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Reading My Father: A Memoir Audiobook
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(3.06) - 495 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Alexandra Styron’s parents—the Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Sophie’s Choice and his political activist wife, Rose—were, for half a century, leading players on the world’s cultural stage. Alexandra was raised under both the halo of her father’s brilliance and the long shadow of his troubled mind. From Styron’s youth and precocious literary debut to the triumphs of his best-known books and on through his spiral into depression, Reading My Father portrays the epic sweep of an American artist’s life. It is also a tale of filial love, beautifully written with humor, compassion, and grace.
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"eBook. To start with Styron on the strength of 'Sophie's Choice' alone is one of my top five favorite authors. I knew he was an asshole, but until reading this book didn't know how big an asshole he was. Mental illness, in his case depression, is a terrible thing. But in the life B.S. it does not excuse his horrific behavior. Also, unlike most "unhappy child of famous (fill in blank) memoirs" Alexandra is a pretty damn good writer who didn't have a "as told to" ghostwriter. Good book.... bad man."
— David (4 out of 5 stars)
Awards
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Selected for the May 2011 Indie Next List
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A 2011 Los Angeles Times Book Prize Nominee for Biography
Reading My Father Listener Reviews
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" I confess, I didn't recognize a lot of the names of the glamorous literati that Bill Styron mingled with. "
— Erin, 2/12/2014 -
" beautifully written, fearless and riveting "
— Martha, 2/9/2014 -
" Eloquently written, haunting memoir by Alexandra Styron about her brilliant, troubled writer father. "
— Jake, 1/31/2014 -
" She is indeed her father's daughter...well-written. Recommended. I was unaware of Styron's friendship w/ Jones (From Here to Eternity). "
— Joanna, 1/28/2014 -
" Growing up, Alexandra, the baby of the family, is puzzled and fascinated by her father. William Styron is a successful writer, but also an alcoholic that suffers from bouts of psychosis and depression. Lots of family dynamics sprinkled with other famous people on Cape Cod and in Connecticut. "
— Kathleen, 1/20/2014 -
" I found this book difficult to read "
— Natalie, 1/18/2014 -
" A vivid, poignant, and totally absorbing memoir. "
— Edward, 1/14/2014 -
" Interesting memoir of the youngest daughter of William Styron. She expores what it was like growing up and as an adult with her famous author-father who suffered from mental illness. "
— Darleen, 1/9/2014 -
" Alexandra Styron's memoir of growing up with William Styron as her father. "
— Marianne, 1/4/2014 -
" I really enjoyed her writing & her story. I need to add Styrone's books to my to-be-read list. Hopefully, they are as good as the hype. "
— Hybridmobile, 12/31/2013 -
" I enjoyed this book, but I think I enjoy memoirs more than most. "
— Al, 12/28/2013 -
" Well, William Styron was a great American author but was not father of the year, by any stretch of the imagination. How can great people be so terrible to their children, leaving them adrift in the world? Abusive and controlling genius. What else is new? "
— Elle, 12/23/2013 -
" Loved it. I read it in three sittings, and always looked forward to getting back to the book. "
— Saundra, 12/7/2013 -
" Perfectly written memoir for anybody interested in the great mid-century writers in general or William Styron in particular. He was the author of Sophie's Choice, Confessions of Nat Turner, and Lie Down in Darkness. "
— Jean, 5/2/2013 -
" Loved it. Beautifully written, sad, funny, insightful. Everything a memoir should be. As well, it's a serious examination of what it means to be a writer, as well as what it means to be a writer with a mental illness. Brilliant. "
— Sarah, 8/16/2012 -
" Very personal and a powerful tale told by the youngest daughter of William Styron, who struggled with mental illness. I also loved learning more about the life Styron led, and the people he associated with through his very cultured life. I highly recommend the book! "
— Colleen, 8/9/2012 -
" brutally and beautifully written memoir "
— Connie, 11/16/2011 -
" I loved this book. Her writing was beautiful and I felt she was candid yet kind. "
— Pat, 11/6/2011 -
" Excellent writing; heredity or environment? Hard to tell, the author has both. "
— Frank, 6/26/2011 -
" I loved this book. Her writing was beautiful and I felt she was candid yet kind. "
— Pat, 5/29/2011 -
" Well, William Styron was a great American author but was not father of the year, by any stretch of the imagination. How can great people be so terrible to their children, leaving them adrift in the world? Abusive and controlling genius. What else is new? "
— Elle, 5/27/2011 -
" Wonderful book. What a difficult father to have and yet ... Al is a great writer. Highly recommended "
— Allison, 5/26/2011 -
" A vivid, poignant, and totally absorbing memoir. "
— Ed, 5/19/2011 -
" Elegantly written; painstakingly researched, Ms. Styron name-drops just enough to make this a spellbinding read, but not too much to be annoying. "
— Keith, 5/16/2011 -
" If you are a Styron fan, you will certainly appreciate this biography from his daughter. Lie Down In Darkness is one of the most stirring pieces of literature I have ever read, so it was fascinating to read about the time surrounding that. This is a beautiful portrait of a father by his daughter. "
— Nicole, 5/11/2011 -
" Loved reading this thoughtful and deft peek at a fascinatingly complicated life. The descriptions of what the Vineyard meant to her family are especially poignant for Nantucketers--hope we can get her to come visit us here on the Other Island! "
— Wendyhudson, 5/7/2011 -
" An interesting account of what it was like for the author, living with a brooding and half-mad genius. Beautifully-written, if not occasionally self-indulgent and redundant. "
— Jess, 5/3/2011 -
" I confess, I didn't recognize a lot of the names of the glamorous literati that Bill Styron mingled with. "
— Erin, 4/28/2011
About Alexandra Styron
Alexandra Styron is the author of the bestselling memoir Reading My Father and All the Finest Girls, a novel. Her work has appeared in several anthologies as well as in the New Yorker and Vanity Fair, among other publications. A graduate of the MFA program at Columbia University, Styron is a professor of creative writing in the MFA program at Hunter College. She lives with her husband and two children in Brooklyn.