Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus More


Sep 09

13

Crazy for the Storm by Norman Ollestad

Posted by Teddyrose@1 on September 13, 2009
Posted in Books Read in 2009 • Memoir • Norman Ollestad  | 18 Comments

Norman Ollestad grew up on the beaches of Topanga Beach in California. His father, also Norman, or Senior Ollestad, taught him how to surf and ski at a very young age and expected him to excel in both. Much to Norman’s horror, his father would take him off trail downhill skiing the were quite dangerous. No matter how many time he pleaded with his father not to take him on the treacherous hills and the largest waves, his father made him do it. Norman didn’t have much choice and he did like making his father proud.


The memoir is told in alternating chapters, one chapter about his life growing up in a broken family and his adventures with his dad and then a chapter about the horrific plane crash he was in with his father and his father’s girl friend Sandra.

Norman’s parents divorced when he was quite young and he lived with his mom and her boyfriend, Nick. Nick was an alcoholic and was physically and mentally abusive to both Norman and his mother. His mother usually chose Nick over the well being of her son, despite his abuse.

Norman really wanted to be a “normal” kid, with normal parents. He didn’t get to play with other kids very often because his father brought him all over to either practice or compete in sports. He was glad to be away from Nick during those times but also terrified of what hill or wave his father would make him concur next.

This book read very much like a novel. Norman Ollestad has a great talent for writing and I had trouble putting this book down. I do question how true some of his memories are. Many sounded exaggerated to me. I’m not convinced that Ollestad did this intentionally but maybe his memories of the events were bigger than the actual events. After all, he was only 11 years old when he was in the plane crash.

If you like memoirs or even adventure fiction, you are sure to enjoy this compelling book!



4.5/5



Also reviewed at:



At Home With Books

Bookfoolery and Babble

A Bookworm’s World

Thoughts of Joy

Copyright 2007-2010: All the posts within this blog were originally posted by Teddy Rose and should not be reproduced without express written permission.

Feb 09

7

A Long Stone’s Throw by Alphie McCourt

Posted by Teddyrose@1 on February 7, 2009
Posted in Alphie McCourt • Books Read in 2009 • Memoir  | 18 Comments

The youngest of the McCourt brothers.

First there was ‘Angela’s Ash’s and other books by Frank McCourt. Then his brother Malachy with the book “And a Monk Swimming”. Now the youngest of the McCourt brothers, Alphie has written a book.
Not many years after his brothers move to New York City from Ireland, Alphie and his mother followed. We hear about his family, this time from Alphie’s perspective but much the same as what his brothers describe. Then we hear about his life.
Alphie didn’t have the same luck in life as his brothers had. He went from dead-end job to the other throughout his life. He also battled alcoholism. Things looked up for awhile when he owned a restaurant, but that eventually went bankrupt.
He does share one talent with his brother’s and that is writing. He shared songs, stories and poems throughout his story, which were enhanced by the audio version of the is book as he sang the songs. Not that he’s a great singer, but you get to hear them they way they were meant to be heard. A bit of the books got repetative so it could have used a bit more editing.
Alphie McCourt’s story is honest, funny, and sad. I hope his writing is the start in a new and better chapter in his life!
Recommended.
3.5/5
Thank you to Anna Balasi of Hachette Books for a copy of this audiobook!
Also reviewed at:
Bermudaonion’s Weblog
Copyright 2007-2010: All the posts within this blog were originally posted by Teddy Rose and should not be reproduced without express written permission.

Nov 07

2

The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid: A Memoir by Bill Bryson

Posted by Teddyrose@1 on November 2, 2007
Posted in Bill Bryson • Books Read 2007 • Memoir  | 8 Comments

A Nostalgia Look Back to the 1950’s

This is the first Bill Bryson book I have read, but certainly not the last!


Bryson takes a hilarious trip down memory lane. He mixes in his childhood memories of Iowa, historical facts, and adds his own character, The Thunderbolt Kid. It’s a recipe for a fun filled ride with belly laughs and nostalgia.

This is a great book for baby boomers, but I think the younger generations will enjoy it as well. He writes of a less serious time in U. S. history. At time that was considered prosperous and care free. A time when giant box stores didn’t take over entire towns like today.

I listened to the audio version of this book, which Bill Bryson narrates himself, on a plane trip. Passengers sitting near me asked what I was listening to, I was laughing out loud that much; it just couldn’t be helped! If you don’t like funny books, don’t read or listen to this one. If you do like funny books you may want to read or listen to it in private so you don’t draw attention to yourself like I did. 5/5

Copyright 2007-2010: All the posts within this blog were originally posted by Teddy Rose and should not be reproduced without express written permission.

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