Rating: 
Summary: Good novel - easy to read
Review: Easy to read novel with quite a mischief boy. It's a decent book, but not one of my favorites. It is fun, however, following Toby on his various adventures as a boy and teenager. It is just that, however - following him on his various journeys and experiences. It is worth reading, however!
Rating: 
Summary: This boy's Life
Review: This was the more recent version of Catcher and The Rye. Great way to encourage dreaming.
Rating: 
Summary: review
Review: "So absolutely clear and hypnotic..." according to the New York Times. That is not my point of view at all. The book This Boy's Life is absolutley unclear and hypnotic. While providing an entertaining style of writing, jumping from the past, present, to future is never an approach that i would take. It leads you to jump to conclusions that you would otherwise unthink of. Although one of the strongest traits of this book is how it makes you use your imagination. But some people perfer not use their imaginations. rather to included in the memoir because of it's strong use of showing detail rather then telling. Which do you perfer?
This Boy's Life is the story of Tobias Wolff's adventures of growing up in the 1950's. Through his wonderful use of re=creating his experiences, you are not only told what he did, you are there to watch it. This style of writing seems interesting up until he starts moving from past to present. Then the reader is lost and confused.
Rating:
Summary: This Boy's Life
Review: I have to say that I did not like this book when I first read it. I was repulsed by Toby as a person and I thought the story was fairly pointless. But I read it again, I went over it, and I grew to like it. I pitied Toby deeply. I am coming from the perspective of someone who has lived fortunately all my life, and I didn't understand him at first. I didn't believe that Dwight could really be the way he was--it was as though it was played from a movie. But I reviewed it again, seeking out the subtle symbolism of things. The characters were very well drawn out as people and it was never boring, I was just shocked by the book. I would recommend this book, for it really made me think a lot about my life.
Rating:
Summary: An Interesting Life
Review: This book transcends all the pretensions and pedantry of contemporary fiction. Tobias Wolff turns life into magic, his character, reminescent of Holden Caulfield, is a delight.
Rating:
Summary: Truly A Great Read
Review: I, also, was given this book as a reading assignment. I was more than pleasantly surprised. Once I began reading I could not stop. "Jack" is a young man who can only be classified as "bad". He drinks, steals, fights, lies, and a handful of other things that would normally repulse people. However, Tobias Wolff takes the story of his life as a troubled, delinquent youth, and somehow makes you root for him. This book was not only well written, it was funny and enjoyable. I would recommend it to anyone.
Rating: 
Summary: The Truth About A Boy's Life
Review: I didn't like this book for many reasons. One, it was a assigned reading book and most of the books schools assign are boring and dumb, this year being no exception. Actually, they assigned us two good books, After Long Silence & Ender's Game. Other than those, the rest sucked. A Boy's Life wasnt that good either. Why, being in 2001, would ninth graders want to read about a boy in a dysfunctional family back in 1950's? That is a question that I want answered. Boys might find this book appealing but I, as a female, do not.
Rating:
Summary: a student
Review: i had to read this book as a summer reading book. It started out very slow and them towards the middle it started to get a little better. This book is good if you like books set in the 1950's.
Rating:
Summary: WOLFF'S MEMORABLE MEMOIR
Review: As an author with my debut novel in its initial release, I found Tobias Wolff's THIS BOY'S LIFE to be an extraordinary work. In THIS BOY'S LIFE, Wolff recalls his teenaged years when he and his mother traveled together from state to state as she attempted to find a man she could live with. Upon her remarriage, Wolff discovered himself in a battle of wills with his abusive stepfather. Wolff survived, and most readers will find this book fascinating.
Rating:
Summary: What a GREAT book!!!!
Review: After reading the book This Boys Life, I am now able to say that I have read a fantastic book, which will impact me for the rest of my life. I feel that this is one of those books that every boy must read. I found this book so fascinating because it is a true story of the author's young boyhood experiences, and it just shows what can be accomplished in life. The book starts off with a journey across the country, as Toby and his mother look for a new identity, and at the same time scramble away from a troubled relationship with a dysfunctional father. Running away leaves Toby with only his mother to talk to, and a deep apprehension about where he will end up next. Along the way, Toby seems to be caught up in his mom's dream of freedom and transformation, which in a way creates some conflict. For it is surely not easy to be a young boy having to jump into the shoes of a grown adult, and this is what Toby is faced with. Along the way, Toby is forced into many situations where he is caught up trying to work out his identity, and must prove himself in whatever he does. This attitude leads Toby into some tough places where he is forced to make a decision. One big decision Toby makes is to attend a private boarding school. Later on Toby discovers that this is not the correct place for him, and once again moves on into an entirely new setting after getting kicked out of school. He decides that the army is his final option, so he packs his bags and heads off where once again a new identity is formed. It is such a great feeling to be reading a book, and while at the same time picturing oneself among all of the characters. This is the exact sensation I had while reading this memoir. It is just the kind of book you must experience to be able to appreciate its significant meaning and value towards life. After reading this book, I feel that it is a great piece of literature to read because it is dealing with real life problems, which many young boys are facing today. I think that this is a great representation of a young boy struggling in life. At the same time, it is so powerful, that it just overtakes you as the reader, and will not allow you to set the book down. Enjoy!After reading the book This Boys Life, I am now able to say that I have read a fantastic book, which will impact me for the rest of my life. I feel that this is one of those books that every boy must read. I found this book so fascinating because it is a true story of the author's young boyhood experiences, and it just shows what can be accomplished in life. The book starts off with a journey across the country, as Toby and his mother look for a new identity, and at the same time scramble away from a troubled relationship with a dysfunctional father. Running away leaves Toby with only his mother to talk to, and a deep apprehension about where he will end up next. Along the way, Toby seems to be caught up in his mom's dream of freedom and transformation, which in a way creates some conflict. For it is surely not easy to be a young boy having to jump into the shoes of a grown adult, and this is what Toby is faced with. Along the way, Toby is forced into many situations where he is caught up trying to work out his identity, and must prove himself in whatever he does. This attitude leads Toby into some tough places where he is forced to make a decision. One big decision Toby makes is to attend a private boarding school. Later on Toby discovers that this is not the correct place for him, and once again moves on into an entirely new setting after getting kicked out of school. He decides that the army is his final option, so he packs his bags and heads off where once again a new identity is formed. It is such a great feeling to be reading a book, and while at the same time picturing oneself among all of the characters. This is the exact sensation I had while reading this memoir. It is just the kind of book you must experience to be able to appreciate its significant meaning and value towards life. After reading this book, I feel that it is a great piece of literature to read because it is dealing with real life problems, which many young boys are facing today. I think that this is a great representation of a young boy struggling in life. At the same time, it is so powerful, that it just overtakes you as the reader, and will not allow you to set the book down. Enjoy!
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