false 476400 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1175087232m/476400.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1175087232s/476400.jpg
For one little boy, however, life had become anything but "normal."

To all appearances, he and his family lived an almost idyllic life. The father was a respected professor, the mother a witty and elegant lady, someone everyone loved. They were parents to three bright, smiling children: two boys and a girl. They lived on a sunny street in a small college town nestled neatly in a leafy valley. They gave parties, hosted picnics, went to church—just like their neighbors. To all appearances, their life seemed ideal. But it was, in fact, all appearances.

Lineage, tradition, making the right impression—these were matters of great importance, especially to the mother. But behind the facade this family had created lurked secrets so dark, so painful for this one little boy, that his life would never be the same.

It is through the eyes of that boy—a grown man now, revisiting that time—that we see this seemingly serene world and watch as it slowly comes completely and irrevocably undone.

Beautifully written, often humorous, sometimes sweet, ultimately shocking, this is a son's story of looking back with both love and anger at the parents who gave him life and then robbed him of it, who created his world and then destroyed it.

As author Lee Smith, who knew this world and this family, observed, "Alcohol may be the real villain in this pain-permeated, exquisitely written memoir of childhood—but it is also filled with absolutely dead-on social commentary of this very particular time and place. A brave, haunting, riveting book."]]> 476400 2 464637 23 3 2007 The End of the World as We Know It: Scenes from a Life total:177|5:35|4:39|3:55|2:36|1:12| 177 580 308 52 266461 3.37 2118 774 21859912 997492 476400 1565124812 9781565124813 49 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1175087232m/476400.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1175087232s/476400.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/476400.The_End_of_the_World_as_We_Know_It_Scenes_from_a_Life 3.28 167
For one little boy, however, life had become anything but "normal."

To all appearances, he and his family lived an almost idyllic life. The father was a respected professor, the mother a witty and elegant lady, someone everyone loved. They were parents to three bright, smiling children: two boys and a girl. They lived on a sunny street in a small college town nestled neatly in a leafy valley. They gave parties, hosted picnics, went to church—just like their neighbors. To all appearances, their life seemed ideal. But it was, in fact, all appearances.

Lineage, tradition, making the right impression—these were matters of great importance, especially to the mother. But behind the facade this family had created lurked secrets so dark, so painful for this one little boy, that his life would never be the same.

It is through the eyes of that boy—a grown man now, revisiting that time—that we see this seemingly serene world and watch as it slowly comes completely and irrevocably undone.

Beautifully written, often humorous, sometimes sweet, ultimately shocking, this is a son's story of looking back with both love and anger at the parents who gave him life and then robbed him of it, who created his world and then destroyed it.

As author Lee Smith, who knew this world and this family, observed, "Alcohol may be the real villain in this pain-permeated, exquisitely written memoir of childhood—but it is also filled with absolutely dead-on social commentary of this very particular time and place. A brave, haunting, riveting book."]]> 2007 5 2 false Wed May 07 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Thu May 08 10:08:33 -0700 2008 Thu May 08 10:12:44 -0700 2008
The complaint of other reviewers that this book was too depressiv...more...]]> 4234775 103117 476400 1565124812 9781565124813 49 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1175087232m/476400.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1175087232s/476400.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/476400.The_End_of_the_World_as_We_Know_It_Scenes_from_a_Life 3.28 177
For one little boy, however, life had become anything but "normal."

To all appearances, he and his family lived an almost idyllic life. The father was a respected professor, the mother a witty and elegant lady, someone everyone loved. They were parents to three bright, smiling children: two boys and a girl. They lived on a sunny street in a small college town nestled neatly in a leafy valley. They gave parties, hosted picnics, went to church—just like their neighbors. To all appearances, their life seemed ideal. But it was, in fact, all appearances.

Lineage, tradition, making the right impression—these were matters of great importance, especially to the mother. But behind the facade this family had created lurked secrets so dark, so painful for this one little boy, that his life would never be the same.

It is through the eyes of that boy—a grown man now, revisiting that time—that we see this seemingly serene world and watch as it slowly comes completely and irrevocably undone.

Beautifully written, often humorous, sometimes sweet, ultimately shocking, this is a son's story of looking back with both love and anger at the parents who gave him life and then robbed him of it, who created his world and then destroyed it.

As author Lee Smith, who knew this world and this family, observed, "Alcohol may be the real villain in this pain-permeated, exquisitely written memoir of childhood—but it is also filled with absolutely dead-on social commentary of this very particular time and place. A brave, haunting, riveting book."]]> 2007 2 1 false Wed Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007 Tue Aug 07 18:44:40 -0700 2007 Tue Aug 07 18:52:43 -0700 2007 more...]]> 61595666 2039014 476400 1565124812 9781565124813 49 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1175087232m/476400.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1175087232s/476400.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/476400.The_End_of_the_World_as_We_Know_It_Scenes_from_a_Life 3.28 177
For one little boy, however, life had become anything but "normal."

To all appearances, he and his family lived an almost idyllic life. The father was a respected professor, the mother a witty and elegant lady, someone everyone loved. They were parents to three bright, smiling children: two boys and a girl. They lived on a sunny street in a small college town nestled neatly in a leafy valley. They gave parties, hosted picnics, went to church—just like their neighbors. To all appearances, their life seemed ideal. But it was, in fact, all appearances.

Lineage, tradition, making the right impression—these were matters of great importance, especially to the mother. But behind the facade this family had created lurked secrets so dark, so painful for this one little boy, that his life would never be the same.

It is through the eyes of that boy—a grown man now, revisiting that time—that we see this seemingly serene world and watch as it slowly comes completely and irrevocably undone.

Beautifully written, often humorous, sometimes sweet, ultimately shocking, this is a son's story of looking back with both love and anger at the parents who gave him life and then robbed him of it, who created his world and then destroyed it.

As author Lee Smith, who knew this world and this family, observed, "Alcohol may be the real villain in this pain-permeated, exquisitely written memoir of childhood—but it is also filled with absolutely dead-on social commentary of this very particular time and place. A brave, haunting, riveting book."]]> 2007 2 0 false Tue Jun 30 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Mon Jun 29 22:51:04 -0700 2009 Mon Jun 29 22:51:04 -0700 2009 more...]]> 17604485 73791 476400 1565124812 9781565124813 49 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1175087232m/476400.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1175087232s/476400.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/476400.The_End_of_the_World_as_We_Know_It_Scenes_from_a_Life 3.28 177
For one little boy, however, life had become anything but "normal."

To all appearances, he and his family lived an almost idyllic life. The father was a respected professor, the mother a witty and elegant lady, someone everyone loved. They were parents to three bright, smiling children: two boys and a girl. They lived on a sunny street in a small college town nestled neatly in a leafy valley. They gave parties, hosted picnics, went to church—just like their neighbors. To all appearances, their life seemed ideal. But it was, in fact, all appearances.

Lineage, tradition, making the right impression—these were matters of great importance, especially to the mother. But behind the facade this family had created lurked secrets so dark, so painful for this one little boy, that his life would never be the same.

It is through the eyes of that boy—a grown man now, revisiting that time—that we see this seemingly serene world and watch as it slowly comes completely and irrevocably undone.

Beautifully written, often humorous, sometimes sweet, ultimately shocking, this is a son's story of looking back with both love and anger at the parents who gave him life and then robbed him of it, who created his world and then destroyed it.

As author Lee Smith, who knew this world and this family, observed, "Alcohol may be the real villain in this pain-permeated, exquisitely written memoir of childhood—but it is also filled with absolutely dead-on social commentary of this very particular time and place. A brave, haunting, riveting book."]]> 2007 5 1 false Mon Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007 Wed Mar 12 11:18:51 -0700 2008 Wed Mar 12 11:20:06 -0700 2008 60288183 2430822 476400 1565124812 9781565124813 49 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1175087232m/476400.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1175087232s/476400.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/476400.The_End_of_the_World_as_We_Know_It_Scenes_from_a_Life 3.28 177
For one little boy, however, life had become anything but "normal."

To all appearances, he and his family lived an almost idyllic life. The father was a respected professor, the mother a witty and elegant lady, someone everyone loved. They were parents to three bright, smiling children: two boys and a girl. They lived on a sunny street in a small college town nestled neatly in a leafy valley. They gave parties, hosted picnics, went to church—just like their neighbors. To all appearances, their life seemed ideal. But it was, in fact, all appearances.

Lineage, tradition, making the right impression—these were matters of great importance, especially to the mother. But behind the facade this family had created lurked secrets so dark, so painful for this one little boy, that his life would never be the same.

It is through the eyes of that boy—a grown man now, revisiting that time—that we see this seemingly serene world and watch as it slowly comes completely and irrevocably undone.

Beautifully written, often humorous, sometimes sweet, ultimately shocking, this is a son's story of looking back with both love and anger at the parents who gave him life and then robbed him of it, who created his world and then destroyed it.

As author Lee Smith, who knew this world and this family, observed, "Alcohol may be the real villain in this pain-permeated, exquisitely written memoir of childhood—but it is also filled with absolutely dead-on social commentary of this very particular time and place. A brave, haunting, riveting book."]]> 2007 4 0 false Fri Jun 19 07:50:27 -0700 2009 Fri Jun 19 07:53:42 -0700 2009
"There is so much that happens to the human heart that is in the realm of the unthinkable, the unknowable, the unbearable. How most people carry on is a mystery. What they talk about at supper. How th...more...]]> 54191730 1040935 2227099 1565126025 9781565126022 3 http://www.goodreads.com/images/nocover-111x148.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/images/nocover-60x80.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2227099.The_End_of_the_World_as_We_Know_It 3.30 10 2007 5 0 false Mon Apr 27 19:14:24 -0700 2009 Mon Apr 27 19:31:54 -0700 2009 more...]]> 75327057 2118677 2227099 1565126025 9781565126022 3 http://www.goodreads.com/images/nocover-111x148.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/images/nocover-60x80.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2227099.The_End_of_the_World_as_We_Know_It 3.28 177 2007 3 0 false Mon Nov 16 00:00:00 -0800 2009 Wed Oct 21 20:36:46 -0700 2009 Fri Dec 04 01:38:28 -0800 2009 more...]]> 4302721 84823 476400 1565124812 9781565124813 49 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1175087232m/476400.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1175087232s/476400.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/476400.The_End_of_the_World_as_We_Know_It_Scenes_from_a_Life 3.28 177
For one little boy, however, life had become anything but "normal."

To all appearances, he and his family lived an almost idyllic life. The father was a respected professor, the mother a witty and elegant lady, someone everyone loved. They were parents to three bright, smiling children: two boys and a girl. They lived on a sunny street in a small college town nestled neatly in a leafy valley. They gave parties, hosted picnics, went to church—just like their neighbors. To all appearances, their life seemed ideal. But it was, in fact, all appearances.

Lineage, tradition, making the right impression—these were matters of great importance, especially to the mother. But behind the facade this family had created lurked secrets so dark, so painful for this one little boy, that his life would never be the same.

It is through the eyes of that boy—a grown man now, revisiting that time—that we see this seemingly serene world and watch as it slowly comes completely and irrevocably undone.

Beautifully written, often humorous, sometimes sweet, ultimately shocking, this is a son's story of looking back with both love and anger at the parents who gave him life and then robbed him of it, who created his world and then destroyed it.

As author Lee Smith, who knew this world and this family, observed, "Alcohol may be the real villain in this pain-permeated, exquisitely written memoir of childhood—but it is also filled with absolutely dead-on social commentary of this very particular time and place. A brave, haunting, riveting book."]]> 2007 3 0 false Wed Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007 Thu Aug 09 05:56:32 -0700 2007 Thu Aug 09 06:02:00 -0700 2007 more...]]> 50072762 526319 476400 1565124812 9781565124813 49 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1175087232m/476400.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1175087232s/476400.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/476400.The_End_of_the_World_as_We_Know_It_Scenes_from_a_Life 3.28 177
For one little boy, however, life had become anything but "normal."

To all appearances, he and his family lived an almost idyllic life. The father was a respected professor, the mother a witty and elegant lady, someone everyone loved. They were parents to three bright, smiling children: two boys and a girl. They lived on a sunny street in a small college town nestled neatly in a leafy valley. They gave parties, hosted picnics, went to church—just like their neighbors. To all appearances, their life seemed ideal. But it was, in fact, all appearances.

Lineage, tradition, making the right impression—these were matters of great importance, especially to the mother. But behind the facade this family had created lurked secrets so dark, so painful for this one little boy, that his life would never be the same.

It is through the eyes of that boy—a grown man now, revisiting that time—that we see this seemingly serene world and watch as it slowly comes completely and irrevocably undone.

Beautifully written, often humorous, sometimes sweet, ultimately shocking, this is a son's story of looking back with both love and anger at the parents who gave him life and then robbed him of it, who created his world and then destroyed it.

As author Lee Smith, who knew this world and this family, observed, "Alcohol may be the real villain in this pain-permeated, exquisitely written memoir of childhood—but it is also filled with absolutely dead-on social commentary of this very particular time and place. A brave, haunting, riveting book."]]> 2007 0 0 false Sun Mar 22 11:59:01 -0700 2009 Sun Mar 22 12:01:32 -0700 2009 more...]]> 6804118 417913 476400 1565124812 9781565124813 49 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1175087232m/476400.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1175087232s/476400.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/476400.The_End_of_the_World_as_We_Know_It_Scenes_from_a_Life 3.28 177
For one little boy, however, life had become anything but "normal."

To all appearances, he and his family lived an almost idyllic life. The father was a respected professor, the mother a witty and elegant lady, someone everyone loved. They were parents to three bright, smiling children: two boys and a girl. They lived on a sunny street in a small college town nestled neatly in a leafy valley. They gave parties, hosted picnics, went to church—just like their neighbors. To all appearances, their life seemed ideal. But it was, in fact, all appearances.

Lineage, tradition, making the right impression—these were matters of great importance, especially to the mother. But behind the facade this family had created lurked secrets so dark, so painful for this one little boy, that his life would never be the same.

It is through the eyes of that boy—a grown man now, revisiting that time—that we see this seemingly serene world and watch as it slowly comes completely and irrevocably undone.

Beautifully written, often humorous, sometimes sweet, ultimately shocking, this is a son's story of looking back with both love and anger at the parents who gave him life and then robbed him of it, who created his world and then destroyed it.

As author Lee Smith, who knew this world and this family, observed, "Alcohol may be the real villain in this pain-permeated, exquisitely written memoir of childhood—but it is also filled with absolutely dead-on social commentary of this very particular time and place. A brave, haunting, riveting book."]]> 2007 3 0 false Tue Sep 25 19:38:07 -0700 2007 Thu Sep 27 02:31:15 -0700 2007 more...]]> 57738657 805197 476400 1565124812 9781565124813 49 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1175087232m/476400.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1175087232s/476400.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/476400.The_End_of_the_World_as_We_Know_It_Scenes_from_a_Life 3.28 177
For one little boy, however, life had become anything but "normal."

To all appearances, he and his family lived an almost idyllic life. The father was a respected professor, the mother a witty and elegant lady, someone everyone loved. They were parents to three bright, smiling children: two boys and a girl. They lived on a sunny street in a small college town nestled neatly in a leafy valley. They gave parties, hosted picnics, went to church—just like their neighbors. To all appearances, their life seemed ideal. But it was, in fact, all appearances.

Lineage, tradition, making the right impression—these were matters of great importance, especially to the mother. But behind the facade this family had created lurked secrets so dark, so painful for this one little boy, that his life would never be the same.

It is through the eyes of that boy—a grown man now, revisiting that time—that we see this seemingly serene world and watch as it slowly comes completely and irrevocably undone.

Beautifully written, often humorous, sometimes sweet, ultimately shocking, this is a son's story of looking back with both love and anger at the parents who gave him life and then robbed him of it, who created his world and then destroyed it.

As author Lee Smith, who knew this world and this family, observed, "Alcohol may be the real villain in this pain-permeated, exquisitely written memoir of childhood—but it is also filled with absolutely dead-on social commentary of this very particular time and place. A brave, haunting, riveting book."]]> 2007 3 0 false Fri May 29 08:38:06 -0700 2009 Fri May 29 08:40:24 -0700 2009 more...]]> 57260540 337763 476400 1565124812 9781565124813 49 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1175087232m/476400.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1175087232s/476400.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/476400.The_End_of_the_World_as_We_Know_It_Scenes_from_a_Life 3.28 177
For one little boy, however, life had become anything but "normal."

To all appearances, he and his family lived an almost idyllic life. The father was a respected professor, the mother a witty and elegant lady, someone everyone loved. They were parents to three bright, smiling children: two boys and a girl. They lived on a sunny street in a small college town nestled neatly in a leafy valley. They gave parties, hosted picnics, went to church—just like their neighbors. To all appearances, their life seemed ideal. But it was, in fact, all appearances.

Lineage, tradition, making the right impression—these were matters of great importance, especially to the mother. But behind the facade this family had created lurked secrets so dark, so painful for this one little boy, that his life would never be the same.

It is through the eyes of that boy—a grown man now, revisiting that time—that we see this seemingly serene world and watch as it slowly comes completely and irrevocably undone.

Beautifully written, often humorous, sometimes sweet, ultimately shocking, this is a son's story of looking back with both love and anger at the parents who gave him life and then robbed him of it, who created his world and then destroyed it.

As author Lee Smith, who knew this world and this family, observed, "Alcohol may be the real villain in this pain-permeated, exquisitely written memoir of childhood—but it is also filled with absolutely dead-on social commentary of this very particular time and place. A brave, haunting, riveting book."]]> 2007 5 0 false Tue May 26 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Mon May 25 10:53:58 -0700 2009 Tue May 26 20:38:26 -0700 2009 The author also alternates very successfully between adult life and childhood.
Childhood is in the ...more...]]> 38273611 942723 476400 1565124812 9781565124813 49 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1175087232m/476400.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1175087232s/476400.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/476400.The_End_of_the_World_as_We_Know_It_Scenes_from_a_Life 3.28 177
For one little boy, however, life had become anything but "normal."

To all appearances, he and his family lived an almost idyllic life. The father was a respected professor, the mother a witty and elegant lady, someone everyone loved. They were parents to three bright, smiling children: two boys and a girl. They lived on a sunny street in a small college town nestled neatly in a leafy valley. They gave parties, hosted picnics, went to church—just like their neighbors. To all appearances, their life seemed ideal. But it was, in fact, all appearances.

Lineage, tradition, making the right impression—these were matters of great importance, especially to the mother. But behind the facade this family had created lurked secrets so dark, so painful for this one little boy, that his life would never be the same.

It is through the eyes of that boy—a grown man now, revisiting that time—that we see this seemingly serene world and watch as it slowly comes completely and irrevocably undone.

Beautifully written, often humorous, sometimes sweet, ultimately shocking, this is a son's story of looking back with both love and anger at the parents who gave him life and then robbed him of it, who created his world and then destroyed it.

As author Lee Smith, who knew this world and this family, observed, "Alcohol may be the real villain in this pain-permeated, exquisitely written memoir of childhood—but it is also filled with absolutely dead-on social commentary of this very particular time and place. A brave, haunting, riveting book."]]> 2007 2 0 false Thu Nov 20 19:14:39 -0800 2008 Thu Nov 20 19:17:09 -0800 2008 more...]]> 62032234 1123966 476400 1565124812 9781565124813 49 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1175087232m/476400.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1175087232s/476400.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/476400.The_End_of_the_World_as_We_Know_It_Scenes_from_a_Life 3.28 177
For one little boy, however, life had become anything but "normal."

To all appearances, he and his family lived an almost idyllic life. The father was a respected professor, the mother a witty and elegant lady, someone everyone loved. They were parents to three bright, smiling children: two boys and a girl. They lived on a sunny street in a small college town nestled neatly in a leafy valley. They gave parties, hosted picnics, went to church—just like their neighbors. To all appearances, their life seemed ideal. But it was, in fact, all appearances.

Lineage, tradition, making the right impression—these were matters of great importance, especially to the mother. But behind the facade this family had created lurked secrets so dark, so painful for this one little boy, that his life would never be the same.

It is through the eyes of that boy—a grown man now, revisiting that time—that we see this seemingly serene world and watch as it slowly comes completely and irrevocably undone.

Beautifully written, often humorous, sometimes sweet, ultimately shocking, this is a son's story of looking back with both love and anger at the parents who gave him life and then robbed him of it, who created his world and then destroyed it.

As author Lee Smith, who knew this world and this family, observed, "Alcohol may be the real villain in this pain-permeated, exquisitely written memoir of childhood—but it is also filled with absolutely dead-on social commentary of this very particular time and place. A brave, haunting, riveting book."]]> 2007 5 0 false Fri Jul 03 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Fri Jul 03 11:32:00 -0700 2009 Fri Jul 03 11:33:26 -0700 2009 more...]]> 63836289 785013 476400 1565124812 9781565124813 49 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1175087232m/476400.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1175087232s/476400.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/476400.The_End_of_the_World_as_We_Know_It_Scenes_from_a_Life 3.28 177
For one little boy, however, life had become anything but "normal."

To all appearances, he and his family lived an almost idyllic life. The father was a respected professor, the mother a witty and elegant lady, someone everyone loved. They were parents to three bright, smiling children: two boys and a girl. They lived on a sunny street in a small college town nestled neatly in a leafy valley. They gave parties, hosted picnics, went to church—just like their neighbors. To all appearances, their life seemed ideal. But it was, in fact, all appearances.

Lineage, tradition, making the right impression—these were matters of great importance, especially to the mother. But behind the facade this family had created lurked secrets so dark, so painful for this one little boy, that his life would never be the same.

It is through the eyes of that boy—a grown man now, revisiting that time—that we see this seemingly serene world and watch as it slowly comes completely and irrevocably undone.

Beautifully written, often humorous, sometimes sweet, ultimately shocking, this is a son's story of looking back with both love and anger at the parents who gave him life and then robbed him of it, who created his world and then destroyed it.

As author Lee Smith, who knew this world and this family, observed, "Alcohol may be the real villain in this pain-permeated, exquisitely written memoir of childhood—but it is also filled with absolutely dead-on social commentary of this very particular time and place. A brave, haunting, riveting book."]]> 2007 4 0 false Fri Jul 24 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Fri Jul 17 04:27:21 -0700 2009 Fri Jul 24 03:41:40 -0700 2009 more...]]> 30140093 437360 476400 1565124812 9781565124813 49 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1175087232m/476400.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1175087232s/476400.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/476400.The_End_of_the_World_as_We_Know_It_Scenes_from_a_Life 3.28 177
For one little boy, however, life had become anything but "normal."

To all appearances, he and his family lived an almost idyllic life. The father was a respected professor, the mother a witty and elegant lady, someone everyone loved. They were parents to three bright, smiling children: two boys and a girl. They lived on a sunny street in a small college town nestled neatly in a leafy valley. They gave parties, hosted picnics, went to church—just like their neighbors. To all appearances, their life seemed ideal. But it was, in fact, all appearances.

Lineage, tradition, making the right impression—these were matters of great importance, especially to the mother. But behind the facade this family had created lurked secrets so dark, so painful for this one little boy, that his life would never be the same.

It is through the eyes of that boy—a grown man now, revisiting that time—that we see this seemingly serene world and watch as it slowly comes completely and irrevocably undone.

Beautifully written, often humorous, sometimes sweet, ultimately shocking, this is a son's story of looking back with both love and anger at the parents who gave him life and then robbed him of it, who created his world and then destroyed it.

As author Lee Smith, who knew this world and this family, observed, "Alcohol may be the real villain in this pain-permeated, exquisitely written memoir of childhood—but it is also filled with absolutely dead-on social commentary of this very particular time and place. A brave, haunting, riveting book."]]> 2007 3 0 false Wed Apr 22 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Thu Aug 14 10:13:47 -0700 2008 Fri Apr 24 18:26:35 -0700 2009 more...]]> 30320681 1090413 476400 1565124812 9781565124813 49 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1175087232m/476400.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1175087232s/476400.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/476400.The_End_of_the_World_as_We_Know_It_Scenes_from_a_Life 3.28 177
For one little boy, however, life had become anything but "normal."

To all appearances, he and his family lived an almost idyllic life. The father was a respected professor, the mother a witty and elegant lady, someone everyone loved. They were parents to three bright, smiling children: two boys and a girl. They lived on a sunny street in a small college town nestled neatly in a leafy valley. They gave parties, hosted picnics, went to church—just like their neighbors. To all appearances, their life seemed ideal. But it was, in fact, all appearances.

Lineage, tradition, making the right impression—these were matters of great importance, especially to the mother. But behind the facade this family had created lurked secrets so dark, so painful for this one little boy, that his life would never be the same.

It is through the eyes of that boy—a grown man now, revisiting that time—that we see this seemingly serene world and watch as it slowly comes completely and irrevocably undone.

Beautifully written, often humorous, sometimes sweet, ultimately shocking, this is a son's story of looking back with both love and anger at the parents who gave him life and then robbed him of it, who created his world and then destroyed it.

As author Lee Smith, who knew this world and this family, observed, "Alcohol may be the real villain in this pain-permeated, exquisitely written memoir of childhood—but it is also filled with absolutely dead-on social commentary of this very particular time and place. A brave, haunting, riveting book."]]> 2007 2 0 false Sun Aug 17 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Sat Aug 16 13:29:58 -0700 2008 Sun Aug 17 09:39:07 -0700 2008 more...]]> 67823113 2459705 476400 1565124812 9781565124813 49 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1175087232m/476400.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1175087232s/476400.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/476400.The_End_of_the_World_as_We_Know_It_Scenes_from_a_Life 3.28 177
For one little boy, however, life had become anything but "normal."

To all appearances, he and his family lived an almost idyllic life. The father was a respected professor, the mother a witty and elegant lady, someone everyone loved. They were parents to three bright, smiling children: two boys and a girl. They lived on a sunny street in a small college town nestled neatly in a leafy valley. They gave parties, hosted picnics, went to church—just like their neighbors. To all appearances, their life seemed ideal. But it was, in fact, all appearances.

Lineage, tradition, making the right impression—these were matters of great importance, especially to the mother. But behind the facade this family had created lurked secrets so dark, so painful for this one little boy, that his life would never be the same.

It is through the eyes of that boy—a grown man now, revisiting that time—that we see this seemingly serene world and watch as it slowly comes completely and irrevocably undone.

Beautifully written, often humorous, sometimes sweet, ultimately shocking, this is a son's story of looking back with both love and anger at the parents who gave him life and then robbed him of it, who created his world and then destroyed it.

As author Lee Smith, who knew this world and this family, observed, "Alcohol may be the real villain in this pain-permeated, exquisitely written memoir of childhood—but it is also filled with absolutely dead-on social commentary of this very particular time and place. A brave, haunting, riveting book."]]> 2007 0 0 false Mon Aug 17 19:12:18 -0700 2009 Mon Aug 17 19:15:10 -0700 2009 10131251 301791 476400 1565124812 9781565124813 49 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1175087232m/476400.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1175087232s/476400.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/476400.The_End_of_the_World_as_We_Know_It_Scenes_from_a_Life 3.28 177
For one little boy, however, life had become anything but "normal."

To all appearances, he and his family lived an almost idyllic life. The father was a respected professor, the mother a witty and elegant lady, someone everyone loved. They were parents to three bright, smiling children: two boys and a girl. They lived on a sunny street in a small college town nestled neatly in a leafy valley. They gave parties, hosted picnics, went to church—just like their neighbors. To all appearances, their life seemed ideal. But it was, in fact, all appearances.

Lineage, tradition, making the right impression—these were matters of great importance, especially to the mother. But behind the facade this family had created lurked secrets so dark, so painful for this one little boy, that his life would never be the same.

It is through the eyes of that boy—a grown man now, revisiting that time—that we see this seemingly serene world and watch as it slowly comes completely and irrevocably undone.

Beautifully written, often humorous, sometimes sweet, ultimately shocking, this is a son's story of looking back with both love and anger at the parents who gave him life and then robbed him of it, who created his world and then destroyed it.

As author Lee Smith, who knew this world and this family, observed, "Alcohol may be the real villain in this pain-permeated, exquisitely written memoir of childhood—but it is also filled with absolutely dead-on social commentary of this very particular time and place. A brave, haunting, riveting book."]]> 2007 3 0 false Sat Dec 01 00:00:00 -0800 2007 Sat Dec 08 06:38:29 -0800 2007 Sat Feb 02 23:00:25 -0800 2008 more...]]> 57184668 815920 476400 1565124812 9781565124813 49 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1175087232m/476400.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1175087232s/476400.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/476400.The_End_of_the_World_as_We_Know_It_Scenes_from_a_Life 3.28 177
For one little boy, however, life had become anything but "normal."

To all appearances, he and his family lived an almost idyllic life. The father was a respected professor, the mother a witty and elegant lady, someone everyone loved. They were parents to three bright, smiling children: two boys and a girl. They lived on a sunny street in a small college town nestled neatly in a leafy valley. They gave parties, hosted picnics, went to church—just like their neighbors. To all appearances, their life seemed ideal. But it was, in fact, all appearances.

Lineage, tradition, making the right impression—these were matters of great importance, especially to the mother. But behind the facade this family had created lurked secrets so dark, so painful for this one little boy, that his life would never be the same.

It is through the eyes of that boy—a grown man now, revisiting that time—that we see this seemingly serene world and watch as it slowly comes completely and irrevocably undone.

Beautifully written, often humorous, sometimes sweet, ultimately shocking, this is a son's story of looking back with both love and anger at the parents who gave him life and then robbed him of it, who created his world and then destroyed it.

As author Lee Smith, who knew this world and this family, observed, "Alcohol may be the real villain in this pain-permeated, exquisitely written memoir of childhood—but it is also filled with absolutely dead-on social commentary of this very particular time and place. A brave, haunting, riveting book."]]> 2007 4 0 false Tue May 19 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Sun May 24 16:07:02 -0700 2009 Sun May 24 16:11:57 -0700 2009 8 http://www.goodreads.com/book_link/follow/8?book_id=476400