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Finding Fish (Abridged) Audiobook
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(4.01) - 1,403 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Antwone Quenton Fisher was raised in institutions from the moment his single mother gave birth to him in prison. As a foster child, he suffered more than a dozen years of emotional abandonment and physical abuse, until he escaped and forged a life on the streets. And just as his life was about to hit rock bottom, Antwone enlisted in the U.S. Navy—a decision that would ultimately save him. There, he became a man and discovered a loving family he never had. Through it all, Antwone refused to allow his spirit to be broken and never gave up his dreams of a better day.
A miraculous true story of one courageous man’s journey from abandonment and abuse to extraordinary success, here is a modern-day, African-American Oliver Twist you will never forget.
Performed by Alton Fitzgerald White.
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"Finding Fish was a book that my social worker MIL had around that she'd had to read for school, and suggested I read it, since I'm also a social work student. It sat around until I had a dry spell between library runs; I wasn't as interested as I wanted to be. Once I picked it up, I couldn't put it down. I had a messed up childhood myself, but I could relate to very little of Antwone's experiences (foster care, the 60's and 70's, African American culture, male perspective), but his voice is so strong and honest that it's impossible not to root for him as he builds his own moral compass from scratch and tries to find his way out of his abusive foster home. It's rarely about grotesque, gratuitous abuse (not never, just rarely), and more about a lack of love, support, or belonging. By the time he's out of the house and in the Navy, the book could say "And then he became a millionaire, and married a supermodel, and had five wonderful kids, and was waved by palm leaves and fed grapes all day" and you would keep reading just because the author is so genuine and likable, he deserves happiness and peace and it's truly enjoyable to read about him finding it. I tend to stay interested throughout the central struggle of a book and by the time it gets to the happily ever after, I'm thinking "Yeah, yeah, and then you were happy and blah blah blah, that's great," but this one, if he wrote another book about nothing but his happy life now, I'd read it."
— Brianne (5 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“Finding Fish reads like a great work of fiction, moving me alternately to tears and laughter, sorrow and joy, and making me forget at times, that the story is astonishingly true.”
— Denzel Washington -
“Fisher’s gripping memoir is an inspiring story of one man’s journey, a tale of strength of the individual over the challenges of life.”
— Chicago Tribune -
“The Color Purple, but true and male and set in the 1960s.”
— Time -
“This stunning autobiography rises above the pack of success fables from survivors of America's inner cities…If a major feature of survival memoirs is their ability to impress readers with the subject’s long, steady climb to redemption and excellence, then this engrossing book is a classic.”
— Publishers Weekly (starred review) -
“A striking and original story of the journey from troubled childhood to self-aware adult, Fisher’s account strikes the universal chords so often missing from contemporary memoir.”
— Kirkus Reviews
Awards
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A New York Times bestseller
Finding Fish Listener Reviews
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" Inspirational. Feel good. "
— Jessica, 2/19/2014 -
" loved this book . really inspirational "
— Mc, 2/14/2014 -
" I could not put this book down. It is a memoir that will impact everyone who reads it! "
— Mbishop012, 1/29/2014 -
" This book is poignant, heartbreaking and powerful. The movie was nowhere near as good. "
— Meagan, 1/26/2014 -
" Excellent book! Completely different from the movie, the movie is only based on 1/3 of what he wrote. "
— Liz, 1/23/2014 -
" One of those books that is so sad, because of the situation, but the author/character makes the best of it in the end. "
— Katie, 1/16/2014 -
" Really amazing record of what it feels like to be in foster care. This book will make you cry. "
— Whitney, 1/10/2014 -
" I read this years ago, but it still haunts me. The movie is fairly close to the book, but the book still tells more about Fisher's story growing up in foster care in Cleveland. Not a pretty story! "
— Mary, 1/9/2014 -
" beautiful, inspirational story. well written, reads like fiction. "
— Uptownbookwormnyc, 12/28/2013 -
" I loved this book- a well written memoir of a boy growing up in the foster care system. The characters are all amazingly described to the point where I feel like I would know them if I saw them on the street. Now I just need to find a copy of the movie to see what it's like. "
— Tori, 12/10/2013 -
" An extremely positive and inspiring book. The is story is shared through the eyes of a young boy, as he moves through life to become a man. It talks about overcoming abuse at the hands of foster parents and becoming a better person. "
— Kemi, 9/13/2013 -
" i cried almost through this entire book. antwone fisher's childhood (if you can call it that) is just tragic. it's inspiring to read how he managed to get through all of the heartache and abuse...and to become the man who wrote these memoirs. "
— beth, 7/14/2013 -
" i really liked this one. hilarious and depressing at the same time. "
— Maya, 5/21/2013 -
" Wow! Heartbreaking and inspiring! Read it! "
— Melissa, 5/10/2013 -
" The book is so much better than the movie! However....that is usually the case. "
— Alisia, 3/16/2013 -
" Amazing triumph of the human spirit. You wonder how people can be so cruel and then wonder how children can survive it. This should be required reading for every spoiled 13-14 year old! "
— Allison, 6/21/2011 -
" Choose the lessons you learn "
— Renae, 3/18/2011 -
" I can't even begin to describe how much I loved this book. "
— Robert, 5/4/2010 -
" Read with my Guardian Ad Litem (CASA in some places)book club. You may remember the movie about him. How come some people like him manage to rise above the most horrible childhoods and rest of us never get over what mean thing mommy or daddy said when we were five? "
— Bonnie, 11/29/2009 -
" FOR ANYONE THAT EVER FELT LIKE THEY DID NOT BELONG...THIS STORY PACTS A POWERFUL, UNFORGETTABLE PUNCH. EVEN MORE INTRIGUING FOR ANYONE FROM THE CLEVELAND AREA "
— Bachelm, 9/11/2009 -
" A beautiful true story of hardship, compassion, discovery and living life. Antwone Fisher is an inspirational man with story that will touch your heart. "
— Cortney, 4/30/2009 -
" I was cleaning my office when I came across this book that I purchased a while ago and never read. Definitely an "oldie but goodie." I loved it. Antwone's story was so engrossing, I read it in 3 days. The movie, beautiful though it was, did not do the book justice. 5 stars! "
— Kea, 2/29/2008 -
" I thought it was a really good well written book "
— Curt, 7/24/2007 -
" A absolute Must read! "
— Laurie, 8/24/2006 -
" This book was better than the movie (antwon fisher)there were so many different things in this book that had to be toned down, in order to make it for the movies,and it was very sad, but the outcome was spectacular. "
— Rhonda, 5/29/2006 -
" Wow was his foster mother disturbed! "
— suzy, 4/4/2006
About the Authors
Antwone Q. Fisher is the author of the New York Times bestselling memoir Finding Fish. He also wrote the screenplay for the film Antwone Fisher, which was based on his life and directed by Academy Award winner Denzel Washington. Fisher lives in Los Angeles with his wife and two daughters.
About Alton Fitzgeral White
Alton White’s journey from his boyhood home in a Cincinnati housing project to the grandeur of Broadway’s Minskoff Theatre is remarkable, but one that many will find touchingly recognizable and relatable. Struggling with feelings of inferiority, he doggedly tried out for role after role and happily accepted whatever was offered to him however modest, approaching each with passion and dedication. His gifts were ultimately recognized and rewarded with major roles. White is the only black actor who has played in a lead role in five hit shows on Broadway: John in Miss Saigon; Ken in Smokey Joe’s Café (he originated the role in London’s West End); Coalhouse Walker Jr. in Ragtime: The Musical; Mister in The Color Purple; and King Mufasa in The Lion King.