Scan barcode
lagobond's review against another edition
2.0
I might be hard-pressed to think of another book I've read that was more uninteresting than this one. This is strange, because I'm a fan of Southern writing and biographies, and I have an interest in the history of the US South -- but this book just left me entirely cold. After encountering gems like Cold Sassy Tree; after being seduced and then richly rewarded by the words of Alice Walker and Kathryn Stockett and Sue Monk Kidd... why, I just can't bring myself to read past page 35 of this thing. I did flip through to random parts of the book, hoping that perhaps I had just picked up a slow starter... but nothing truly intrigued me.
There were a few bits that drew me in briefly, like the landscape description at the very beginning as well as Morris' early school days and his troubles with Miss Abbott, mostly because they strongly reminded me of my own childhood. There were even glimpses of a sassy humor in the telling of Miss Abbott's story. But for the most part, this book was blander than a heart-healthy diet. The publisher tells me that Willie Morris is "one of this country's finest writers," but all I'm seeing here is a collection of pedestrian scenes from the author's life, told in a straightforward, mostly uninspired voice. It's not bad writing, exactly. It's just not good writing, either.
I also found the writer to be a bully at heart. Wikipedia tells me that as an adult, Morris stood up "against segregation, censorship and [Mississippi] state officials' collusion with oil and gas interests." All good things that speak for his character. But the child Willie Morris was cruel and mean-spirited, and I hated reading about the horrible things he did to people, not least because little Me was typically at the receiving end of such bullying. But more importantly, the one time in my life that I was the bully, I felt so ashamed (and I still do, decades later) that I have never again treated another person that way. Morris gives us a parade of his ugly pranks -- and his apparent lack of remorse or feeling for his victims, even looking back from the perspective of a now fully-grown person, makes me sick to my stomach. I guess I just don't care enough for that sort of person to want to read their entire life story.
There were a few bits that drew me in briefly, like the landscape description at the very beginning as well as Morris' early school days and his troubles with Miss Abbott, mostly because they strongly reminded me of my own childhood. There were even glimpses of a sassy humor in the telling of Miss Abbott's story. But for the most part, this book was blander than a heart-healthy diet. The publisher tells me that Willie Morris is "one of this country's finest writers," but all I'm seeing here is a collection of pedestrian scenes from the author's life, told in a straightforward, mostly uninspired voice. It's not bad writing, exactly. It's just not good writing, either.
I also found the writer to be a bully at heart. Wikipedia tells me that as an adult, Morris stood up "against segregation, censorship and [Mississippi] state officials' collusion with oil and gas interests." All good things that speak for his character. But the child Willie Morris was cruel and mean-spirited, and I hated reading about the horrible things he did to people, not least because little Me was typically at the receiving end of such bullying. But more importantly, the one time in my life that I was the bully, I felt so ashamed (and I still do, decades later) that I have never again treated another person that way. Morris gives us a parade of his ugly pranks -- and his apparent lack of remorse or feeling for his victims, even looking back from the perspective of a now fully-grown person, makes me sick to my stomach. I guess I just don't care enough for that sort of person to want to read their entire life story.
disasterchick's review against another edition
4.0
This was a selection for my book club. I'm not the biggest fan of memoirs, but I really ended up enjoying the majority of this one. Morris grows up in Mississippi, is educated in Texas and Oxford, and ends up in New York City. I did enjoy his observations on the majority of his life. I also enjoyed his background on Lyndon B. Johnson. Overall this was a very interesting time in American history, and Morris was there as a writer observing and recording it.
caitlinxmartin's review against another edition
4.0
This is a memoir by Willie Morris covering his childhood in Yazoo City, MS, his tenure as editor of the University of Texas paper, his time as editor of the Texas Observer, & his time at Harper's Magazine in New York.
I have connections to a lot of this - my mother's family is from Mississippi (Eupora, MS). I was a little girl in Austin for the brief period my father was there in graduate school for his MFA. This period is most notable for me because I learned to read there. I did part of high school in Dallas (& found it just as creepy as Willie Morris did). & I always wanted to run away to New York (instead I ran away to the West Coast & haven't stopped being glad I did).
I've read & re-read this book several times in my life & different pieces of it struck me in different ways. Reading it as a college student living away from the South for the first time I felt the sense of exile keenly - all the things that are different, all the things that you miss, all the things that you don't miss.
This time I was once again fascinated by the politics, particularly the Texas politics which were a precursor for later American politics. Reading this time I made a mental note to go look for [b:Lyndon Johnson & the American Dream|177011|Lyndon Johnson & the American Dream|Doris Kearns Goodwin|http://www.goodreads.com/images/nocover-60x80.jpg|86228] by [a:Doris Kearns Goodwin|1476|Doris Kearns Goodwin|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1202836939p2/1476.jpg]. I've been told repeatedly that it's worth reading & really ought to get to it.
Morris writes well & his attempt to come to terms with being a liberal from the South living far from home is an interesting one. Throw in his friendships with folks like [a:William Styron|7565|William Styron|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1199314000p2/7565.jpg] & [a:Richard Wright|9657|Richard Wright|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1209848296p2/9657.jpg] it makes for interesting thinking.
I have connections to a lot of this - my mother's family is from Mississippi (Eupora, MS). I was a little girl in Austin for the brief period my father was there in graduate school for his MFA. This period is most notable for me because I learned to read there. I did part of high school in Dallas (& found it just as creepy as Willie Morris did). & I always wanted to run away to New York (instead I ran away to the West Coast & haven't stopped being glad I did).
I've read & re-read this book several times in my life & different pieces of it struck me in different ways. Reading it as a college student living away from the South for the first time I felt the sense of exile keenly - all the things that are different, all the things that you miss, all the things that you don't miss.
This time I was once again fascinated by the politics, particularly the Texas politics which were a precursor for later American politics. Reading this time I made a mental note to go look for [b:Lyndon Johnson & the American Dream|177011|Lyndon Johnson & the American Dream|Doris Kearns Goodwin|http://www.goodreads.com/images/nocover-60x80.jpg|86228] by [a:Doris Kearns Goodwin|1476|Doris Kearns Goodwin|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1202836939p2/1476.jpg]. I've been told repeatedly that it's worth reading & really ought to get to it.
Morris writes well & his attempt to come to terms with being a liberal from the South living far from home is an interesting one. Throw in his friendships with folks like [a:William Styron|7565|William Styron|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1199314000p2/7565.jpg] & [a:Richard Wright|9657|Richard Wright|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1209848296p2/9657.jpg] it makes for interesting thinking.
ava_catherine's review against another edition
5.0
We follow the author as he travels from his hometown, Yazoo City, Mississippi, to college in Texas, and then to professional life in New York City. After retiring from his NYC editing job, Morris returns to Mississippi. Sometimes you have to leave home to appreciate it fully, and Willie deeply loves Mississippi, while being the first to admit his home's shortcomings. Willie Morris is a gifted writer who mesmerizes with his storytelling and deft use of language.
More...