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Townie

Andre Dubus III

Start date: June 1, 2011

Finish date: July 31, 2011

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What Members Thought

Jan 30, 2011 Karen rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, best-of-the-best

This book was simply amazing. Maybe I liked it so much because I grew up in the 60's and 70's in Massachusetts near an old mill town similiar to Haverhill. Maybe because I loved The House of Sand and Fog & The Garden of Last Days. Not sure but it was a gripping read. I don't usually read Memoirs with the exception of Life by Keith Richards, but I was hooked from page one in Townie. What a tough life Andre had as a boy growing up. The fact that he became a wonderful author is truly amazing! I hig ...more

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Mar 21, 2011 Diane Prokop rated it it was amazing

Why does one person rise above the mess of life, when so many others don’t? That’s a question I kept asking myself as I read “Townie” the memoir by Andre Dubus III. “Townie” is a gritty, violent, visceral lament of the life Dubus endured while growing up in some of the most depressed areas of Massachusetts. Surrounded by drugs, guns and pathos, Dubus grew up deeply immersed in a lifestyle that brought down many of those around him.
Abandoned by his father, Dubus and his three siblings were rai Why does one person rise above the mess of life, when so many others don’t? That’s a question I kept asking myself as I read “Townie” the memoir by Andre Dubus III. “Townie” is a gritty, violent, visceral lament of the life Dubus endured while growing up in some of the most depressed areas of Massachusetts. Surrounded by drugs, guns and pathos, Dubus grew up deeply immersed in a lifestyle that brought down many of those around him.
Abandoned by his father, Dubus and his three siblings were raised by his hardworking and exhausted mother. Small, afraid, and bullied, Dubus felt disgusted for not being able to protect himself and his family from the many dangers lurking in their dark world. One day when he was 13, he watched helplessly as his brother Jeb was beaten. His reaction was to build himself up beginning with pushups ,situps and and then weights. He proceeded to transcend his predicament by sculpting his body into a fighting machine - eventually even becoming a boxer with a boxer’s killer instinct.
Meanwhile across town, his father, the famous writer Andre Dubus, taught college and surrounded himself with academia, second and third wives and more children. To young Dubus, it seemed like a totally different universe. His father showed up once a week to take them out for dinner oblivious to the world of pain that his children inhabited. One time, he picked up young Dubus to go running with him. He had no athletic shoes and so ended up running in his sister’s that were two sizes too small. Rather than tell his father that his feet hurt, he ran miles in agony and pain. Later, when he was finally able to pull off the shoes, he found his feet raw, swollen and bleeding but to him it was worth it.
But somehow Dubus could sense a different world where violence might not be the answer. He went to college, made new friends not involved with the dark side, and worked hard to understand his true nature. Over time, Dubus eventually discovered writing as a way to channel his anger and pent-up rage. After completing a short story he says, “I felt more like me than I ever had, as if the years I’d lived so far had formed layers of skin and muscle over myself that others saw as me when the real one had been underneath all along, and writing -- even writing badly -- had peeled away those layers, and I knew then that if I wanted to stay this awake and alive, if I wanted to stay me, I would have to keep writing.”
I loved “Townie” so much I had to wait a week before I thought I could write a review that was more than just a gut reaction, but it turns out a week wasn’t long enough. It grabbed me! I can’t remember the last time a book made me cry but this one had me choking back tears. His vulnerability, muscular prose and storytelling skills will make this an American classic. I cheered as Dubus gained traction on a better life. His rise from anguish to his eventual redemption will have you standing up and rooting for him, too. ...more

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Apr 06, 2011 Bookmarks Magazine rated it really liked it

Shelves: may-june-2011

Critics felt that Dubus mainly lands his punches in this story of finding oneself in art instead of violence. As several reviewers noted, he focuses on the aspects of the time and place in which he grew up that are most relevant for his spiritual development, rather than telling a clichéd story of a tough, poor childhood. Some critics were a little bored by the pugilistic middle part of the book; others felt that it became a little too sentimental near the end. But overall they found themselves ...more

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Sep 28, 2011 Betsy rated it liked it

Shelves: memoir, american-authors, on-audio, 2011

I'd probably give this 3.5 stars if that were an option. This is a good solid memoir about growing up in a rough part of town while at the same time being the son of a famous author. Dubus writes convincingly about trying to manage the anger and aggression inside of him and the sometimes difficult journey to becoming an author. There were some things that I found implausible (is it really possible to grow up outside of Boston and not know who the Red Sox are?) and others that were just downright ...more

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Oct 12, 2013 Chanda2426 rated it really liked it

This was an unexpected honest, imagery-rich memoir of a life lived on the brink. I loved the relationships Dubus bridged between his life and place and also the relationships between him and his father. At times, it seemed to drag a bit, but overall WOW! what an amazingly raw story of growing up in a time and place where fists speak louder than words and the coming-of-age lesson that words are more powerful than violence.

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Jul 21, 2011 Judy rated it it was amazing

Shelves: non-fiction

Excellent auto-biography. It left me thinking a lot about how society can help improve the lives of children who are raised in difficult circumstances or if, indeed, society can help.

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May 06, 2011 Lisa Roberts rated it really liked it

Shelves: audio

a great book to listen to. I loved "The House of Sand and Fog" and that made this memoir even more interesting. I want more of Andres Dubus III. ...more

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Mar 15, 2011 jenna Hudrlik rated it it was ok

Shelves: 2011-for-me

i know this was a good book but it just wasnt my kind of book. i probably shouldnt even rate it but since i read it i feel that i should.

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Oct 12, 2015 Katie Bruell rated it liked it

Shelves: dead-letter-office, mfg

I really tried to like this. I got halfway through, so through all the menacing and violence and stress. But now that it seems to be moving into the "writing saved my life" part, I just can't make myself read anymore. ...more

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