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carlisajc's review against another edition
2.0
Hole in My Life is a memoir written by Jack Gantos about his life in prison and how he ended up there. I didn't really like this book, but I think it was more of a personal thing. It was harsh and abrasive and just didn't rub me right...which would make sense because I would never be able to last a day in prison. What I did like is that while he's telling this story, he's also telling the story of how he became a writer, something I can relate with as I love to write. He always thought that he needed some huge and exciting things to happen for him to write, not realizing that his life was quite exciting in itself.
goodem9199's review against another edition
3.0
Heard him speak yesterday and he was FABULOUS!!!
This was pretty good. How generic of a review is that?!?!
Definately not what I would have expected from Gantos...I suppose we all have a past....!
And to Adaena...Gantos was at the Literacy Conference at Pitt Greensburg a month or so back...along with Megan McDonald!
This was pretty good. How generic of a review is that?!?!
Definately not what I would have expected from Gantos...I suppose we all have a past....!
And to Adaena...Gantos was at the Literacy Conference at Pitt Greensburg a month or so back...along with Megan McDonald!
robbynjreeve's review against another edition
REQUIRED READING
I really liked this book. I liked that it gave a description of a real situation that a real person got caught in, told from their perspective. I also liked that it wasn't preachy. It didn't give the readers a moral lesson on right and wrong. It simply showed the consequences of Gantos actions. It's up for the readers to decide for themselves how they feel about it. It gives them an opportunity to see the potential consequences of their actions and decide for themselves whether it is worth it.
I really liked this book. I liked that it gave a description of a real situation that a real person got caught in, told from their perspective. I also liked that it wasn't preachy. It didn't give the readers a moral lesson on right and wrong. It simply showed the consequences of Gantos actions. It's up for the readers to decide for themselves how they feel about it. It gives them an opportunity to see the potential consequences of their actions and decide for themselves whether it is worth it.
robfarren's review against another edition
4.0
This was good. I felt that he could have gone a little deeper, but it's still a crazy story, like nothing I've ever gone through.
roseleaf24's review against another edition
4.0
I was a little skeptical about this book, as I am not the biggest Gantos fan. He is an excellent writer, but his Joey Pigza books are so frantic, they are difficult for me to read. This book went straight to the heart if his writing inspiration and covered his time in prison and the falling apart that led to that. Eye-opening, clear, readable insight into how a criminal life becomes possible, and one young man's escape from it.
amazing_emily_anderson's review against another edition
4.0
REQUIRED TEXT
Jack Gantos wasn't always a straight-laced children's book author, and his personal memoir proves it. Always looking for the next adventure, Gantos writes about how he was reeled into a drug smuggling operation where he sailed on a yacht (complete with a salty captain) and smuggled drugs into New York in exchange for ten thousand dollars, which he hoped would help fund a college education. However, after being caught and arrested, and serving time in prison, Gantos realizes that perhaps his future career as a writer need not rely on recklessness and so-called adventure.
I really liked the honest approach that Gantos takes with this book. Rather than a "scared straight" message, Gantos tells his honest side of the story, how he dabbled with drugs, how he was young and thought he was invincible, and how he made bad decisions because he thought those things would make him a better writer. I think that his dream and career as a writer is the main focus here, and not so much that he went to prison, which I think is an interesting approach. I wonder how effective this book is in the hands of teens and young adults, but regardless, I was very intrigued by Gantos' story and I really enjoyed his writing style.
Jack Gantos wasn't always a straight-laced children's book author, and his personal memoir proves it. Always looking for the next adventure, Gantos writes about how he was reeled into a drug smuggling operation where he sailed on a yacht (complete with a salty captain) and smuggled drugs into New York in exchange for ten thousand dollars, which he hoped would help fund a college education. However, after being caught and arrested, and serving time in prison, Gantos realizes that perhaps his future career as a writer need not rely on recklessness and so-called adventure.
I really liked the honest approach that Gantos takes with this book. Rather than a "scared straight" message, Gantos tells his honest side of the story, how he dabbled with drugs, how he was young and thought he was invincible, and how he made bad decisions because he thought those things would make him a better writer. I think that his dream and career as a writer is the main focus here, and not so much that he went to prison, which I think is an interesting approach. I wonder how effective this book is in the hands of teens and young adults, but regardless, I was very intrigued by Gantos' story and I really enjoyed his writing style.
sparklethenpop's review against another edition
4.0
And now he's a Newberry Award winner, goes to show you never know.