I read What Else But Home after seeing author Michael Rosen speak at Wordstock. His story of the way his family came together captured my heart and imagination, and I couldn't wait to read the memoir. It didn't disappoint.Rosen's 7-year-old son wanted to play baseball with the group of pre-teen boys at the park between their penthouse condo and the Projects. After the game, he invited ten of the guys home to play video games. One thing led to another, and before too long the boys had, in varying ways, become part of the Rosen family.
This is not a fairy tale; nothing is sugar coated. Every single "character," including the author, is flawed. The world they live in is even more flawed.
Yes, the boys are successful in graduating from high school and escaping the dead-end life that many of their friends and neighbors have resigned themselves to (we see this in the prologue so I don't consider it a spoiler). But in order to reach their goals, they have to struggle against a horrific school environment, a blatantly racist social system, and their own inertia. The Rosen's attempts to motivate them and expand their horizons seem to flop more often than they succeed. And yet, the end result is a family--a real, imperfect family--not to replace the families the boys were born into, but to enrich the lives of Michael's original family of four as well as each of the boys.
The author with two of his now-grown boys
Did you say memoir? This sounds fabulous and kind or reminds me of the premise of The Blind Side which I'm getting ready to go see.
ReplyDeleteI love the sound of this one! Great review: I always enjoy memoirs but really don't read enough of them. :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting this review - I had heard about this book, I think on NPR but had forgotten what it was called. It sounds like a great read.
ReplyDeleteI have an award for you on my blog.
ReplyDeleteSounds very inspirational.
ReplyDeleteI heard him on NPR. Thanks for the post.
ReplyDeleteThat's an interesting sounding book. I'm often wary of memoirs (because they're so personal, it can be difficult to judge...), but this story seems rather unlike most and quite good, thanks to your post. I'm intrigued.
ReplyDeleteThis looks good. I'm adding it my list.
ReplyDeleteAs a bookseller, I read many books. This caught mt attention upon arrival. Michael Rosen (who has a fabulous way with words!)tells a personal story of his UNIQUE family. The importance of this book, however, is the true view into our country's lost kids and how we are continuing to perpetuate the cycle. In my mind What Else But Home is one of 2009's most meaningful books. READ THIS BOOK!! If possible go to one of the readings...Michael is a joy to meet!
ReplyDeleteI agree, Gee Gee, especially about the way Rosen relates his family's personal stories to our society's ways. He doesn't hit the reader over the head with it, but you can't help setting the book down with a renewed understanding that something is terribly wrong here.
ReplyDeleteAli, Gee Gee - thank you. And, did I say "thank you!" ? You've both said kind things. I appreciate the "not banging the reader over the head" comment made here, as Gee Gee has also said. My hope is/was to let a story tell itself. No social theory, no bibliography, but the reader has a sense of presence, smell, sight, sound ~ a trajectory of narrative, and will make decisions about where the story leads her/him. I'm painting (blessed that others are reading!), and it makes my day (since this is the last day of the year, does it make my year ?) to also read good words coming back. Gee Gee and I met at a Wisconsin Book Fair, and Ali - it's warming to know the Wordstock reading found its say to your blog. I did say "thank you." All best to you. I hope others find their ways to Worducopia, and to a little bookstore in Rockford, IL. Michael
ReplyDeleteThanks to you, too, Michael, for being open to change and then for sharing your story with the world. Sorry I didn't introduce myself at Wordstock, I think I was rushing off to get a seat at another talk after yours.
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