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This Boy's Life: A Memoir Audiobook
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(3.00) - 11,212 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
First published in 1989, this memoir has become a classic in the genre. With this book, Wolff essentially launched the memoir craze that has been going strong ever since. It was made into a movie in 1993. Fiction writer Tobias Wolff electrified critics with his scarifying 1989 memoir, which many deemed as notable for its artful structure and finely wrought prose as for the events it describes. The story is pretty grim: Teenaged Wolff moves with his divorced mother from Florida to Utah to Washington State to escape her violent boyfriend. When she remarries, Wolff finds himself in a bitter battle of wills with his abusive stepfather, a contest in which the two prove to be more evenly matched than might have been supposed. Deception, disguise, and illusion are the weapons the young man learns to employ as he grows up—not bad training for a writer-to-be. Somber though this tale of family strife is, it is also darkly funny and so artistically satisfying that listeners come away exhilarated.
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"Oh my goodness, what a story. I remember reading this in college, strugging to do well in my classes in a very by-the-book fashion, and thinking that the sheer audacity of what young Tobias Wolff is able to pull off again and again is highly entertaining and in a way, inspirational. I read a review that says the ways "Jack" Wolff reinvents himself again and again are his first practice with storytelling, practice that has certainly paid off. I'm happy that things end up ok for Wolff's mother- there are a ton of real characters. You can't help but root for young Jack Wolff's schemes to work out because usually they are a result of trying to get away from some downright awful situations."
— Sawy-o (5 out of 5 stars)
Awards
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Winner of the 1989 Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Biography
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Winner of the 1990 Ambassador Book Award for Biography/Autobiography
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A 1989 National Book Critics Circle Award Finalist
This Boy's Life Listener Reviews
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" great references to the Pacific NW- a coming of age tale that's bittersweet. "
— Shay, 2/18/2014 -
" Read for class. Liked it but didn't like it. Well written, for sure, but I was always pushing the edges to get more insight into the boy character, which we were not given. Still, such a crazy life that I had to keep reading. "
— N., 2/12/2014 -
" I feel blessed that I didn't have to live the childhood that Tobias had to live growing up. I feel fortunate that I had a stable home during my childhood. This book had its funny moments. I think Tobias lived the life that he did because Tobias and his mother were not in a stable place to live. I really felt sympathy towards Tobias' mother who was trying to make ends meet. I can only imagine what it would be like to live in an environment where there is no peace in the home. "
— David, 1/30/2014 -
" THE BEST BOOK I'VE READ IN A VERY LONG TIME "
— Wei, 1/23/2014 -
" this was a good book it had lots of love and death. I liked how the kids were so brave and how they were not scared to do any thing. this book would be good if you were a boy or a girl it is for ages 14 and up for the bad stuff that happen in the book. i give this book a 4 out of 5. "
— Thomash, 1/22/2014 -
" Pretty good writing. Not much happens "
— Adam, 1/21/2014 -
" There is a quality her that transcends fiction, nonfiction, time and it even transcends identity. Wolff presents this memoir of his youth, not like an adult looking back or a child seeing ahead, but as an experience readers live as if it were happening to us. "
— Rachel, 1/19/2014 -
" Astounding, powerful, poignant. "
— Charles, 1/16/2014 -
" Filled with action and adventures, trouble and mischief, this book is a great read for anyone. "
— Matt, 1/14/2014 -
" The author was born just a bit before me, so I identified with many of the cultural references in this one. The memoir of a boy who was rather a juvenile delinquent but always felt there was something better to be had than the life he was leading. "
— Tovelise, 1/2/2014 -
" Almost done...slow and steady but nothing too exciting here... "
— Amanda, 12/11/2013 -
" A beautiful, honest, hopeful story. "
— Diane, 11/26/2013 -
" A memoir that is hard to put down and unlike most books that win awards....I really liked this one. I should probably give it 5 stars because it was that good! "
— Linda, 11/15/2013 -
" book is ten times better than the movie! sad at parts! well written! "
— Ryan, 9/15/2013 -
" One of my favorite books; good control of language, time and structure in a memoir. Also, good characterization and construction of plot. "
— Rigby, 8/1/2013 -
" Great coming-of-age book that I go back to again and again. Deceptively simple writing. Moving. Poignant. Funny. "
— Max, 7/25/2013 -
" I haven't read a memoir in awhile, but this one was an easy read and made me search my bookshelf of 'to-reads' for another memoir. Now I'm starting in on 'Running With Scissors'. "
— Debbie, 3/25/2013 -
" Heartfelt bildungsroman "
— Thomas, 10/2/2012 -
" There's a lot of heartbreak in this memoir. But his pacing makes you carry on, hoping for some justice or way out. "
— Mary, 6/25/2012 -
" Great book!! I would recommend this to anyone...... "
— Hannah, 6/16/2012 -
" Even better than "Old School". A revealing, unvarnished look at Jack (Tobias Wolff) growing up in the 50's told in words that literally sing! "
— Jeanne, 4/21/2012 -
" I really liked this book...a memoir--the guy had quite the childhood...where is that fine line of making your life and your life making you?... "
— Carol, 2/11/2012 -
" This was one of the best memoirs about a boy growing up that I've ever read. I really identify with it and love the easy yet intricate language. "
— Ted, 1/8/2012 -
" The most honest book about abuse I've ever read. Wolff doesn't trivialize or exploit his sad childhood for the sake of dramatic tension, but instead tries to make sense of the things that happened to him. "
— Jeff, 12/31/2011 -
" Accessible and solidly written, if not particularly memorable. "
— Alex, 10/20/2011 -
" I read this because my son is reading it in English class... I am curious to see the movie version of it and to read the author's second memoir to find out how his life turned out:-) "
— Carmen, 9/15/2011 -
" Great book. Quick read. Wonderful story. "
— Mikelkpoet, 8/20/2011 -
" BOOK MADE ME FAN! <br/>This fully siq story bout boy who do fings and make demz happen breh. <br/>Make me sad then happeh breh. "
— K2, 5/23/2011 -
" A little long and painful at times but has some good messages in it. "
— Alicia, 5/22/2011 -
" A honest and moving picture of adolencence in the 1950's...honest and genuine while not being over the top "
— David, 5/9/2011 -
" This was the first book I read on my new Kindle. Loved reading it that way (who knew?) and really glad to encounter this author for the first time. "
— Barbara, 4/24/2011 -
" I read this book after a friend whose opinion I respected said it's the best memoir she's ever read. I was not disappointed! "
— Phil, 4/11/2011 -
" Almost done...slow and steady but nothing too exciting here... "
— Amanda, 4/1/2011 -
" Actually, as I read, I realized that I'd already read this. So, obviously I'm not as blown away with it as other people have been. It didn't leave a lasting impression. "
— Jodi, 3/10/2011 -
" I read this one because I'm working on writing a memoir (in veerrrrrrry early stages) and this is one of the memoirs people point to as great examples of the genre. I liked it but didn't love it. "
— Sara, 2/23/2011 -
" I really enjoy reading anything Tobias Wolff writes. This didn't disappoint and was a great book for my cross-country plane ride. Plus, I always like finding out what makes authors tick. "
— Colleen, 2/16/2011 -
" 32nd: THIS BOY'S LIFE - TOBIAS WOLFF<br/>Trivia Winner - Kathy<br/><br/>~COVE OPINION: C, Okay story "
— The, 2/11/2011
About Tobias Wolff
Tobias Wolff is the author of several previous books and the editor of a growing list of anthologies. He has received numerous awards, among them the PEN/Malamud Award for excellence in the art of the short story. He lives in Northern California and teaches English and creative writing at Stanford University.
About Oliver Wyman
Oliver Wyman is an actor and award-winning audiobook narrator. He has won five Audie Awards from the Audio Publisher’s Association, fourteen Earphone Awards, and two Listen Up Awards from Publisher’s Weekly. He was named a 2008 Best Voice in Nonfiction & Culture by AudioFile magazine. He has appeared on stage as well as in film and television, and he is a veteran voice actor who can be heard in numerous cartoons and video games. He is one of the founders of New York City’s Collective Unconscious theater, and his performances include the award-winning “reality play” Charlie Victor Romeo and A. R. McElhinney’s cult classic film A Chronicle of Corpses.