Assembling My Father : A Daughter's Detective Story

Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: I often randomly choose books to read, without reading reviews or recommendations. Sometimes that method backfires and I'm stuck with a stinker, but not in this case - I was very pleasantly surprised by this book. Perhaps it was the writing, perhaps it was the loss of my own father when I was very young (probably a combination of both) - this book touched me in a personal way that no other book has for some time.

Rating:
Summary: An excellent memoir and first book
Review: Prior to reading "Assembling My Father" I was lucky enough to attend a writer's workshop with Anna Oliver in Boise, Idaho, and I must say she is an incredible woman. She is not only intelligent and insightful, but also extremely well read- all of which show up in her writing. In "Assembling My Father," she experiments with style and form, including extensive primary records such as pictures, news articles and writings from her father's journal which add to the overall theme of a "detective story." The inclusion of Anna's own tale of personal growth alongside her discoveries of her father's untimely demise create a depth of emotion and a unique poignancy. This is a must-read for anyone interested in writing memoir, especially family history, or for anyone who is interested in the counterculture of the 60's and 70's. I cannot reccommend it enough.

Rating:
Summary: Highly recommended
Review: This is a very good read. It is indeed a "detective story." Even though you know the ending at the very start of the book, the suspense builds as the author leads you through the process of discovering who her father really was and why he killed himself. Her interviews with "witnesses" and collection of "evidence" are woven together in a very creative construction that is extremely well-written. It is a personal story with universal appeal.