Two and a half stars for this book.

I really had to push myself to read it, even at the expense of other books.

There were indeed some beautiful language and a few interesting anecdotes.

However, I truly felt that this memoir only skimmed the surface in its effort to be poetic.

I'm certain that others might enjoy it more.

But I desired more detail regarding the relationships and characters.

Surprisingly, the greatest detail was given to subjects like rock collecting and insect preserving, which didn't really excite me.

Some of the reflections in the epilogue were the most satisfying, although I didn't agree with the conclusions.

Sometimes I'm aware that I might enjoy a book in a different season.

Nevertheless, I suspect that this style of memoir would always pose a challenge for me.

Overall, it was an okay read, but not one that I would highly recommend.

Gorgeously written and unbelievably observant, this memoir is truly a gem. It's not only filled with captivating details but also has a great sense of humor.

Some memoirs are like watching a great film, but this one is more like flipping through a photo album with a witty and insightful commentator by your side.

The author shares snippets of snappy anecdotes that lead to halting speculations on the deeper meaning behind them. I get the sense that she's more of an interpreter than a traditional storyteller, as she invites the reader to think and reflect along with her.

There's something special about finding an author you'd like to be friends with, and in this case, it's Annie. Her writing style and perspective are so engaging that I can't wait to see what else she has to share. It's been a pleasure getting to know her through these pages.

Certainly, I can understand and concur with some of the negative appraisals of this book. I simply can't envision perusing it in the intricate times of these contemporary years, assuming I were a 30-something. Nevertheless, Annie Dillard is 4 months younger than I am. It was truly wonderful of her to pen down my childhood. The exploring, the imagining, the days at summer camp, the microscope, friends with polio, rock collecting, and butterflies in jars. The similarities end, however, as she steps into her teenage years. Once more, I'm reminded of how grateful I am that I grew up prior to the digital age.

Perhaps in those bygone eras, life was simpler and more uncomplicated. We had the luxury of exploring the great outdoors without the constant distraction of digital devices. Our imaginations could run wild as we engaged in activities like rock collecting and observing butterflies in jars. Summer camps were a haven of fun and adventure, and friendships were formed that lasted a lifetime. Although Annie Dillard's experiences may have deviated from mine as she entered her teens, the essence of our childhoods remains the same. It's a time of discovery, growth, and wonder.

Reading this book is like embarking on a journey back to one's second childhood. Dillard truly understands the essence of youth - the wonder, the curiosity, the angst during transitions, and the spirit of adventure. It is a joyous ride from start to finish.

There are countless precious moments in this book that I long to hold onto forever. For instance, when Dillard describes how children wake up and find themselves in the midst of a familiar life, yet still feel as if they have just arrived. It's a profound observation that captures the essence of growing up.

Another gem is when she writes about the passage of time and how it can bury things, like the dime in the soil or the old doorways in Rome. This vivid imagery makes one think about the fleeting nature of life and how easily we can forget the past.

Dillard also shares her love for walking and how it was like creating a map of the town in her mind. The sense of joy and relief she feels when she returns home from her explorations is palpable and makes one appreciate the simple pleasures in life.

As the book progresses, Dillard delves deeper into her thoughts and feelings, exploring themes such as imagination, courage, and the search for meaning in life. Her writing is both beautiful and thought-provoking, making this book a must-read for anyone who wants to relive the magic of their childhood or gain a deeper understanding of the human experience.

This was a slow starter, but once I gave myself over to it, I found a lot to love.

Through her memories of growing up in Pittsburgh, Annie Dillard spoke of the past without any false nostalgia or unearned wistfulness for "days gone by" while also paying tribute to the extraordinary era in which she came of age.

"An American Childhood" is Dillard's look back at her life in Pittsburgh from roughly about five years old to eighteen. She's a precocious child, the eldest of three sisters, with two unconventional parents who don't quite fit the tenor of the times. (Dillard was born in 1945, meaning that she grew up in the shadow of McCarthyism and paranoia about a Communist takeover, fears her parents did not share with the majority of their neighbors.) A tomboy early on, Dillard wanted to play baseball like her hometown Pirates, but she was a girl and girls didn't do that. (Though she did get to play field hockey when she was a teenager.) She was a reader and an artist at an early age, and at some point she figured out something that another product of Pittsburgh (Andy Warhol) had realized as well: if you want to be an artist, you have to get out.

This is a charming, funny, entertaining, and enjoyable memoir, a portrait of the artist as a young child growing into herself and her place in the world. Dillard recounts various aspects of her life in the Fifties, and how she saw the world at the time through the prism of her now adult world view. She was a "good child" until her teens, when she began to rebel, albeit in unusual ways. Having become a church-going kid despite her parents' lack of interest in organized religion, she wrote a letter to her pastor declaring her desire to no longer attend services, which caused some embarrassment to her parents. She would linger at a museum after her school's functions there ended every weekend, drawn to the paintings and sculpture that children her age showed no interest in. And she got the romantic notion of getting out from her father, who once tried to go down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers to New Orleans.

It's a sense of wanderlust that permeates the book, and Dillard's quest to get out while looking back at her life is the heart of the story. For those of us still stuck in our hometowns, that is understandable; that tear between getting out and staying where we know what everything looks like, where everything is. "An American Childhood" is a moving look back at the world of childhood, not so much drenched in nostalgia as it is aware of the encroaching of time. You can't go home again, except on the page.

Yikes! Well, considering that for the first 80 or so pages, I thought this was a work of fiction. It was rather dull without a proper plot.

As I read on, I came to recognize the dissonance between my interest and the book. It seems that the lack of care for the author on my part was a contributing factor. I have yet to read any other works by Dillard, and so I really didn't give a rat about her life.

Don't get me wrong, it was a fine book in its own way. But perhaps if I had been more familiar with the author or if the plot had been more engaging from the start, my experience might have been different.

Overall, it was an okay read, but not one that I would highly recommend based on my initial impression. However, I'm willing to give Dillard another chance and explore some of her other works to see if they might capture my interest more fully.

Childhood is truly a remarkable stage of life, filled with a plethora of amazing thoughts and experiences. It's a time when our imaginations run wild, and the world seems full of endless possibilities. Reading a book about Pittsburgh and having those moments where you can say, "I've been on that street you're talking about!" is not only cool but also adds a unique layer of connection and nostalgia. It makes you realize how much of an impact our surroundings and the places we've been can have on our memories and sense of self. Whether it's the familiar streets, the local landmarks, or the people we met along the way, these elements all contribute to shaping our childhood and ultimately, who we are today. It's truly a wonderful feeling to be able to relive those memories through the pages of a book and to be reminded of the special places and moments that made our childhoods so unforgettable.

To be honest, it wasn't that bad. However, I only read it because it was a requirement for the class. If it weren't for that, I definitely would not read it again. The story had its moments, but overall, it didn't really capture my attention. Maybe it was because I wasn't particularly interested in the subject matter. Or perhaps the writing style just wasn't to my taste. Either way, I'm glad that I'm done with it and can move on to something else. I don't think I'll be recommending this book to anyone else.

This is the first full-length work of Dillard's that I've had the opportunity to read.

As I delved into the pages, it became immediately clear why she is widely regarded as a master of creative nonfiction. Her use of language is truly remarkable, painting vivid pictures in the reader's mind with every sentence. She has an uncanny ability to avoid clichés and present her ideas in a fresh and original way.

The style of the writing was indeed beautiful, with a lyrical quality that made it a pleasure to read. However, I couldn't help but feel that the story itself was rather ordinary. It seemed more like I was reading someone's personal history, which, while interesting in its own right, didn't have the kind of drama or excitement that I was hoping for.

But perhaps that was the whole point. Maybe Dillard was有意 to show that even the most ordinary lives can be filled with beauty and meaning if we take the time to look closely. Overall, I found the experience of reading this book to be both enjoyable and thought-provoking.

How many stars do you give to a book that leaves you feeling that you are not smart enough to critique it?

This is a rather thought-provoking question. When faced with such a book, it can be quite a dilemma. On one hand, you might be in awe of the author's profound knowledge and intricate writing, feeling that your own understanding is insufficient to offer a meaningful critique.

However, giving it a high number of stars just because you are intimidated might not be entirely fair either. You could also consider the overall impact the book had on you, regardless of your ability to analyze it in-depth.

Perhaps it opened your mind to new ideas, or made you think about things in a different way. In such cases, it might deserve a good rating. On the other hand, if you truly feel that you didn't fully grasp the essence of the book, it might be more appropriate to reserve judgment until you have had more time to reflect and study it further.

Ultimately, the decision of how many stars to give such a book depends on your own personal perspective and the value you assign to the reading experience.

Merveilleuse lecture!

I am truly impressed by the intelligence of this woman as she recounts her childhood and adolescence in Pittsburgh during the 1950s and 1960s.

Her memories are structured around various themes such as friendships, school, explorations of the neighborhood, readings, passions, and more. However, what I especially take away is her consciousness, her awareness of being conscious of herself and her relationship with the world, with all that weaves it together.

She was a little girl and then an adolescent full of passion, with boundless energy and curiosity.

I close the book and the image of her neighbor skating in the street remains with me, a magical, dazzling vision that she describes in such a way that it is impossible to forget.

This book has truly opened my eyes to a different time and place, and has made me appreciate the power of memory and storytelling.

This was truly charming. Annie Dillard has firmly established her position as my all-time favorite author ever since I resumed reading this year.

As my favorite author, I have been extremely eager to learn more about her! However, it turns out that she is rather elusive. So, this presented a golden opportunity for me to get to know her better!

She is hilariously funny (a fact that I was already aware of), and in more ways than I can enumerate, she is similar to me. Her vivid retelling of her childhood brought back my own childhood memories with remarkable clarity.

I wouldn't claim that this memoir narrates an especially crazy story. Instead, it felt like delving into the memoir of an ordinary person's life. But that's a good thing. It's in the same vein as you would cherish reading your grandmother's memoir, filled with the simple yet precious details of a life well-lived.