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A Strong West Wind: A Memoir Audiobook
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(3.71) - 272 listener ratings
Publisher Description
Gail Caldwell is a Pulitzer Prize-winning book critic for The Boston Globe. Her book A Strong West Wind is a "metaphor-rich, beautifully structured reminiscence" of a child growing up in the turbulent 1960s (Booklist, starred review). Caldwell was born in Texas in 1951; in a land of plains so vast they frightened her. Caldwell's mother was a clandestine lover of books; her father was a master sergeant in World War II. These personalities shaped Caldwell; during the passionate rebellions of the 1960s, she was one of the "children who once made life hell for 'the Greatest Generation' and in the process turned out pretty great themselves" (Russell Baker, author). Turning to books for each poignant change in her life, Caldwell eventually became what her mother could not: a writer. Throughout these changes, Caldwell is driven by the restless desire she once felt as a child in a small town in Texas. "It's refreshing to read a memoir composed of real introspection and insight, a grown-up's mature perspective on a family and an era."-Washington Post Book World "Caldwell comes through as a wise and winning woman-her descriptive passages ... are wonderfully smart, moving and sympathetic-and she emerges ... a memorable narrator."-Publisher's Weekly, starred review
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"This book has become one of my favorite books, it merits being placed next to Kathleen Norris's Dakota. There's just something about life on the vast plains that distills a writer's voice into crystalline clarity. Caldwell's experiences of growing up in Amarillo in the late '60s and '70's are very much akin to my own."
— Mary (5 out of 5 stars)
A Strong West Wind Listener Reviews
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" Not what you'd expect in a memoir with a windmill on the cover. Bookish Boomer leaves Amarillo for school, becomes hippie radical, goes to grad school, moves to Boston, becomes writer. She IS a writer--this is very well written. "
— Kathy, 2/11/2014 -
" Parts of this memoir were quite thoughtful. I enjoy reading about a writer's reading history, the books that meant something to them. Caldwell and I were born the same year, so her perspective on the Vietnam War and the women's movement was intriguing. "
— Jane, 2/8/2014 -
" Fathers and daughters have a bond that can't be separated by time or distance. Similarities between the woman in the book and her father and my father and myself were numerous. The words "coffee and camels" brought so many memories back. "
— Mickey, 2/3/2014 -
" I cannot say that I was fan of this memoir at all. I usually love memoirs, especially about ordinary people in ordinary circumstances, but this was a complete bore. Just a warning, Caldwell makes a TON of references to classic literary works which might go over some people's heads (like mine for one). It also seems like Caldwell uses these references to just show her large literary knowledge. Overall, just a book filled with literary references with some fillers. "
— Brandon, 1/28/2014 -
" This is an interesting coming of age memoir. I was a teenager in the 60's, so I did relate to much of her story. However, the story did seem a bit disconnected at times. I enjoyed Caldwell's writing style, prosaic and thought provoking. A quick read and entertaining. "
— Linda, 1/7/2014 -
" I had a hard time with the first half but loved the second half. Due to many references to books, if you are literary (I am not) then you would appreciate the first half. "
— Angie, 1/5/2014 -
" Powerful writing by someone whoe admits their humanity "
— Kathleenc, 1/3/2014 -
" I read this for book club and so enjoyed it. Unfortunately, I was the only member in the club who did enjoy it. It paralleld my own life in so many ways. I guess one has to be a boomer to enjoy it. "
— Annette, 11/21/2013 -
" This was a wonder memoir about growing up in Armadillo Tx. Gail writes with a lot of visual imagery. Written after her friend Caroline Knapp has died as described in "Let's Take The Long Way Home". Pulitzer prize winner and a very gifted, poetic writer. "
— Jmaylone, 11/6/2013 -
" I wanted to like this book..... But just couldn't finish it. The author seems more interested with impressing the reader with literary references and background description that leaves the narration, story-telling and general flow of the book severely lacking. Put simply.... It was just boring. "
— Tina, 10/10/2013 -
" excellent memoir - perhaps it was just the time period of the sixties/seventies that was fun for me. Good combo of narrative and reflection. Look forward to reading more of her "
— Melanie, 10/10/2013 -
" Interesting memoir of the author's upbringing in Texas and then her move to the East, laced with references to books she loved. "
— Paula, 5/6/2013 -
" Caldwell is a book reviewer- not someone who's memoirs you want to read unless you're a book geek. If you are though, you'll like them. She's a decent writer, brings a nice narrative to her life, and it's fun to see a reviewer put herself on the creative line. She does a good job. "
— Lulu, 1/7/2013 -
" Best book I've read in a while. Her writing is amazingly beautiful and erudite. "
— Andrew, 12/26/2011 -
" Beautifully written, thought provoking, and erudite memoir by the book critic for the Boston Globe. She evokes the Texas panhandle of her 1950's upbringing, the years spent in war protest, and her ever-present love of books. "
— Barbara, 5/18/2011 -
" I read most of this book, but got annoyed at all the author name dropping and character comparisons. I love a lot of what she wrote, but not enough to finish the book. "
— prairiesister, 4/28/2011 -
" Thought it wad a very good read. Of course I love anything Texas but it was also interesting because of all the literary references. I think people would enjoy it even if you have never been to Texas! "
— Cathy, 1/3/2011 -
" Thought it wad a very good read. Of course I love anything Texas but it was also interesting because of all the literary references. I think people would enjoy it even if you have never been to Texas! "
— Cathy, 12/19/2010 -
" Has some good prose but light reading <br/> <br/>After several months...I only had a few pages left and lost interest. Not even interested enough to say I read the whole book. "
— Lynnie, 10/25/2010 -
" This was a wonder memoir about growing up in Armadillo Tx. Gail writes with a lot of visual imagery. Written after her friend Caroline Knapp has died as described in "Let's Take The Long Way Home". Pulitzer prize winner and a very gifted, poetic writer. "
— Jmaylone, 8/29/2010 -
" I had a hard time with the first half but loved the second half. Due to many references to books, if you are literary (I am not) then you would appreciate the first half. "
— Angie, 10/12/2009 -
" I read this for book club and so enjoyed it. Unfortunately, I was the only member in the club who did enjoy it. It paralleld my own life in so many ways. I guess one has to be a boomer to enjoy it. "
— Annette, 9/29/2009 -
" Powerful writing by someone whoe admits their humanity "
— Kathleenc, 11/26/2008
About Gail Caldwell
Gail Caldwell, the former chief book critic of the Boston Globe, received the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished criticism in 2001. She is the author of the books A Strong West Wind and Let’s Take the Long Way Home, a New York Times bestseller and the winner of the New England Independent Booksellers Association award for nonfiction. She lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
About Nicole Poole
Nicole Poole is an AudioFile Earphones Award–winning audiobook narrator, commercial voice talent, veteran soundpainter, and owner of the O. Gail Poole Collection. She is also a staunch supporter of the arts and travels around the globe with a mobile recording studio.