logic that one of these years not far away I would be awake continuously and never slip back, and never be free of myself again."

As Samuel Hazo and other discerning critics have astutely noted, Dillard's autobiography shines brightest in its earlier chapters where her focus is firmly on her childhood. However, her portrayal of her adolescence often veers closer to caricature rather than a nuanced and accurate characterization.

Partially adapted from a prior publication

An interesting memoir showcases a bygone upper middle class way of life in Pittsburgh. Annie reveals the nascent stages of her love for prose and her exquisitely inquisitive mind. The narrative offers a captivating glimpse into a world that has now vanished. However, the story is marred by an abrupt ending as she departs for college. This sudden conclusion somewhat detracts from the overall impact. A bit more reflection and an attempt to tie up loose ends would have enhanced the memoir significantly. It would have provided a more complete and satisfying reading experience, allowing the reader to better understand the full arc of Annie's journey and the significance of her experiences in shaping her.

There is an entire book that romanticizes Pittsburgh, and I truly love this.

It is beautiful from start to finish. Her prose is simply to die for, making even the most mundane and everyday things fascinating.

This is a childhood memoir that spans from her earliest memory to her departure for college. We become completely immersed in her musings as a child and her rise to consciousness. We explore the world with her as she discovers that she is just a small hill in the topography of life and Pittsburgh. The reader feels and sympathizes as she develops her own ideas, interests, goals, hobbies, makes mistakes, and experiences loves.

I felt so seen in this book. So many things were validated that I thought were only my own feelings. This book made my heart swell. It is definitely one of my all-time favorites.

It is the most cohesive, moving, and beautiful bildungsroman I have ever read.

Reminds me of my childhood growing up, it was truly a wonderful time. I vividly remember digging in my backyard and coming across small glass bottles and various other things. My house, which was located in New England, was over 100 years old. It had a certain charm and history to it. I was quite the Tom boy back then, and I absolutely loved to travel around the neighborhoods. Exploring new places and meeting different people was always an adventure for me. However, there was one thing that I loved too much to catch and pin them up, and that was butterflies. Their beauty and grace were just too captivating. I would rather just watch them flutter around freely and enjoy their presence.