So, yeah,

it isn’t the easiest thing to read. The text seems to present a certain complexity that makes it a bit of a challenge for the reader. I had a hard time hearing the voice of the author clearly. At times, she sounded a little too proud of her own young mind, which gave the impression of overconfidence. And yet, at other times, I kind of heard a bit of snark in her tone, as if she was aware that she might be coming across as pompous. Despite these initial impressions, I did enjoy reading about a family very different from my own. It was interesting to discover the similarities that exist beneath the surface differences. Some passages in the text are beautifully written, showing a certain elegance and skill in the author's use of language. Overall, I'm both glad I read this piece and glad I'm done. It has provided me with some food for thought and a new perspective on different family dynamics.

This week, I dedicated a post in my blog to this remarkable book.

The book I'm referring to is truly captivating. It offers unique insights and perspectives that have the power to engage and inspire readers.

By exploring the link provided https://www.shirleyshowalter.com/lear..., you can embark on a journey of discovery and gain a deeper understanding of the themes and ideas presented within the book.

Whether you're an avid reader or simply looking for something new and thought-provoking, this book is definitely worth checking out. I highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in expanding their literary horizons and exploring the fascinating world of words and ideas.

So, don't miss out on this opportunity to delve into the pages of this wonderful book and experience the magic for yourself.

On one of my rare excursions to the YMCA thrift store here in Blacksburg, I stumbled upon this gem in the books section.

You might be wondering - "who goes to a thrift store to buy books?" (at least that was my friends' reaction). Well, I do and I am glad that I did, for it turned out to be just what I needed. Ever since I moved to the US, my curiosity to know more about the social dynamics of this place almost took the form of an urge. What shapes this society? What governs the implicit decorum of the community? What influences the people who dwell in it? And many more...

And what better way to understand all this than looking into one's childhood? For I believe that a person is most influenced by the events of his/her upbringing, not only concerned with the conduct of the family but the place and people at large. If you want to know more about a place, the humane element of it, look through the eyes of a child who has been brought up there.

Having that said, this book wonderfully exceeded any expectations I had set to gain out of it. If I have to put it in one word, I would say 'rich'. It's so rich, so vast in its experience that it even puts my adult life to shame (in a good way). It is no surprise that one's lifestyle in a developed nation would be that of abundance. But beyond the richness of material influence, it is the awareness, guidance, and freedom of intellectual persuasion that most influenced me.

Although, I would highly advise the reader against generalizing the experience across everyone (recent events are the proofs) for Annie Dillard's account of a life driven by passion, curiosity, and keen observations is certainly exceptional. It is what an 'American Dream' means in its truest sense. But to cast over its learnings to the society as a whole, one has to carefully read between the lines.

Annie Dillard is a master storyteller, one who possesses a plethora of knowledge across diverse fields (like a polymath) and is articulate enough to put it probably one of the most lyrical ways I have ever come across. If the bland language of anecdotal recounting found a perfect coherence with the melody of a poem sung reminiscing the bygone days, this would be it. The laminar language flows with the even force of kinship and the sporadic fierceness of sensibility that is only attained in retrospect.

Through the stages of infancy, early childhood, pre-teenage years, and adolescence, the author uncovers the secrets of her lifelong influences, only if you are willing to take interest with an open mind. It's a fantastic book that teaches something to people of all ages. I eagerly look forward to reading some of her other books next year.

This book is truly astonishingly good.

Dillard has an extraordinary ability to capture the drama, the vibrancy, and the complexity of childhood.

The process of coming to awareness, self-awareness, and the moments when one is nearly overcome by it are vividly portrayed.

I found myself either strongly relating to her experiences or at least having a deep understanding of them.

I am not sure if I have ever come across anything that manages to capture so much of the essence of being a child.

Every single word in this book is beautiful, as if carefully crafted to paint a perfect picture in the reader's mind.

It is a literary masterpiece that takes the reader on a journey through the joys and sorrows, the discoveries and confusions of childhood.

One cannot help but be drawn in by Dillard's prose and be left with a sense of wonder and appreciation for the beauty and complexity of the human experience.

This book is a must-read for anyone who wants to relive their own childhood or gain a deeper understanding of what it means to be a child.

An American Childhood truly captivated me in a manner that no other book had ever done before. It wasn't necessarily due to its content, as Annie Dillard had a rather ordinary childhood. However, the way she brings familiar childhood memories to life is truly remarkable. She describes them so succinctly that you feel as if you are reliving your own childhood all over again. Her writing style is concise yet manages to effortlessly draw you into her stream of consciousness. The choice of words she makes is not only beautiful but often surprising. For instance, I never thought that reading about rocks could be especially fascinating, but Dillard's description of her childhood rock collection had me completely glued to the page. Another highlight of the book was Dillard's retelling of her attempt as a child to fly. Even though she never actually left the pavement, you almost believe that she did.

If you are seeking a page-turner, then you should look elsewhere. But if you are in search of a book that will change your perspective and stay with you for a long time, then you have most definitely found it in An American Childhood. It is a book that makes you reflect on your own childhood and appreciate the simple yet profound moments that shape us.

This piece is sloooower and less hard-hitting than her other works. However, it is an incredible addition to the “I AM like other girls thank god” shelf that I’m building out.

“If every rock was interesting, if even this ugliness was worth whole shelves at the library, required sophisticated tools to study, and inspired grown men to crack mountains and saw crystals— then what wasn't?”

“Everything in the world, every baby, city, tetanus shot, tennis ball, and pebble, was an outcrop of some vast and hitherto concealed vein of knowledge, apparently, that had compelled people's emotions and engaged their minds in the minutest detail without anyone's having done with it.”

There was no one here but us fanatics: bird-watchers, infielders, detectives, poets, rock collectors, and, I inferred, specialists in things I had not looked into - violin makers, fishermen, Islamic scholars, opera composers, people who studied Bali, vials of air, bats. It seemed to take all these people working full time to extract the interest from everything and articulate it for the rest of us.

It's as if the author is inviting us to see the world through a different lens, to appreciate the hidden beauty and complexity in the most ordinary of things. We are all part of this vast tapestry of knowledge and interest, each with our own unique perspective and passion. And while this piece may not be as intense as some of her others, it still has the power to make us think and wonder about the world around us.

Wowwww!

This simple exclamation holds a world of excitement and wonder. It can express joy, surprise, or admiration.

When we say "wowwww," our eyes light up, and our hearts race with anticipation.

It's a universal expression that transcends language and culture.

Whether we're惊叹 at a beautiful sunset, a remarkable achievement, or a delicious meal, "wowwww" is the perfect way to convey our feelings.

It's a short and sweet word that packs a powerful punch.

So the next time you experience something truly amazing, don't be afraid to let out a big "wowwww" and share your excitement with the world.

The article presents exquisite writing and charming vignettes.

However, the overall story failed to grip me in an incredibly compelling way.

I guess it's the opposite of missing the forest for the trees.

The details and the small scenes were beautifully crafted, but perhaps they overshadowed the larger narrative arc.

It felt as if I was getting lost in the individual moments rather than being drawn into the overall plot.

Despite the lovely writing, the story lacked that certain something that would have made it truly engaging for me.

Maybe with a stronger central storyline or a more focused narrative, it could have had a greater impact.

As it stands, while I appreciate the artistry in the writing, the story as a whole didn't quite hit the mark for me.

I like to think that I have reached an age where I no longer need the brooding, existential "grittiness" from every item on my bookshelf. However, I truly struggle to believe that anyone's childhood was as idyllic as the world described in Annie Dillard's An American Childhood.

I adored the author's earlier work, Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, which offered an acute, worm's-eye view of the natural world surrounding us. Pilgrim seemed to recognize the small-scale "otherness" of our physical environment - the way that leaves, insects, and foliage create an alternate universe alongside the world of normativity and convention. Regrettably, Childhood mostly deals with the latter world. And despite a few lively moments here and there, the book is more driven by nostalgia than curiosity.

If you grew up wealthy and white in the 1950s, you might find the nostalgia rather charming. Dillard maintains an old-school, post-New Deal optimism about innovation, social change, and America itself that can be quite endearing. But her optimism also poses an obstacle. For instance, consider her treatment of race. Throughout the memoir, we are introduced to various African-Americans who work around the Dillards' bourgeois home. When they appear, it is almost always to draw attention to her mother's noble open-mindedness, or the author's fearless forays into a library "on the bad side of town," or something similar. There is a sanctimoniousness to all of this that is really hard to ignore. And although Dillard adds the occasional quip about the ignorance of her conservative relatives, the tone is self-congratulatory, and her optimism seems more indicative of ignorance and self-absorption than the wonder of the world itself.

I'm not the most optimistic person in the world, so there's definitely a possibility that a resonant aspect of this book eluded me because I'm such a killjoy. Certain passages are very well-written, but the chipper tone prevented me from enjoying most of them. This is definitely not the kind of book I would ever blame anyone for liking, but I found none of the wonder I had expected after reading Pilgrim at Tinker Creek. Instead, I spent most of the book rolling my eyes at the cheesiness.

I had initially thought that I would read some of Dillard's works, but as it turns out, no.

Although she is undeniably a great writer, her works are filled with an abundance of details. This can be a great thing if the subject matter interests you deeply, but it's not quite as appealing if it doesn't.

I grew up in a suburb of Pittsburgh 15 years after Dillard, yet we seemed to inhabit completely different worlds.

Who was this child who could read WWII books, bike for miles around, attend weekly art and dance classes, and have not a single chore to do?

When I was 10, I was already doing dishes, weeding the garden, picking strawberries to sell, hemming the clothes my mother sewed, and wearing hand-me-downs.

Sure, I had a bike, but we lived out in the country where it was nearly impossible to ride on the grassy hills, and there was really nowhere to go anyway.

We did have a mobile library that came every two weeks, and you could only check out two books.

I did enjoy the parts about Pittsburgh's history, and in fact, all of it... until she reached the tipping point of providing too much information (TMI) about her hobbies.

I wonder if she still smokes.

One of the more childlike memories...

1.5 stars

I added the 0.5 stars only because there were indeed a few charming elements within this book. However, aside from those few亮点, the overall reading experience was rather challenging. The book was overly dense with metaphors that often seemed unnecessary and convoluted. It felt as if the author was trying too hard to be profound, but in doing so, made the story more difficult to follow.

Moreover, the organization of the book was lacking. It constantly jumped between different time periods without a clear and smooth transition. This made it hard for the reader to keep track of the storyline and understand the sequence of events. Additionally, characters were casually mentioned before they were properly introduced, leaving the reader confused and disoriented.

In conclusion, while there were some redeeming qualities to this book, the flaws in its writing and organization ultimately detracted from the overall enjoyment. It is a book that may require multiple readings to fully understand and appreciate, but for the average reader, it may prove to be a bit too much of a struggle.

I had anticipated a "good old days" kind of atmosphere, reminiscing about how incredibly wonderful childhood was BACK THEN. However, in reality, Annie Dillard has managed to encapsulate what is common to all while still maintaining a truly personal narrative.

It is truly remarkable how she has achieved this balance. The book is not only beautiful in its content but also beautifully written.

Each word seems to be carefully chosen, painting a vivid picture in the reader's mind. The descriptions are so detailed that one can almost feel as if they are experiencing the events along with the author.

This is a book that will touch the hearts of readers of all ages, reminding them of the joys and sorrows of their own childhoods. It is a must-read for anyone who appreciates good literature.