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This Boy's Life: A Memoir
This Boy's Life A Memoir
Author: Tobias Wolff
In this unforgettable memoir of boyhood in the 1950s, we meet the young Toby Wolff, by turns tough and vulnerable, crafty and bumbling, and ultimately winning. Separated by divorce from his father and brother, Toby and his mother are constantly on the move. Between themselves they develop an almost telepathic trust that sees them through their w...  more »
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ISBN-13: 9780060972776
ISBN-10: 0060972777
Publication Date: 12/1989
Pages: 304
Rating:
  • Currently 3.8/5 Stars.
 42

3.8 stars, based on 42 ratings
Publisher: Perennial
Book Type: Paperback
Other Versions: Hardcover
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

reviewed This Boy's Life: A Memoir on + 16 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
This boys Life is the story of Tobias Wolff's childhood. When his parents separated, he lived with his mother while his brother went to live with their wealthy father(a child support deadbeat). Tobias Wolff's mother struggled with earning a living and got mixed up with various abusive men. It would be interesting to read this book along with Tobias Wolff's brother's memoir and contrast them for a book club. It is called the Duke of Deception by Geoffry Wolff.
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reviewed This Boy's Life: A Memoir on + 2 more book reviews
I thourougly enjoyed this book. Wolff has incredible descriptive powers. The events of his life jump off the page. Funny, poignant and startling. It reads like a fine novel. He leaves you hungry for more.
demiducky25 avatar reviewed This Boy's Life: A Memoir on + 161 more book reviews
This book tells the story of Toby Wolff, who calls himself Jack throughout the story due to an incident involving a girl named Toby in his class. He decides that since he and his mom are traveling across the country to start a new life together, he might as well start over with a new name. Wolff details what life was like living with a young, pretty mother who doesn't seem to want to settle down, though when she does settle into relationships, they are usually abusive in nature, either mentally or physically. Wolff paints his adolescent and teen years rather vividly, and shows the confusion that he faced in who he felt he was versus who everyone else saw when they looked at him versus who he wanted the world to see. For much of this time, Wolff is a very troubled young man and constantly seemed to get into trouble (attempts to run away, stealing, forging various documents to fit his needs, etc). I had a hard time liking Wolff for some of the things that he did, particularly when he fell in with bad company, but it was evident that he really cared for his mother and wanted to help protect her whenever he could. Still, it was an interesting and rather quick read.
buzzby avatar reviewed This Boy's Life: A Memoir on + 6062 more book reviews
The summary set out above here at PBS is a lot more positive than the book.
reviewed This Boy's Life: A Memoir on + 16 more book reviews
Great book. Sometimes heart-wrenching to read. Wolff is a master.


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