At Home in the World

Rating:
Summary: Exorcising the demon and then some
Review: I was prepared not to like "At Home in the World" because of the adverse publicity and bad reviews heaped on it. But after I became accustomed to Maynard's style of using the present tense, I really got into it. Although I bought the book to learn more about J.D. Salinger, her one-time lover, her own life has been sufficiently full to keep a reader's interest. Maynard discusses her difficult childhood with intelligent, creative, but frustrated parents who pushed their two daughters into accomplishing what they hadn't; and her precocious writing talent and early notoriety. Her relatively brief liaison with the charming but solitary Salinger occupies only a small section, although his presence permeates the rest of the book, including a dramatic encounter in the last chapter.

Maynard makes it clear that she wrote this memoir in part to exorcise her "Jerry" demon, but the picture that emerges is of a passionate, talented, hard-working woman who, despite all the obstacles in her path, has managed to keep on keepin' on. It's an excellent read.

Rating:
Summary: Compelling, Lucid, and Poetic (at times)
Review: This book grew from conflicts Joyce Maynard was having with her eighteen-year-old daughter; they forced her to recall her own life at age eighteen. It is a sensitive, thoughtful meditation which calls to mind the line from David Byrne's "Once in a Lifetime": "How did I get here?"

That Maynard at age 18 was a minor literary celebrity due to her cover-featured article in the NEW YORK TIMES MAGAZINE; that she was in the midst of her first post-high-school relationship with the author J.D. Salinger: these are accidental truths in this compelling memoir.

Appearance versus reality; honesty versus social convention; the perceptions of one aged 18 versus one mid-40ish: these are the true themes of Maynard's work. My wife and I both found that we couldn't put down the book until we finished it. We both were amazed at Maynard's honesty, her lucidity, and her energy.

This is a marvellous book about an intelligent woman coming of age in the tumultuous America of the sixties and beyond. It should appeal to people who pursue wisdom, whatever the personal costs.

Rating:
Summary: Smart Powerful Man gets Young Woman, and Other Stuff
Review: This book drones at times and it includes a story we've all heard before: A smart and famous man excersizes his power and manipulates an attractive YOUNG woman (Well, it's hard to do with older woman because by then they've become somewhat wise and more importantly, less worthy of the trouble). Anyway, it seems a lot of woman experience this, and the men who can do it often do, just because they can. It's been that way for eons. This book is unique because the man that works the biological system is a famous and great writer, but other than that, go to any feminist bookstore and read the same old story a thousand times over. In the end, the woman is wiser and has learned a lesson. The experience was cool and she is more worldy. And most women feel the experience was worthy of their time and energy, and are better for the experience;-- although the manipulative guy is still, in some deep and profound way and dispite his good qualities, a typical guy jerk. Surprise.

Well written, funny at times, I'm not going to recommend that it not be read, but a "must read" it is not.
As for Ms. Maynard, she's smart and very cute (lots of pictures on the inside boards of the hard cover) in a dark sort of way.
Also, despite what it says below, this review refers to the hardback edition. Don't matter much, except I think the paperback doesn't have the pictures of the author...

Rating:
Summary: VERY GOOD READ
Review: First, let me start by saying that I came into possession of this book blind. I had not heard anything about it or read any reviews. I picked it up because I appreciated the comments made by authors that I respect on the back cover. Another thing I should mention is that I am not familiar with JD Salinger's work and couldn't care less who he is. I have tried in the past to read Catcher in the Rye and couldn't stand it. So....I feel unbiased as far as the subject matter. To people who say she shouldn't disclose what went on between her and Salinger I say baloney. The man is nearly a child molester. What kind of man in his fifties starts a correspondence with an 18 year old girl who more importantly looks twelve. If you are embarrassed by having your life revealed than be darn careful about getting involved with a journalist. He knew what she was when he contact her and started the relationship. One would need to be an idiot to contact a journalist if they are so intent on "protecting their privacy". Ok, enough on that. This is a very good read. It holds your interest and flows like a novel. Joyce is a good story teller and I'm looking forward to reading more of her work. (I only wish she hadn't undergone cosmetic surgery as it was the only time in the book I questioned her credibility.)

Rating:
Summary: Average
Review: Could take or leave this book. I did notice that in the Amazon.com review the reviewer did correctly note that Salinger was not quite correct about the word "bint." However, the reviewer didn't get the meaning quite right either. While it is true that "bint" was a somewhat derogatory word used by the British in Egypt and the Middle East during the WWII, it did not specifically mean prostitute (although surely some did use it that way). The meaning of the word "bint" in British slang was closer to the American terms "broad" or "babe" - words where the meaning tends to change depending on the context. Morevover, this is not a term that is still common in colloquial British English. However, the origination of the word, which is still in use, comes from Arabic ... where "bint" means daughter. So while Salinger or Maynard got the origin wrong, I think he got the right definition. Obviously, he must of picked this word up during his time in the war, but, as a writer, he may have actually done his homework and found out where the word came from (and consequently its more common usage). At any rate, it doesn't seem like a particulary good example to conclude that "It's a cautionary tale about using language and the pretense of truth to obscure key realities." I think it says more about the reviewer than the veracity of Salinger or Maynard's inability to write a credible memoir.

Rating:
Summary: Headlines without details
Review: I first heard about "At Home in the World" during an early evening talk show on TV. A group of writers were discussing Joyce Maynard's new book and unanimously agreed on a 2 thumbs down rating for all the typical reasons: she can't write, she plays the victim for all it's worth, how dare she violate Salinger's privacy, and so on. Naturally, I had to read it AND I was determined to like it!

I did like it, but not nearly as much as I had hoped. I admire Joyce for displaying her not so perfect life for all to see and criticize, and for taking on and completing such a difficult task. But, it was written much too matter of fact, without a hint of humour and very little emotion. What a disappointment! It was a bit like reading a list of point form notes, a series of headlines without the details, simply written to pack in as much information as possible. For example: It's the beginning of summer, she makes love for the first time with Glenn and decides they'll be together forever, a few days later it's all over, summer ends and she moves to New York, rents her house, gets a studio apartment, checks into a fasting retreat, lives on water for a week, takes a trip to Nashville in November, meets various celebrities, and embarks on a road trip with Dolly Parton - all in only 2 pages!

Unlike several of her readers at amazon.com I didn't get the impression that she felt victimized by her family or by Salinger. She was merely influenced by them. That's pretty standard, isn't it? I also saw no harm in what little she had to say about Salinger. We now know that he's a miserable old man who likes young women. Does that make him less of a writer? He's also a man who repeadedly encouraged her to be honest in her writing: "Some day Joyce, you'll stop looking over your shoulder to make sure you're keeping everybody happy." As it turned out, he was right.

I recommend this book to anyone interested in an easy to read, straight forward account of Joyce Maynard's mixed-up life. It's all there in VERY plain English. But, if you want to laugh, or cry, or feel any emotion at all, move on to something else.

Rating:
Summary: Interesting book, but not for everyone
Review: I found the book quite a good read and did not close it with either a negative impression of Maynard or Salinger. Prior to reading it, I had heard bits about how negatively Salinger was depicted (which he was), but it wasn't especially scathing ... nor do I think it was written without basis. Most of the negative comments posted in other reviews I think are very unsophisticated and kind of silly. Touchy, feely books might not be your cup of tea - in which case I wouldn't read this book. But, the criticism that it is poorly written is way off base. The idea that it is a bad read because it is biased - is just simplistic and stupid. I wonder what kind of memoirs these people have read? By definition an auto-biography has to contain some degree of bias, unless the author is devoid of emotions and opinions. I think as a reader you have to intuitively understand this ... unless all your synapses aren't firing. And given that her love affair with Salinger was one of central elements in her life, emotion has to run a little deeper - especially since it took place when she was so young. I certainly wouldn't avoid reading it because one of the other reviewers went to school with the author and had never heard of her - I don't quite understand the point of this comment. I think it would be a tedious and boring book for people who are not particularly introspective or grow easily tired of people who are overly analytical.

Rating:
Summary: In Search of J.D. Salinger
Review: Before purchasing this book, I had no knowledge of Joyce Maynard. I bought "At Home in the World" because I'd heard someone speaking in reference to the affair she'd had with him. I hoped that by reading about the relationship, I'd find out more about the reclusive author who'd grabbed my attention with "Catcher in the Rye" years ago. Her affair with JD Salinger is the most interesting thing going for this book;The rest seems like filler. In any case, it's a worthwhile read if your a fan of Salinger or Maynard's work. But if your looking for a good read, forget this memoir and go read Catcher in the Rye again.

Rating:
Summary: An Insight into a Woman's Life
Review: I picked up this book for $5 on the strength of having recently seen "To Die For" on video. I did not know who Joyce Mynard was, nor Jerry Salinger (exccept as the author of "Catcher in the Rye"). At then end of this book I felt that I knew them both. Maynard's story is not an expose of Salinger, but a narrative of how a woman can be seduced by one man's charismatic power, and sublimate her own talent in order to have that man's approval for her own existence. Maynard's story is a modern version of the Svengali archetype. However it is also a story of women's strength and survival, in spite of her wanting to return to the hoped-for fairy-tale of what might have been. Even when confronted with the evidence of Salinger's predilection for young women, and his betrayal of her, Maynard still teeters on the disbelief that we are individually special to one such man. Women everywhere harbour the image of the ideal relationship, whether it is with a Salinger or a Steve (Maynard's ex-husband). In the end, we realise, as Maynard has shown, the only person on whom a woman can rely is herself. "At Home in the World" is a microscopic examination of a woman's most important relationships - with her mother, her sister and her daughter. Maynard's honesty in telling her story is the strength of this book.

I felt a similar resonance on reading the work of the English writer, Anne Oakley, in her book "The Men's Room". Oakley, too, writes from the heart of her personal experience. Although Maynard refers to Sylvia Plath, I have always felt that Plath contrived a safe distance from her reader audience. Maynard does not do this, and neither does Oakley. Both these writers convey the impression of approaching their readers with their open arms, as if saying "Here I am, take me as you find me." Plath, on the other hand, covers her face with her hands in defence of herself and the rawness of her pain. There is little difference between Ted Hughes's treatment of Plath and Salinger's treatment of Maynard, except that Salinger released Joyce in life, while Hughes released Sylvia in death.

Once I began this book I was unable to put it don, so involved was I with the lives of teh people within the covers. I have an urgent need to share it with my own daughter (aged 21) and with my best women friends. Thank you, Joyce Maynard, for having the courage to share your story and giving us the courage to share ours.

Rating:
Summary: Brilliant memoir
Review: To all of you people who wrote scathing, negative reviews of this book I say whatever happened to freedom of speech and the right to purchase and read the books of your choice? Ms. Maynard wrote a brave and unsparing account of her life. That is what memoirs are all about! I doubt that any one of our lives could bear such scrutiny.