It’s hard for me to have the objectivity to evaluate this book because I know the areas Edward Hirsch writes about and they are folded into many of my early childhood memories, some of them resurfacing later in life. I was greatly moved but wonder if others not having had the Niles (IL) Township anointment would have a similar reaction. Still it would be hard for anyone not to appreciate, the dark humor, craft and pathos of Hirsch’s descriptions of his dysfunctional family: his dodgy, erratic, charming, gambling father and his string of girlfriends, his even more erratic, overbearing, at times horrifying, but hilarious mother as well as his steadfast younger sister riding out the family tornados with him. Hirsch takes us from his birth to his high school graduation and brings in everyone and everything to his memory vision. This includes his even younger half-sister, grandparents, stepfather, best friends, a raft of aunts and uncles, coaches, teachers, and neighbors, stores, restaurants, parks, streets, and generous splashes of history spun out in a hybrid prose/poetry form. And there are so many punchlines, good ones, along with mundane moments layered on each other to create a chaotic, disturbing, rich and indelible life. Recommended even for those outside the township limits.

As a longtime admirer of Edward Hirsch—Gabriel: A Poem is my favorite poem ever—I knew this memoir would resonate with me, and it did. Hirsch captures the mundane and the life-changing with humor and sensitivity. I love how Hirsch can write one or two nuanced sentences and completely introduce you to a character. The book’s structure is unique, composed of fragmented memories and reflections rather than a traditional narrative. I appreciated this approach, as it mirrors the way we often recall childhood which can be disjointed.

That said, I’d hesitate to recommend this book without warning the potential reader that Hirsch is a poet. Readers unfamiliar with his work should expect him playing with structure and punctuation. Still, for those willing to embrace the style, My Childhood in Pieces is a deeply affecting read.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review!

This is one of those memoirs that tells the author's life story in short memories, one after another. Usually, I am not a fan of such memoirs. One reason being I see them as a too easy way of writing, even a lazy way of writing. Another reason is because they are often "free association" type books, which I often find irritating. The bottom line is, though, did the memoir successfully paint a good portrait of the author's life? Yes, this one did. Moreover, it's not really "free association", but narration broken up into smaller pieces. Since Edward Hirsch is a poet, one can expect a freer type of narration.

What do we learn about the author's life? We learn all about his childhood up until he leaves for college. His feelings about the day he left were moving. Short but still moving. He was moving on with his life past all the days and nights in a Jewish family in Chicago, where he was very close to his sister Lenie. Born in 1950, Mr. Hirsch grew up in two of the most exciting decades and had all sorts of stories to tell about those years. Some stories were funny, but I am not sure I fully understand his subtitle "A Stand-Up Comedy". Besides his parents and two sisters, there were lots of extended relatives, friends and neighbors, too, which sometimes got confusing who was who. Not too confusing, mind you, but still confusing enough that I wasn't sure at all times who he was talking about.

Whenever I read a book about a poet, I go online and search for some of their poetry. Much of the time I don't like the poems I read. For example, Sylvia Plath's life was interesting and I have read quite a bit about her, but I can't stand her poetry. Edward Hirsch was fortunately no Sylvia Plath. I liked the poems I read and even understood most of them. Also, reading Mr. Hirsch's memoir and poems has made me think I need to write more poetry. Or maybe I'll start a memoir that consists of one short memory after another . . . .