Salzman, Mark - Lost in Place: Growing Up Absurd in Suburbia

[oyceter]

Salzman recounts his childhood and adolescence in suburban Connecticut, including his aspirations to become a black belt in kung fu, a concert cellist, and assorted other high-flown ambitions. His burgeoning interest in kung fu is the most amusing part of this memoir, from his beginnings in eggplant-colored pajamas and a fake bald head (a substitute for a real gi and a shaved head) to his abusive and rather insane sensei.

I particularly like Salzman's voice; he somehow manages to convey his childhood enthusiasms quite clearly while also being able to laugh at himself and to gently poke fun at his own absurdities.

I got a little more swamped down later in the book, especially when the focus shifted from kung fu to other things; I think it was hard reading about his life not working out, even if it was told with humor. Also, I feel a bit bad, but I kept getting irritated at Salzman in the book for doing silly things and messing stuff up. I'm not quite sure what it is, but I suppose I felt like I didn't quite get his existential angst at one point.

Hrm. I seem to keep having this problem with memoirs or something, and I always feel like I'm being rather unfair, because it is in the end the story of someone's life, not fiction. And I'm too tired right now to formulate some giant theory of memoirs or the like, but it would be interesting... Obviously, I haven't read many ;).

Comments

[livinglaurel.livejournal.com]

I have this book! haven't read it yet tho.

[oyceter]

Oh cool! I know, I got it at a library bag sale and it sat on my shelf for a good half year or so. I figure, I'll get through them all someday! Plus, it's rather comforting knowing that if I'm somehow magically snowed in in sunny California, I'll have enough unread books to tide me through a year or so ;).