The Next Better Place: Memories of My Misspent Youth

Rating:
Summary: Coming of age story of the highest order
Review: The author combines memoir, travelogue and coming of age story forms to take you with him on a sad but incredibly funny journey with his alcoholic, grass-is-always-greener father. The facts are heartbreaking but the boy is gonna make it and you know that as you go with him. If you having any wanderlust you will be looking out the window after reading this book. The writing is first-rate with memorable passages. I read half of the book before leaving the bookstore! It didn't hurt that he starts his journey in Albany, which happens to be my home, getting all the details right as he heads to California. But all the rest is purely universal. A must read.

Rating:
Summary: brilliant wanderings
Review: The book reads even better the second time around, and the Afterword addresses some questions I was left with. A real fun romp. It would make a great road flick.