Growing Up

Rating:
Summary: Interesting Book
Review: The book Growing Up by Russell Baker was an interesting account of life before and after the Depression and the trials and traumas of life in that time. This autobiography has something for everyone such as humor, sexuality, and real life accounts that could refer to the reader's own experiences. This is a book that should be read by many curious readers. This book contained mounds and mounds of humor. The writer had no mercy when picking people apart in this book. He would pick fun at his second father, Herb, because of Herb's lack of intellectual ability and just because he was not his real father: "In meal conversations I addressed myself only to my mother or Doris, always managing to omit him (Herb) from the circle. When he interrupted to say, 'Pass the potatoes,' I passed the bowl silently without looking at him while continuing to talk to my mother and Doris." The author of this book also enjoyed to stress on sexuality. The author had a struggle with his "love" life. It seems that the curse of virginity followed him throughout his life in the Navy: "I located a very private place south of Coral Gables. We passed it each day en route to the airfield. She seemed willing enough. We pulled off the highway into marshy ground overhung by great spreading limbs and vines. She switched off the headlights and we embraced in the blackness, hungry for sin. The mosquitoes arrived immediately... She was screaming that they were eating her legs. She pushed me away, threw on the headlight beams, and crying, 'They'll eat us alive!' backed out and roared top-speed back to Miami cursing mosquitoes." The author had a talent that could make the reader think of instances in his or her life. By using this talent in Mr. Bakers writing, the reader asks his or herself "Has that happened to me before?" Growing Up by Russell Baker is definitely worth reading. It has all that you want in a historic account about the 1920's to the 1950's and more. This definitely is a book that can draw you in and never let you go.

Rating:
Summary: Growing Up
Review: The book Growing Up by Russell Baker was an interesting account of life before and after the Depression and the trials and traumas of life in that time. This autobiography has something for everyone such as humor, sexuality, and real life accounts that could refer to the reader's own experiences. This is a book that should be read by many curious readers. This book contained mounds and mounds of humor. The writer had no mercy when picking people apart in this book. He would pick fun at his second father, Herb, because of Herb's lack of intellectual ability and just because he was not his real father: "In meal conversations I addressed myself only to my mother or Doris, always managing to omit him (Herb) from the circle. When he interrupted to say, 'Pass the potatoes,' I passed the bowl silently without looking at him while continuing to talk to my mother and Doris." The author of this book also enjoyed to stress on sexuality. The author had a struggle with his "love" life. It seems that the curse of virginity followed him throughout his life in the Navy: "I located a very private place south of Coral Gables. We passed it each day en route to the airfield. She seemed willing enough. We pulled off the highway into marshy ground overhung by great spreading limbs and vines. She switched off the headlights and we embraced in the blackness, hungry for sin. The mosquitoes arrived immediately... She was screaming that they were eating her legs. She pushed me away, threw on the headlight beams, and crying, 'They'll eat us alive!' backed out and roared top-speed back to Miami cursing mosquitoes." The author had a talent that could make the reader think of instances in his or her life. By using this talent in Mr. Bakers writing, the reader asks his or herself "Has that happened to me before?" Growing Up by Russell Baker is definitely worth reading. It has all that you want in a historic account about the 1920's to the 1950's and more. This definitely is a book that can draw you in and never let you go.

Rating:
Summary: More ! More !
Review: The words of Russell Baker will make you cry with such hurt and laugh with such joy. It's his life but you may find some of your own in the telling. Russell, are you still writing?

Rating:
Summary: What's good about Russell Baker's "Growing Up"
Review: This book - some 348 pages of easy reading - first published in 1982, has received about all the kudos a book can: Ann Landers loved it, the New York Times critic, likewise (though Baker's long time tenure with the New York Times as a Pulitzer Prize winning correspondent probably guaranteed that!), the 'Book of the Month' people blessed it with their vote, publishers continue to reissue it (at least 9 times), and book stores continue to stock it. This book's enduring popularity can't be some accident! The dust cover promises either humor or pathos on every page and I think that's close to accurate. So do yourself a favor! Read this book! It will lift your spirits and improve your disposition. Also, here's a note for some of the previous reviewers: Baker was born in 1925, so this book is not about growing up in the early 1900's, or in the 19th century, or about serving in WWI (Baker served in WWII). Also, Baker has published other books, including "The Good Times" (1992) and Looking Back" (2001).

Rating:
Summary: What's good about Russell Baker's "Growing Up"
Review: This book - some 348 pages of easy reading - first published in 1982, has received about all the kudos a book can: Ann Landers loved it, the New York Times critic, likewise (though Baker's long time tenure with the New York Times as a Pulitzer Prize winning correspondent probably guaranteed that!), the 'Book of the Month' people blessed it with their vote, publishers continue to reissue it (at least 9 times), and book stores continue to stock it. This book's enduring popularity can't be some accident! The dust cover promises either humor or pathos on every page and I think that's close to accurate. So do yourself a favor! Read this book! It will lift your spirits and improve your disposition. Also, here's a note for some of the previous reviewers: Baker was born in 1925, so this book is not about growing up in the early 1900's, or in the 19th century, or about serving in WWI (Baker served in WWII). Also, Baker has published other books, including "The Good Times" (1992) and Looking Back" (2001).

Rating:
Summary: horrible-doesn't derserve any stars
Review: This book is nothing more than a "coming of age story" from the writer's cookie cutter. There are a million books just like it. Nothing special at all. Chapters are repetitive and dull. Overall a bad book with a predictable ending. GOod book to read if you're trying to fall asleep quickly at night