The Autumn Balloon

by Kenny Porpora

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
Every autumn, Kenny Porpora would watch his heartbroken mother scribble messages on balloons and release them into the sky above Long Island, one for each family member they'd lost to addiction. As the number of balloons grew, his mother fell deeper into alcoholism, drinking away her sorrows every night in front of the television, where her love of Regis Philbin provided a respite from the sadness around her.

When their house was foreclosed upon, Kenny's mother absconded with him and his beloved dog and fled for the Arizona desert, joining her heroin-addicted brother on a quixotic search for a better life. What followed was an outlaw adolescence spent in constant upheaval surrounded by bizarre characters and drug-addicted souls.

In the wake of unspeakable loss, Kenny convinced a college to take a chance on him, and turned to the mentors, writers, and poets he found to rebuild the family he lost, and eventually graduated from the Ivy League with a new life.

Porpora's memoir is the story of a deeply dysfunctional but loving family, and follows his life from the chaos of his youth to his triumphs in the Ivy League. At times darkly comic, at times elegiac, The Autumn Balloon is a beautifully written testament to the irreplaceable bonds of family, even under the most trying circumstances, and one that marks the debut of an exciting new writer.

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction, Addiction, Biography Memoir, Biography, Book Club, Coming Of Age

304 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 1, 2015

Reviews

[Audrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great memoir. I think the genre could take some direction from Porpora. He adds a lot of dialogue, even into stories that take place when he is very young. It was odd at first but it made the story feel more genuine, like it was taking place in real time, and wasn't some hashed collection of memories based on photo albums. The author grows up in poverty in a custody battle between his alcoholic mom and his father, an elderly vet. However, the story is far from melodramatic. The author shows nothing but acceptance and love for his family and for nearly everyone he meets. This book will probably draw comparison to "The Glass Castle," but "Autumn Balloon" is significantly better. He doesn't portray either parent as a martyr. They're both human beings with flaws who are doing the best they can. Highly recommend this book!

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rarely will I ever recommend a book or say a book was truly powerful enough that I think my friends across the spectrum might enjoy it. Books are personal. What I choose & you choose to read is personal. Book tastes are more different than the style of clothes you like to wear one day to the next.
This book is different. It's a personal memoir, but it reads like a best selling fiction novel and then gives you more.
It's a novel that touched my soul & is one for the generation of us Y2K'ers. It's the story of a friend we probably know in some capacity- you will likely find yourself associating with some peripheral, un-named character at some point & thinking you may even remember someone like our author here.
But this book goes way deeper than scratching the surface of some interesting- yet cloaked in the unknown- understanding of someone you knew growing up.
This beautifully written book makes you laugh, makes you cry, makes you want to go hug your brother, your mom, your best friend, your childhood pet...and then commit to put on your big kid undies and make life even better than it already may be.
And for something so personal & powerful to be delivered in such an entertaining manner...well, that's a book I can stand behind!

[david · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am, typically, not a reader of bestsellers. I bought this book because it was cheap and it garnered some Amazon stars. That said, I finished the book in two sittings, crying throughout most of it.

This author is not of the caliber of some of the many authors I have read, such as Tolstoy, Dickens, etc. However, there was a brave awareness in his memoir. And he was not one to point fingers at others for his personal tumult.

And all that combined, I respect.

[Macey (Austin) Castro · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think it's kind of judgmental to rate a memoir because it's the story of someone's life but this story is very insightful and has a happy ending! Warning: there are TONS of cuss words

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full Disclosure: I was chosen a first reads winner, and received a beautiful hardbound copy of The Autumn Balloon in the mail. That in no way affected the review that follows.

Kenny Porpora's first book, his memoir The Autumn Balloon, is such a moving story -- in fact, often heart-breaking -- in which his loving but very dysfunctional family tries to eke out an existence despite death, addiction, divorce, and other difficulties. Kenny himself has a special talent for writing, and that's evident in the memoir in terms of his descriptions of characters (including his wonderful little dog, Wozels) and relationships, as well as his very realistic dialogue writing.

Several other reviewers commented on the difficulty of reading sad and difficult memoirs and speculated as to why this one is different. For me, it is the prologue that makes the difference: the reader learns from the very beginning that Kenny is going to emerge OK on the other side of the tale. That knowledge alone kept me reading through all of the trials he faced in this true story.

A really good first book; I hope he continues to write and wish him continued success! I was very grateful for the opportunity to read this book.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having lived most of my life on Long Island, and visiting Arizona many times... the setting of this book produced a familiarity that made me feel that I "knew" Kenny Porpora in a way that I have never felt belt before about an author... I was a teacher for many years in Amityville (one of the places mentioned often) and it again felt like Kenny's life and persona held a special place for me... To me this memoir was all the more amazing in that it was his first book... I am not a writer and I have no idea how he decided what things to tell and what things not to tell... I was so rooting for him to "make it".. and to be happy... perhaps they are one and the same. It is a book I would like to reread... and he is a person I would love to meet... his heart shines through. It is rare to read of so much loss and still feel uplifted. I have no idea why, but I also read every word of his acknowledgments (not something I usually, if ever do).. and I plan to look up his newspaper work. This is a book, whose content and feeling will stay with me... Bravo...

[Elyse · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I am 100% positive that I want to be friends with Kenny Porpora. He's just so likeable. But I can't quite figure out if I actually liked this book. Part One takes up a 2/3rds of the book and details Kenny's childhood, with a focus on the selfish aspect of addiction and how addicts struggle to balance their love of drugs with their familial love. Although Kenny has a truly tragic childhood, his writing in Part One was so journalistic that I oddly didn't feel affected by his very disturbing stories. I had almost given up on the book, but then I LOVED Part Two, which is an inspiring montage of how he took control of his life and dedicated himself to becoming a journalist. Once I read Part Two, I started to think that maybe Kenny had intentionally written Part One in a detached voice because he truly feels disassociated from his childhood, as he had so little control of his world at that time. I wish Part One had been shorter and that Part Two had been longer. Personally, I would have preferred to hear less about the well-meaning but self-centered family members who made his childhood so deeply unsettling, and more about his life now and all of his very impressive accomplishments. I do hope he writes more, because I'd love to see what he'll do in the future.

[Nicole Rollins · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can't say I loved or hated this book. I was always waiting for the climax. I would think, okay, this is a lot like The Glass Castle and With or Without You. I'm enjoying the story (kind of), but I'm not surprised. Maybe I'm a bit desensitized to this stuff. And I would read on, waiting to be surprised. It never happened. When he mentioned he was gay (about midway through), I thought: "Man, I hope that wasn't the climax. Who cares?"

It's an okay read. Maybe if you haven't read other memoirs about dysfunctional, drug-abusing families, this would be a great first read for you.

[Toby Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a stunning memoir. From the first page, Porpora pulled me in as he tells his story of growing up with addiction in a broken family. He does not fall into the usually traps of the genre and does not rely on being too emotional, but rather does what a memoir should do: tell the story as it happened. He relies on being straightforward in telling his experience and his use of dialogue is worthy of study. This novel begs to be read, and that is evident in the fact that I could not put it down. My only disappointment is that I read it to quickly as I was absorbed by Porpora's storytelling ability.

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tragedy at every turn of the page. Glad Kenny survived it.

[Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway for an honest review. Thank you!

I don't even know where to begin! I totally fell in love with this book. Kenny has a most dysfunctional family, but there is love under all of the craziness.

His mother is an alcoholic and his father is so much older, people think he is his grandfather. He has an older brother as well. And a sweet beloved little dog that he names Wolzels. The Regis and Kathy Lee show had the North Shore Animal League on one of their programs with the dog up for adoption. Kenny really wanted her and his mother got her for him. They live a long and happy life together.

Kenny and his brother Stephen get separated for a bit of time. Kenny with is mom and the dog and Stephen with his father.

His father ends up getting custody of both boys, even though they would rather live with their mother. The thing I don't understand is how in the world can you take the kids away from a mother that is an alcoholic and the dad takes them to live in the basement of some creeps, the man being a pedophile that hurts the little girl that lives there. They have a pig in the house and nasty filth everywhere. It takes their mom fighting and the boys finally saying they want to live with her for them to get back. I mean when the people come to investigate this stuff and the smell hits them at the door they don't think it's a place children shouldn't live! I feel bad and angry for children that the system don't help very well.

I don't want to give too much more away but this story is so wonderful and so sad. There are many times I'm cracking up over the things their mom says. They have a crazy dynamic that just works for them. Their mother loves them so much and cleans up a lot of times and gets on track.

The good thing is the boys both get to go to college and become and Kenny gets to become what he wants.

There is plenty of heartache, deaths, victories and a lot of love. It makes you see that not everything is perfect in the world but if you have people that love you and fight for you then you have all that you need.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A powerful memoir by Kenny Porpora sharing his life experiences as a child and becoming a young man living in a highly dysfunctional family filled with alcoholism, drugs, poverty, homelessness, no role models and little hope. Kenny and his brother are bounced in custody battles between their father and mother, both whom love the boys very much, but they are both so trapped in poverty and drugs they can barely hold life together. The boys live in New York, Arizona, Florida, Arizona and New York and often in extreme substandard living conditions. Aunts Kathy and Gina and uncle Carter die from drugs and alcohol. An unfathomable existence for two children. The only consistent security and love Kenny receives is from his dog Wozel. He has no friends but while living in Arizona a boy, Brian, takes him into the adolescent crowd.
Kenny finds solice in books and becomes intrigued with writing. He ultimately gets his GED and completes college at Hofstra. Through his determination and grit he gets an interview with Roger Ebert. Ebert shares with Kenny that he always wished he'd gone to graduate school and tells Kenny Columbia is a great school. Kenny graduates with a four-point-oh from Hofstra, is accepted and completes the graduate program at Columbia, writes for the NYT and moves to San Francisco.
At times the book is heartbreaking to think about how Kenny and his brother lived as children. Kenny's story is remarkable to see how his perseverance, some luck and a couple people encouraging him pushed him beyond the destructive patterns of everyone on both sides of his family.
The lives of Kenny and his mother and father were like "The Myth of Sisyphus" by Camus. "It's about a guy who's been punished to a lifetime of futile labor," I tell her. "He has to push a boulder up a hill, and when he gets to the top it just rolls back down again, and he has to start all over." This was always the situation with Kenny's parents.

"He interrupts. "You feel like you're constantly shoveling shit against the tide." "Yeah." I say. "I'm always so worried," I say. "It's like I'm always waiting for a piano to fall out of the sky." My father laughs. "Kiddo, this is life. Bad things happen." He puts his hand on my shoulder. "And good things will happen too."
"For Camus, death isn't the answer, but neither is hope." He looks down at his notebook and reads from it verbatim: "He says, 'The hero of ordinary life is the person who resolutely shoulders the responsibilities that life imposes.'"
"I've spent so many years hardening my heart against addictions, so many years making fists, that I had forgotten all about the child who lives behind those dead eyes, and in those small moments when I let myself remember, when those familiar voices whisper, I am brought back to a different time, before I even knew what a monster was, and I am sad to accept that somebody who once was so kind to me, who took the time to make me feel a little bit less alone, could not find that same kindness for himself. I look into the mirror, and I'm not sure how I wound up the lucky one, but I'm happy to be alive today."
"Sometimes I think, Was she thinking about me when she was drinking? Did any of them ever think about me when they were putting straws in their noses and needles in their arms? Did they think about me once?"

[Frederick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This memoir is vivid, clear and to the point.
It is the memoir of a survivor. Kenny Porpora grew up in Bay Shore, Long Island and in Arizona, tossed between his volatile parents. For all the madness he saw in the various adults around him, he held enough hope to reach out to a few mentors who ultimately guided him through college, graduate school and his career as a journalist. Emailing successful people yielded one answer at least. The film critic Roger Ebert, who most readers will remember for his intelligence and warmth, gave Kenny Porpora a moral boost.
Someone whose name many readers will have heard but may not place is Katie Beers. When he was ten or so, the author lived downstairs from her just before her abduction. She was kept chained in the house of a neighbor for seventeen days. This throws everything in the book into sharp relief. This was the world outside the author's door.
Beers has written a memoir as well. Stories of survival come at great cost.
What makes THE AUTUMN BALLOON different from many memoirs is its tone. While it is a story with a beginning, a middle and an end, it is made up of vignettes, dispassionately told. There is the father doing stand-up at nursing homes. Here is the author's mother putting ornaments on the tree, with names of the dead painted on them. Here are Kenny and his older brother, confronted by bullies their own age, suffering ignominious defeat. (Actually only Kenny suffers it, making this a funny-sad incident.)
There is no boasting of destructive indulgences here. Kenny avoids the trap of drugs and alcohol which destroys the lives of so many around him. The one moment of indulgence he describes teaches him caution. This self-restraint, I think, is a reason Kenny Porpora is able to write with such forgiveness.

[Margie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Although I applaud the author for his success through great adversity, and his obvious ability with written expression, I must give this book only one star.
I am an English major and English teacher, so I have both a long-time exposure to written profanity in lit and an acceptance for it if it is necessary to maintain the integrity of the story. The author's excessive use of obscene, uncouth, and majorly-offensive language ruined the book for me.
I am not saying he does not have the right to authenticate the story, but I think his use of profanity and name-calling is over-the-top and only degrades the goodness of his family members and friends. I don't say he should have censored the language completely, but it would have been great to see less of the uncouth side of his family and friend and more of a balance- for example,instead of trying at the end to convince the reader that his mother really did have a big, loving heart.
The only individual I felt was honestly and completely represented was his mentor at college, Elizabeth. She attempts to prepare Kenny for the reality of the world and tried to give him the truth of his situation.The rest seemed like exaggerated versions of themselves
I always impressed upon my high-school students the need for strong and clean language. Kenny had a choice to do so but instead chose to use an ugly vocabulary to excess. It's a shame.
I also Dee w a connection between this book and The Glass Castle, as well. I was impressed that neither writer ever sets blame on either of their parents and shows unconditional love toward them through it all and beyond.

[Karen R · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a memoir written by Kenny Porpora, the youngest son of a fractured and poor family, one that just can’t seem to catch a break. It chronicles his journey growing up in a dysfunctional but caring environment, one filled with severe addiction and painful loss. The novel is his therapy of sorts and I felt as if I was privy to a personal diary. At times it is a painful read as his life seemed bleak. I am not convinced of his recollection of the complete details of conversations, especially when he was very young, but that didn’t interfere with my satisfaction of the book. Through it all, his resilience and forgiveness are inspiring. The kindness of his mentors who believed in him made a monumental difference in his life. He develops strength and perseverance. Kenny is determined to rise above, convincing a college to take a chance on him. He studies hard, defies all odds and graduates from an Ivy League school. He is a survivor.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a wonderfully, heartfelt, loving story of heartache, addiction, and hope. I work at a peer support agency for people who are in recovery for mental illness and addictions, I would love to have this book be a part of one of our groups.
This story was so raw and honest. There are so many paths that a person can take and I am just thankful the author went on the journey he did, so he could share it with all of us. I would recommend this book to everyone, especially those of their recovery journey or peer supporters.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for allowing me to read this amazing story.

[Britney King]

Captivating. And beautifully told.

I'm not even sure I have the ability to write a review worthy enough to describe how stunning this book is. Brilliantly written—this story consumed me from the moment I picked it up. I couldn't put it down—I began and finished it within the same day. The authors story felt like my story, perhaps because it was so beautifully told—but so much so that at times I wondered whether we were living the same childhood, miles apart. All in all, a story of hardship, loss, and struggle—but more importantly, one of hope and triumph in the face of those things.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Autumn Balloon is a powerful memoir that I won't soon forget. Mr. Porpora's childhood was one that no child should ever have to experience. Filled with tragedy & loss, it broke my heart reading about what he and his family have endured. However, the unwavering love of his family, as well as his determination, strength and success as an adult have helped to mend it a bit. His story moved me & I sincerely wish him and his family the best.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a powerful memoir! Kenny Porpora's life was devastating in so many ways, and yet he tells his story with not a hint of bitterness or pity for himself. His prose makes you feel as though he is sitting beside you, talking to you. And yet, many passages will make you weep with emotion. What a testament his life is to his tenacity and strength of spirit. You will applaud this young man for the success he has made of a life filled with emotional obstacles!

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a poignant story. I could identify with some of the things Kenny has gone through in his life, and feeling like you are an adult long before you should due to circumstances out of your control. This is a memoir, a story of addictions, death, the impact it can have on you, and to persevere despite the odds you feel are stacked against you.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. I could not put it down.

[Lauri Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartbreaking, inspiring and beautiful debut!

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book. It made me laugh out loud a few times, and it made me cry a LOT.

[Rambling Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

impressive debut

[Stephanie Cohen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting...what a person can go through and still come out on top.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading memoirs like this gives you new perspective into counting your blessings.

[Trevor Pearson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Received a copy of The Autumn Balloon by Kenny Porpora through the GoodReads First Reads Giveaway program in exchange for an honest review

"There's a bottle of vodka standing upright on the table. And I stare at it too long. I step closer. I know that label. I know the seductive, womanly shape of the bottle, the same one my mother picks up from the bottom shelf at the grocery store. I've seen it in my closet on Easter morning. Under the sink. Hidden beneath garage tarps puddle with wet leaves and old rain. It stares back at me, grins at me with charming eyes, gestures for me to come closer. It knows me. It's seen more of my family die than I have. It's always been here."

Every year as Autumn approached performing her beautiful transformation of leaves to the frost firmly settling on the blades of grass, Kenny Porpora knew it was a matter of time before his mom would conduct her annual tradition; her very own Day of the Dead celebration in Long Island, New York. Mrs. Porpora would write personalized messages for the many of her friends and family that have come to meet there demise at the hands of their very own addiction. For every new death there was an added balloon, and as each period of grief was forced upon her, any progression she had made in her life was conceded, and succumbing to her own personal addiction would take her complete attention. The only way she knew how to deal with her pain was to drink and watch television while remembering the good old days before dark days fell upon them all.

Kenny and his older brother Steven were the proverbial pawns in their parents custody chess match that resulted in court supervised visits, various calls to child protective services, cross-country travels, sibling separation, and the coaching of children to lie to the people you're told to trust the most. Kenny hardened his heart dealing with all of the deaths and addictions that surrounded him, traversing through the world with dead eyes, unflinching and purposed. Throughout it all Kenny maintained his devotion to his parents because he needed them almost as much as they needed him.

"I look at her, and I can feel the warmth of the tears in the back of my head and I want to tell her I was the only one who didn't get invited to the coolest party of the year and that they made fun of my Wozels T-shirt and they tease me because of the gap in my teeth and because I talk with an accent and because I wear the cheap jeans from Kmart. I want to tell her that I'm tired of not having any friends, and I want to break into pieces. 'It's nothing,' I say. 'Just a lot of math homework.' "

A born mommy's boy, Kenneth withstood many verbal barrages and provocations knowing that everything would go back to normal in the morning, and sure enough it did, leaving television figures to be the subject of her abusive nature. Kenny dealt with grief his own way utilizing different methods at various stages in his life. As a child he used wrestling as a way to have an outlet for fun with his aggressive and condescending older brother. As a teenager, after finally finding a friend he could lean on for support, he maintained his sobriety at a time when it's so easy to give in to peer pressure. This allowed him to focus on his family and his beloved dog Wozels. As a young adult he found inspiration through an unlikely source who urged him to achieve something in his life that he never did but wish he had. He suddenly felt, with this turning point that involved a measly 15 minute interview, that a better life was truly attainable, there was just one big, giant obstacle firmly entrenched. Kenny spent the majority of his adult life trying to find his own way, but never fully committed to cutting the cord that bound himself to his alcohol-addled mother. It would take a strength and a determination for him to reach his dream; and what gave him an advantage was that his trade was mastering life using past losses and hope as his tools to achieve it.

"It's funny...when you're young you spend your life trying to convince yourself you're not like your parents. And then, every now and then, you'll do something a certain way, some mannerism, or you'll say something. When our car broke down upstate, I remember I hit the wheel and said, 'I'm not made of money!' And I caught myself and thought, Gee, Louie, you just sounded like Pop. When you're young and it happens, it drives you crazy. And then you live long enough, and it makes you smile a little.' He wipes a tear from his eyelashes with the back of his hand. 'That's a nice part of life,' he says."

Writing the stories of his life brought a sense of forgiveness for the addicts and criminals that he never allowed himself to feel as well as an understanding of their motivations as ill sought-after as they may have been. A book that showcases the vulnerability and the power that encapsulates that of being a human being; emphasizing the importance of accountability in moving forward and to forego doubt even when the chances for success are minute. Kenny was fearful of the passing on of failure from generation to generation as a progressive trait in the Porpora gene pool gaining strength to a point of becoming insurmountable. Relying on a multitude of get rich quick, or however long it takes schemes as a means for survival never seemed so ominous. Kenny fears that he is going to end up like his fallen family, because he realizes that at one point everyone laughs and smiles knowing that they have their future ahead of him, he is no different than anyone else.

"I look over at my uncle, and he smiles, gives me a thumbs up with his bandaged hand, and I wonder if he thought about me when he was punching through our window, rummaging through our house, stealing everything we had. I wonder if he knew how it would break his sister's heart. I imagine him at the pawn shop, trading everything he stole for a handful of crumpled twenties, then cropping up the powder it bought on the plate and snorting away my brother's baseball cards and the seven hundred dollars my mother had saved in the teddy bear shaped cookie jar on our kitchen counter and the TV and the wallet my father gave me."

The book is about how the way you respond to challenges will determine your future and to focus on the beauty of the uncertainty that tomorrow can bring. Once you accept that death is everyone's ultimate fate, you will finally find happiness in the struggle. A straightforward and honest recounting of a horrific childhood when coming home from school you expect to see cop cars in your driveway, or a seemingly ordinary day could involve a trusted family member pawning off your baseball cards to feed their own addiction. A reality where on one hand when staying with your mom, the various scents of a motel room are all to familiar, but it sure beats sleeping in a car. When staying with your dad, you are constantly reminded how your father looks more like a grandfather because he's in his seventies while you still count your age with 1/4's and 1/2's, the shoe polish hair dye and charm just isn't enough for convincing when the lines on your face are that of a cross section on a Yew tree's stump.

" 'Our parents died at least twice, the second time when we forgot their stories.' "

While reading this memoir I couldn't help but relate it to pretty much any one of Augusten Burroughs books given all of the dysfunctional elements and soiling of bedsteads, as well as Jeannette Walls The Glass Castle as it compares to constantly being on the move but also the missed opportunities in life for parents with many talents. Through all of his mother's misgivings, she did provide her children many experiences, memories, and opportunities that helped shaped them and become the men they're today. The Autumn Balloon is a solid read but fails to impress the person looking for the magnificent.

"She says the boy encounters a wise old turtle during his travels, and the turtle tells him, 'Remember then that there is only one important time, and that time is now. The most important one is always the one you are with. And the most important thing is to do good for the one who is standing by your side.' And the turtle says, 'This is why we're here.' "

[Amanda up North · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish I could remember who piqued my interest in this book, inspiring me to add it to my library requests. I'm guessing the connection was made in relation to the currently well-marketed and popular Educated (which left me dissatisfied).
If you read Educated, perhaps you owe it to yourself and to those who've lived through poverty, homelessness, violence, abuse, addiction, and/or utter instability as children - to also read a memoir like this one.
Kenny Porpora's Autumn Balloon joins a list of memoirs that stand out to me, including those from Jeanette Walls, Liz Murray, Sherman Alexie, Antwone Fisher, and Jarrett Krosoczka.
Some (much?) of the language and content is rough, raw, ugly.. but how could he sugarcoat or camouflage these details of his life? This was the language and content of his childhood. These were his experiences. He tells his story authentically, and - like most of the others I mentioned, what makes it work is that he writes with brutal honesty, but with grace and love, with self awareness and resilience. He writes from a good place in his heart, and by doing that, he is able to serve as an inspiration to others.
My favorite quote:
"The hero of ordinary life is the person who resolutely shoulders the responsibilities that life imposes." This is quoting Camus while discussing The Myth of Sisyphus.
I love what Kenny did in Part Two, using Sisyphus as a metaphor (so to speak) of his own life. He has dealt with adversity and loss his whole life, and yet he doesn't point fingers at others who let him down. He shoulders the weight, he makes better choices, he keeps pushing that rock up the hill no matter how many times it rolls back down. Nothing has come easily. Nothing is taken for granted. He isn't boastful about where he's made it to, nor is he bitter about where he came from. This, to me, is what sets good survival memoirs apart from the rest.

I feel that despite his young age, Kenny lived the life of a much older soul since early childhood. He is anything but naive about the world. He lived the hardships of multiple lifetimes, and wrote his story from a healthy summit. The ending felt a little rushed, but it was not lacking. A rare instance when I think it worked for a young person to write a memoir when he still has a lot of life ahead of him.

4.5 stars.

[Jeremy Lucas · Rating 4 out of 5]

People often talk about books going out of style, out of use, about paper and writing and novels becoming a thing of the past. But I always disagree. And this story, this memoir, The Autumn Balloon, is an example of why. Because someone always has something to say, something to tell, something they experienced and need to convey. Kenny Porpora wrote this account of his life as a cathartic attempt to understand where he’d been, but also who he was, and where he was, to find his way from a past that didn’t fully make sense to a present that made even less sense in his own eyes, how a poor, homeless kid from a trashed and violent childhood could ever become a reputable writer for anyone, let alone the New York Times. The author’s choice to write through dialogue was a creative one that offers plenty of liberty, plenty of room for mistakes and made up conversations long forgotten, but it genuinely works, enough to make me hurt when he wants us to feel his hurt, and laugh when he wants us to find the humor in it all.

[Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 because of his Roger Ebert story