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Wild Blueberries
By Peter Damm

As a child, I spent countless weekends in the Virginia countryside with my grandparents. Life there was a serene contrast to the bustling city existence I knew—quieter, sweeter, and far more leisurely. I cherished the moments spent fishing with my grandfather at Zehmer Pond and visiting the cows during milking time at my great-uncle's dairy farm. Now, looking back, I see those experiences through the lens of adulthood, my youthful perspective deepened and refined by the passage of time.

This reminiscence echoes the work of Peter Damm in his collection of childhood vignettes. His writing is artfully crafted, resonating with genuine sincerity as he shares personal narratives from his upbringing in Michigan. Damm’s reflections on growing up in a rural small town not only capture the essence of his formative years but also vividly illustrate a very different time in American history. His storytelling, rich and varied, is infused with warmth, wry humor, and a touch of nostalgia, as he fondly recalls the simple joys of childhood such as picking wild blueberries, hence the title.

Yet, this collection goes beyond mere snapshots of idyllic moments. Damm's family confronted the sobering challenges of depression, alcoholism, and loss, and he approaches these themes with honesty and grace. The beautifully woven tales resonate with sensory detail, intertwined by memories that dance between resilience and warmth.

Thanks are extended to O'Brien & Whitaker Publishing and NetGalley for the copy of Wild Blueberries.

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Such a beautifully-written, thoughtful memoir of Damm's early life in beautiful rural Michigan. The scope is small and simple, but the small-town eccentricities and accidental life lessons make it inescapably charming.

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I really enjoyed reading this book. Each essay recounts his Catholic Midwest childhood in rural Michigan. The author does a wonderful job with setting and place of time. The writing is very good and the stories really pull you in. Enjoy this wonderful look back.

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A quick, witty read for memoir-lovers like myself. The author focuses each chapter on a situation from different parts of his life span.

There were a few chapters that stood out like “Animal Crackers,” “Hell,” and “Nightmares” to name a few. I’d definitely recommend this book for others looking for something refreshing and not the typical memoir!

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I love a good memoir and Peter Damm delivers with his coming of age story, set in rural Michigan during the 1950s and 60s. Readers will laugh, blush and cheer Peter off as we watch him experience the joys and pains of boyhood -- from picking blueberries and going fishing to dealing with alcoholism and loss.

The writing is gorgeous, simple and smart. I only wish I had half as good of a memory as Peter has (and I’m 20 years his junior)! It’s easy to visually experience his childhood as if I was his imaginary friend, following him along on his adventures.

My thanks to O'Brien & Whitaker, via NetGalley, for the electronic copy of this book to read and review.

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Damm gives a damn, and has ever so kindly provided us with his memoirs of growing up in the USA in a very nostalgic time.

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This book is like the refreshing palette cleanse of a light, fruity sorbet after a rich, dense and heavy meal. I enjoy all autobiographies, whether by the rich and famous, or the regular, average everyday Joe/Jane. I somewhat prefer the "average", as I am not, and never will be, rich and famous and I find there is a lot that can be learned from the "average" person. It is a great way to learn about the past, present and culture of an area, from the words of someone who lived it.

This book had a lot of humor in it, mostly from his stories of when he was a young boy. The bit about the nuns and children was funny, but also made sense from a child's POV. I admit to sharing that portion out loud with a friend. "Hey, you have to hear this!"

What I DIDN'T appreciate NEARLY as much, which is what made this drop a star to four, was the bit on masturbation. Yes, I know it is a normal thing, BUT I am not a guy, so can't really relate to what he described and it is kind of squicky for me to read about the sexual explorations of a 10-12 year old boy. That is a personal preference of mine, so that part might not be an issue for other readers.

I also found it interesting that while he went into his memories of self-pleasure, but he mentioned his wife once in passing and that was it. Just once, no mention of children or not. The book also ended after a pivotal moment in his life and doesn't discuss his work life at all.

All in all, I really enjoyed this book and want more. He has an easy writing style and is funny and very thoughtful and deep. The ending with his father was especially poignant. I recommend this book, especially for those who like autobiographies/memoirs. Great read, just wish there was more! I'm a tad on the greedy side when reading something I enjoy.

4, I wish this book had been longer and I wonder what his siblings recall of their shared childhood together, stars.

My thanks to NetGalley and O'Brien & Whitaker/Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.

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