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Only Child: Writers on the Singular Joys and Solitary Sorrows of Growing Up Solo
by
Daphne Uviller (Goodreads Author),
Deborah Siegel
Only children don’t have to share bedrooms, toys, or the backseat of a car. They don’t have to share allowances, inheritances, or their parents’ attention. But when they get into trouble, they can’t just blame their imaginary friends. In Only Child, twenty-one acclaimed writers tell the truth about life without siblings—the bliss of solitude, the ache of loneliness, and ev...more
Hardcover, 272 pages
Published
December 26th 2006
by Harmony
(first published 2006)
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doreen
rated it
Recommends it for:
only children, those who want to know what makes onlies tick
Shelves:
memoir,
collections
This was a wonderful collection of essays to read. As a "lonely only," I found myself being able to relate at least on some level with many (though not all) of the contributors of this collection.
Some recollections and writing would draw me to tears, some would make me smile. All of them were genuine, although some I related better to than others. Molly Jong-Fast's submission was interesting, but her childhood was very different, and her view as being the only child he...more
Some recollections and writing would draw me to tears, some would make me smile. All of them were genuine, although some I related better to than others. Molly Jong-Fast's submission was interesting, but her childhood was very different, and her view as being the only child he...more
I happen to hold a membership card for the only child club. It was refreshing to discover what other onlies thought about growing up as only children. Some loved it and some hated it. I fit into the category of I rather enjoyed it. I don't know what it's like to grow up with siblings so I don't know if it would have been better or worse. Others in this book acknowledged the topic. I did notice a lot of the authors mentioned they read a lot of books as children and I loved reading that! I ...more
"In this collection of original, frank, personal accounts, twenty-one of today's most celebrated writers -- all of them only children -- reveal the pleasures, peculiarities, and pain they faced growing up, and growing older, without siblings. More than just stories of head counts and birth order, these essays air the dirty laundry, reveal the singular joys, and grapple with questions of love, loss, and solitude. The authors will make other onlies grin and grimace in recognition and show t...more
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As I struggled with whether or not to have a second child, I tried to get my hands on everything I could read about only children. This collection of essays was an interesting perspective on how some adult onlies felt about growing up without siblings. I can't say that this book helped with my decision to have just one child, since everyone's experience is unique - and that goes for children who grow up with siblings, just as much as without siblings. Yet I very much enjoyed reading these va...more
As the wife of an only and the mother of a probably-only, I enjoyed this book. It was interesting to get the perspectives of different aspects of being an only. From growing up with all of the attention (for good or for bad) to being the only child to mourn your parents. Not something that I have really thought about. It definitely brought some insight to my boys, but really brought home how individual all of our experiences are.
As the parent of a possible only child, I am very eager to hear from only children about their lives and experiences. This sounded like an ideal read. However, I found most of the writers to be too similar, and their stories to be like anyone's childhood stories (and rather depressing as a whole.) But then I realized that maybe that's the point. Being an only child isn't a person's sole identity, just as having siblings defines only a small part of me.
Due to the depressive nature of ...more
Due to the depressive nature of ...more
A bunch of essays written by only children. It was excellent. I have come to the conclusion that perhaps it doesn't matter if I only have one kid or more than one kid. A lot is going to depend on my kid and who she is and how we raise her.
Man, I hope I raise her right...
Man, I hope I raise her right...
Some stories were better than others. I really didn't feel this dealt with being an only child as much as the writer's relationship with their parent/parents. I'm raising an only child and I felt this gave me a little bit of insight into what she may be experiencing, but not much.
It was really great to read so many perspectives on being an only child. It also gave me some insight into my own life and some of the reasons I do/have done the things I do. There was a lot of discussion on the issue of only children wanting to have more than one child and the reasons behind it and it was reassuring to know that I am not alone in this desire ... nor the fears that I wouldn't be able to be a proper parent because I don't understand sibling relationships. But at the end it was ju...more
April 2008: http://www.3rsblog.com/2008/04/book-talk...
Yes, we are special...and we can write, too!!
As an only, I looked forward to this book hoping for some sort of camaraderie with the authors, I suppose. All in all it was a quick and pleasant read, arguably the best story was last (Teller's).
What surprised me were those stories of onlies who were clearly not happy with the situation. Since my own background was really positive, I found myself shaking my head, saying, what's not to like?
Fun for its range and diversity of experiences, and it was good to see some s...more
What surprised me were those stories of onlies who were clearly not happy with the situation. Since my own background was really positive, I found myself shaking my head, saying, what's not to like?
Fun for its range and diversity of experiences, and it was good to see some s...more
Starr Phoenix
added it
As an only, I related to almost every story in this book in some way. Great read.
I had high hopes for this collection, but they didn't really pay off. Bought it on a whim at an independent bookstore that's affiliated with Aroma Coffee House in Studio City. It was part of a lovely afternoon of writing and browsing before a writing group meeting, but that's about as far as it went.
I don't know why, but the writing just didn't grab me and it took me a long time to get through the book. I guess I'm still in rebound from _Food and Booze_, which entirely enchanted an...more
I don't know why, but the writing just didn't grab me and it took me a long time to get through the book. I guess I'm still in rebound from _Food and Booze_, which entirely enchanted an...more
I could relate to so much within these pages: the neccesity of solitude, the intensity of parent-child relationships, the gravity of being the pointed end of the family branch...an emotionally honest and thoughtfully arranged collection of essays.
if you are an only child then you have no choice but to read this collection of essays. some of them are funny, some of them are devastating, and all of them are immensely readable and beautifully written. it leaves you with a sense of community, a sense of relief that even if you dont have siblings you arent alone. sounds cheesy but its true.
I stopped reading it, it got boring. The stories were interesting and made it clear to me that being an only child is not bad if you have good boundaries with your child. Maybe also that even though I have a brother and a sister - emotionally speaking, I grew up and still am an only child and it's not so bad.
A few funny pieces, several dismal only-child memories, but no lingering insights.
I've come across several compilations of this ilk: pieces gathered from writers invited to pontificate on a particular topic, ending up as a fine creative writing hodgepodge but not as a strong contribution to the topic.
I've come across several compilations of this ilk: pieces gathered from writers invited to pontificate on a particular topic, ending up as a fine creative writing hodgepodge but not as a strong contribution to the topic.
There were some interesting essays in here, including one by John Hodgman and another by Teller (of Penn and Teller), but I wish that there had been more variety in the contributors, in terms of age, cultural background and socio-economic status.
Being an only child, I can relate to a lot of what these authors are talking about.
quality varies but well worth it, especially for onlies.
yay, i'm not alone!!
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