Townie
A Memoir
Format:Paperback
Publisher:WW Norton & Co
Published:17th Apr '12
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In this poignant memoir, Andre Dubus III reflects on his challenging upbringing in a troubled Massachusetts town, exploring themes of violence, tenderness, and the complex relationship with his father. Townie illustrates his journey toward empathy and understanding.
In "Townie," Andre Dubus III offers a poignant memoir that explores his upbringing in a troubled Massachusetts mill town following his parents' divorce in the 1970s. Growing up with his mother and three siblings, Dubus paints a vivid picture of a community grappling with the challenges of drugs, violence, and economic decline. His narrative is marked by a lack of self-pity, instead focusing on the complexities of his experiences and the relationships that shaped him.
The memoir contrasts the harsh realities of life in the town with the more privileged existence of his father, an esteemed author who taught at a nearby college. Dubus reflects on the stark divide between the rough-and-tumble lifestyle of the local "townies" and the intellectual pursuits of the college students. This duality creates a backdrop for Dubus’s internal struggles, as he navigates the expectations of his family and the societal pressures around him.
Ultimately, "Townie" is not just a story of survival; it is also a journey toward understanding and empathy. Dubus reveals how he managed to break free from the cycle of violence that surrounded him by embracing the power of storytelling. Through his writing, he seeks to bridge the emotional gap between himself and his father, illustrating the transformative nature of narrative as a means of connection and healing. This memoir resonates with anyone who has faced adversity and sought to find their voice amidst chaos.
"Townie is a better, harder book than anything [Dubus III] has yet written; it pays off on every bet that’s been placed on him." -- Dwight Garner - New York Times
"Harrowing and strange and beautiful…This book marks an important moment in the growing body of Dubus’s work." -- Bret Lott - Boston Globe
"As a memoir, and as a family story, Townie is beautiful and almost perfectly executed. As a meditation on violence, from an author who once embraced it, it is shocking, necessary and indispensable." -- Michael Schaub - NPR
"This haunting memoir is as explosive as a Muhammad Ali prize fight, as vivid as a Basquiat canvas…This wrenching story can only strengthen the reputation of Andre Dubus III. From father to son, the torch has passed." -- Dan Cryer - San Francisco Chronicle
"A stormy and courageous memoir." -- Kate Bittman - The New Yorker
"[Dubus III] is such a solid writer, he redeems the genre. He shows that truth can be as honest as fiction." -- Mark Lindquist - Seattle Times
"Dubus has an eye for searing detail that is unequaled so far this century…and he employs that here to maximum effect." -- Joy Tipping - Dallas Morning News
"The best first-person account of an author’s life I have ever read. The violence that is described is the kind that is with us every day, whether we recognize it or not. The characters are wonderful and compassionately drawn. I sincerely believe Andre Dubus may be the best writer in America. His talent is enormous. No one who reads this book will ever forget it." -- James Lee Burke
"Whatever it cost Dubus to bare his soul and write this brutally honest and life-affirming memoir, it is an extraordinary gift to his readers." -- Wally Lamb
"I’ve never read a better or more serious meditation on violence, its sources, consequences, and, especially, its terrifying pleasures, than Townie. It’s a brutal and, yes, thrilling memoir that sheds real light on the creative process of two of our best writers, Andre Dubus III and his famous, much revered father. You’ll never read the work of either man in quite the same way afterward. You may not view the world in quite the same way either." -- Richard Russo
ISBN: 9780393340679
Dimensions: 211mm x 140mm x 28mm
Weight: 402g
400 pages