Growing up

by Russell Baker

Paper Book, 1982

LCC

PS3552.A4343 Z466

Status

Out of Stock

Call number

PS3552.A4343 Z466

Genres

Publication

New York : Congdon & Weed : Distributed by St. Martin's Press, c1982.

Description

For use in schools and libraries only. This is Russell Baker's story of growing up in America between the world wars--in the backwoods mountains of Virginia, in a New Jersey commuter town, and finally in the Depression-shadowed urban landscape of Baltimore.

Media reviews

The New York Times Book Review

''Growing Up'' is touching and funny, a hopeless muddle of sadness and laughter that bears a suspicious resemblance to real life.

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The New York Times

How wrong I was to expect the normal in Mr. Baker's background, having seen that instead of normalcy, it took precisely the adversity that Mr. Baker faced down to produce his sense of humor. Without the smallest protest, I concede the power of this alchemy. After all, how else would it have been

possible for the author to take such raw, potentially wrenching autobiographical material, and make of it a story so warm, so likable and so disarmingly funny? It is also magical that Mr. Baker has taken a story told a thousand times before and made of it a work of original biographical art.

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User reviews

LibraryThing member edwin.gleaves

One of those seminal books through which one can connect with with the childhood and coming of age of another. It inspired me, more than any other book, to write my own memoirs--with no expectation of the success achieved by this marvelous book.

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LibraryThing member lunamonty

A terrific autobiography – even if you’ve never heard of journalist Russell Baker. His account of growing up in the 1930’s and 40’s is very funny, poignant, sometimes tragic, and honest. Baker avoids the easy sentimental route, and really brings to life personal and historic events. A

Pulitzer Prize winner and a classic.

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LibraryThing member sleepbomb

Excellent time piece, more insightful that a history. You get a glimpse of the nuances of life during the Great Depression, the hopes, dreams, shortfalls, and the disappointments that make up real life. i would highly recommend this book to anyone but especially to history buffs interested in

America in the early to mid 20th century, not for its factual construction of the era but for its intimate details that are lost in between the facts.

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LibraryThing member nmele

It was very interesting to read Baker's memoir so soon after finishing Harry Crews' book. Both men born in the south, in the mod-1920s; both lost their fathers very soon and both somehow scrambled into college educations through seeming miracles; both served in the military and even took advantage

of the GI Bill to go to college. The differences are also stunning: Baker's story is of a climb by his mother and other family members back into the middle class, a climb so successful that Baker became a respected columnist for the "good gray NY Times". Fittingly, his prose lacks the color and power of Crews' writing; although Baker is a gifted writer, he feels more restrained, more tame.

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LibraryThing member wearylibrarian

I enjoyed the book until it reaches his time in the Navy. It became boring from that point until he marries.

LibraryThing member kslade

Good life story of the early years of this reporter and writer.

LibraryThing member SABC

Russell Baker has written a delightful story about growing up in America between the world wars.

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