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Summary: Cofusion of author with subject
Review: Some reviewers and readers seem unable to distinquish Joyce Maynard of the book from Joyce Maynard the author. It is the adult and single mother of 3 Joyce Maynard who has probed her past so deeply, and has, in this courageous book, revealed an often unhappy, confused, and extremely naive child. That is one of the main points of this book, a very poignant cautionary tale. It took a mature and reflective adult to write this fascinating book.
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Summary: Warning: Avert Your Eyes!
Review: In a word: Awful. Two more words: Tremendous bore. Three more words: Save your money!
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Summary: Self-centered, bad writing
Review: Wherein lies the fascination in this tripe? That it reveals someone who knew a famous recluse? It can't be about the author, herself, who has done relatively nothing in her own life. Her writing style is flat, she is self-absorbed and prone to project all of her problems onto others. At what point does she plan to take responsibility for her own decisions? As far as the implication that Salinger took advantage of a young woman, I ask then, at what age does a woman give consent? What was the purpose of the women's movement? She wanted the freedom to consort with whom she chose and now blames him for a bad outcome. Maynard herself has published in the newspaper that she wrote the book to put her children through college. If she were any sort of a writer, she could have come up with something worthwhile, but as usual she relies on self-pity, and the belief (somewhat justified by book sales) that she is so extraordinary that the whole world must know of every minute of her life. This is really vindictive stuff, not clever or insightful, just badly written.
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Summary: Maynard wears her fallen heart on her skinny sleve...
Review: Maynard has written a truly honest and remarkable autobiography. Although the main selling point for many readers will be Maynard's peculiar relationship with the reclusive J.D. Salinger, it should not be regarded as the central axis of the story. In reality, Salinger simply represents multitudes of middle-aged eccentric men who have managed to take advantage of younger, intelligent (but insecure) women. "At Home in the World" is, most importantly, Maynard's thearaputic examination of her bizzare relationship with her literary-gitfted Mother (Fredelle Bruser Maynard) and Sister (Rona Maynard; the current editor of "Chatelaine" magazine), and her art-driven alcoholic Father (Max Maynard). These portrayls of her emotionally-broken family are both frightening and facinating, and Maynard gives our eyes a wider view of our confusing world. Comfort should be brought in the notion that Maynard appears to have survived her small waves of fame and now resides with her children peacefully in California -- reputation and faculties firmly intact.
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Summary: Joyce, please, more
Review: All I can say is I anticipate the next Maynard book almost as much as the new Star Wars movie. Dear God, that's a lot. Please, Joyce, more.
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Summary: One BAD Birthday Gift..................................
Review: A well-meaning (presumably) friend presented this book to me on my birthday. Why, I am not entirely certain, except that the author and I are of the same general age, and I do like autobiographies and nonfiction, as a rule. BUT....... This was one dreadful read. I confess to not having made it through the entire book, but I gave it my best try. I swear I did. In my opinion, Ms. Maynard's writing style is annoying as all get out: flat, uninteresting, one-dimensional. It is hard to believe she makes her living as a writer, although in all honesty, I haven't read anything else she has written. This seems to be a book written as a vendetta of some kind. Mainly against Salinger, but also against everyone else who has also "wronged" Ms. Maynard (and there are MANY!). I didn't enjoy it very much at all.
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Summary: My copy is right next to my copy of Angela's Ashes!
Review: Sorry, but I'm not able to loan this book out, even though I highly recommend it! Like Angela's Ashes, I need to know that both books are safely within reach on my bookshelf, FOR ME! I won't part with them....ever! They are my 'security blanket'. One might ask how on earth I can draw a connection between these two books, and I don't know how to explain, only that they both have roused the greatest level of emotions (the whole gamut!). But ultimately, they reaffirmed my faith in the 'human spirit'. That always helps!
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Summary: Wonderful!
Review: And why not a war on J.D. Salinger... who made him God? I think Joyce Maynard's story is not an attack, but an honest account of a writer trying to come to terms with her life, good and bad. Her reminiscence about losing her mother brought back the same moments I felt losing mine. I believe this is the most honest autobiography I have read. And a note to Salinger (read:Garbo) : what have you done lately to make a reader feel anything?
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Summary: It's Delovely, it's Delightful, it's Divine
Review: For every woman who has ever kept her mouth shut because of shame, because her parents were alcoholic, depressed, obsessive or otherwise, this book is for you! For every woman who has had an affair with an exotic but inappropriate man, this book is for you! For every woman who has had a selfish,insensitive husband who has broken her heart again and again, this book is for you.For every woman who has plumbed the depths of sorrow and felt unfathomable joy via her children, this book is for you! For every woman who has looked her shame in the face, who stopped engaging in self-damaging, neurotic behavior, and who realized that speaking the truth out loud is the greatest freedom to all of us, including our oppressors, this book is for you! This book is for every woman, especially those who value growth and freedom from the chains of silence. Mr. Salinger should be thankful every moment of his life that Joyce and her readers have made this journey toward forgiveness, of ourselves and thus, of him. Brava, brava, brava!
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Summary: Deeply saddened.
Review: This is the sad, true, story of a woman who cannot make an intimate connection with any other person. This is the story of a woman who proudly claims she doesn't read but expects everyone to want to read what she has written. Joyce Maynard's lack of reading shows : she can't write clearly or with any charm or any strength. The only draw to her writings is to the voyeurs who want the dirty details of her life....which she will happily offer up to anyone willing to fork over the money for her book. The book is about a one-woman universe. I'll bet there IS an interesting story behind her relationship with JD Salinger but the strange bitterness displayed here reveals only an attempt at revenge and avoids examination of what really happened. Hard to believe that she expected so much from the guy. Well, as she tells us, she expected much from "Steve" also.....and when he failed to perform she "cast him off" in much the same way Salinger did to her. At least Salinger kept his mouth shut and his pen sheathed. Joyce Maynard could do much better than this if she tried.
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