Reviews

Directions to Myself: A Memoir of Four Years by Heidi Julavits

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harebrianna's review

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slow-paced

3.25

kleonard's review

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1.0

While the writing in t his book can be interesting and beautiful, the whole memoir is so self-indulgent and so risk-averse that it made no difference. Julavits equivocates about important issues like rape and engages in magical thinking to justify her actions or lack thereof. Ultimately, what was the point of the book? It felt like a betrayal of other women, of professors, of adults as a whole.

rienthril's review

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emotional funny hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

Trying to help raise my own 12 year old boy in these darkening times and this beautiful book comes to me. Julavits, drawing on her own childhood by the ocean, in the water, learning practical survival and trying to impart the same to her own children, especially as her son’s childhood begins coming to a close, she touches on so many familiar to me feelings. The intensity, the fulfillment, the insanity, the edification of raising a young child, until slowly they are no longer a child and you are not needed, at least not in any way that claims your identity, your whole being. She mentions somewhere along the way noticing grief for her own childhood and her kids, both over. And that is what I feel. A chapter done, and bittersweet in its ending, until whatever comes next. Me and my son, a young man.