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This Boy's Life: A Memoir

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This Boy's Life: A Memoir

by Tobias Wolff

About this title: Tobias Wolff's dark and eccentric memoir about growing up rebellious in the 1950s is a funny, heartbreaking portrait of a vulnerable boy trying desperately to keep things together as he and his skittish mother travel aimlessly around the US, avoiding the violent lover she left behind. Finally settling in the Pacific Northwest when she marries ... read more

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This Boy's Life: a Memoir used book

This Boy's Life: a Memoir

by Wolff, Tobias

price: $1.99

Ships from NV, USA Order this item today and it should be delivered to addresses in the continental United States and in Canada by Thursday, December 24. Eligible for Super Value Shipping

Binding: Trade Paperback Publisher: Harper Perennial Date Published: 1993 ISBN-13: 9780060972776 ISBN: 0060972777

Description: Very Good. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 304 p. read more

condition:

Book: Very Good

 

seller information:

Name: Alibris, NV, USA
Eligible for free shipping

Reliability: Best

This Boy's Life: a Memoir used book

This Boy's Life: a Memoir

by Wolff, Tobias

price: $1.99

Ships from NV, USA Order this item today and it should be delivered to addresses in the continental United States and in Canada by Thursday, December 24. Eligible for Super Value Shipping

Binding: Trade Paperback Publisher: Harper Perennial Date Published: 1989 ISBN-13: 9780060972776 ISBN: 0060972777

Description: Good. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 304 p. read more

condition:

Book: Good

 

seller information:

Name: Alibris, NV, USA
Eligible for free shipping

Reliability: Best

This Boy's Life: a Memoir used book

This Boy's Life: a Memoir

by Wolff, Tobias

price: $1.99

Ships from NV, USA Order this item today and it should be delivered to addresses in the continental United States and in Canada by Thursday, December 24. Eligible for Super Value Shipping

Binding: Trade Paperback Publisher: Harper Perennial Date Published: 1993 ISBN-13: 9780060972776 ISBN: 0060972777

Description: Good. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 304 p. read more

condition:

Book: Good

 

seller information:

Name: Alibris, NV, USA
Eligible for free shipping

Reliability: Best

This Boy's Life: a Memoir used book

This Boy's Life: a Memoir

by Wolff, Tobias

price: $1.99

Ships from NV, USA Order this item today and it should be delivered to addresses in the continental United States and in Canada by Thursday, December 24. Eligible for Super Value Shipping

Binding: Trade Paperback Publisher: Harper Perennial Date Published: 1993 ISBN-13: 9780060972776 ISBN: 0060972777

Description: Good. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 287 p. read more

condition:

Book: Good

 

seller information:

Name: Alibris, NV, USA
Eligible for free shipping

Reliability: Best

This Boy's Life: A Memoir used book

This Boy's Life: A Memoir

by Wolff, Tobias

price: $1.99

Ships from IA, USA Order this item today and choose Expedited shipping for addresses in the continental United States or Canadian shipping for addresses in Canada, and it should be delivered by Thursday, December 24.

Binding: Trade paperback Publisher: Harper Perennial Date Published: 1990 ISBN-13: 9780060972776 ISBN: 0060972777

Description: Very good. No dust jacket as issued. later printing, pages clean and unmarked, some yellowing, hinge tight. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. read more

condition:

Book: Very Good

 

seller information:

Name: WoodWorks Books, IA, USA

Reliability: Best

This Boy's Life: A Memoir used book

This Boy's Life: A Memoir

by Wolff, Tobias

price: $1.99

Ships from AZ, USA Order this item today and choose Expedited shipping for addresses in the continental United States or Canadian shipping for addresses in Canada, and it should be delivered by Thursday, December 24.

Binding: Trade paperback Publisher: Harper Perennial Date Published: 1993 ISBN-13: 9780060972776 ISBN: 0060972777

Description: Good. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 304 p. read more

condition:

Book: Good

 

seller information:

Name: SuperFlyBooks, AZ, USA

Reliability: Best

This Boy's Life: a Memoir used book

This Boy's Life: a Memoir

by Tobias Wolff

price: $1.99

Ships from WA, USA Order this item today and choose Expedited shipping for addresses in the continental United States or Canadian shipping for addresses in Canada, and it should be delivered by Thursday, December 24.

Binding: Softcover Publisher: Harper Perennial ISBN-13: 9780060972776 ISBN: 0060972777

Description: Good. Light shelf wear and minimal interior marks. Millions of satisfied customers and climbing. Thriftbooks is the name you can trust, guaranteed. Spend Less. Read More. read more

condition:

Book: Good

 

seller information:

Name: Green Earth Books, WA, USA

Reliability: Best

This Boy's Life: a Memoir used book

This Boy's Life: a Memoir

by Tobias Wolff

price: $1.99

Ships from WA, USA Order this item today and choose Expedited shipping for addresses in the continental United States or Canadian shipping for addresses in Canada, and it should be delivered by Thursday, December 24.

Binding: Softcover Publisher: Harper Perennial ISBN-13: 9780060972776 ISBN: 0060972777

Description: Fair. Millions of satisfied customers and climbing. Thriftbooks is the name you can trust, guaranteed. Spend Less. Read More. read more

condition:

Book: Fair

 

seller information:

Name: Green Earth Books, WA, USA

Reliability: Best

This Boy's Life: a Memoir used book

This Boy's Life: a Memoir

by Tobias Wolff

price: $1.99

Ships from WA, USA Order this item today and choose Expedited shipping for addresses in the continental United States or Canadian shipping for addresses in Canada, and it should be delivered by Thursday, December 24.

Binding: Softcover Publisher: Harper Perennial ISBN-13: 9780060972776 ISBN: 0060972777

Description: Fair. Millions of satisfied customers and climbing. Thriftbooks is the name you can trust, guaranteed. Spend Less. Read More. read more

condition:

Book: Fair

 

seller information:

Name: Green Earth Books, WA, USA

Reliability: Best

This Boy's Life: a Memoir used book

This Boy's Life: a Memoir

by Tobias Wolff

price: $1.99

Ships from WA, USA Order this item today and choose Expedited shipping for addresses in the continental United States or Canadian shipping for addresses in Canada, and it should be delivered by Thursday, December 24.

Binding: Softcover Publisher: Harper Perennial ISBN-13: 9780060972776 ISBN: 0060972777

Description: Good. Light shelf wear and minimal interior marks. Millions of satisfied customers and climbing. Thriftbooks is the name you can trust, guaranteed. Spend Less. Read More. read more

condition:

Book: Good

 

seller information:

Name: Green Earth Books, WA, USA

Reliability: Best

This Boy's Life: a Memoir used book

This Boy's Life: a Memoir

by Tobias Wolff

price: $1.99

Ships from WA, USA Order this item today and choose Expedited shipping for addresses in the continental United States or Canadian shipping for addresses in Canada, and it should be delivered by Thursday, December 24.

Binding: Softcover Publisher: Harper Perennial ISBN-13: 9780060972776 ISBN: 0060972777

Description: Fair. Millions of satisfied customers and climbing. Thriftbooks is the name you can trust, guaranteed. Spend Less. Read More. read more

condition:

Book: Fair

 

seller information:

Name: Green Earth Books, WA, USA

Reliability: Best

This Boy's Life: a Memoir used book

This Boy's Life: a Memoir

by Tobias Wolff

price: $1.99

Ships from FL, USA Order this item today and choose Expedited shipping for addresses in the continental United States or Canadian shipping for addresses in Canada, and it should be delivered by Thursday, December 24.

Binding: Softcover Publisher: Harper Perennial Date Published: 1989 ISBN-13: 9780060972776 ISBN: 0060972777

Description: A good reading copy only. May have underlining or highlighting throughout. -, Trade PaperBack, Good / read more

condition:

Book: Fair

 

seller information:

Name: Sea Shell Books, FL, USA

Reliability: Best

used book

This Boys Life

by Tobias Wolff

price: $1.99

Ships from CA, USA Order this item today and choose Expedited shipping for addresses in the continental United States or Canadian shipping for addresses in Canada, and it should be delivered by Thursday, December 24.

Binding: Hardcover Publisher: Atlantic Monthly Press Date Published: 1988 ISBN-13: 9780871132482 ISBN: 0871132486

Description: Acceptable in Acceptable jacket. * Former library book. * Clean text but binding separating from text on page 74-75. - read more

condition:

see description

 

seller information:

Name: BookBuyers Online1, CA, USA

Reliability: Best

This Boy's Life: a Memoir used book

This Boy's Life: a Memoir

by Tobias Wolff

price: $1.99

Ships from MD, USA Order this item today and choose Expedited shipping for addresses in the continental United States or Canadian shipping for addresses in Canada, and it should be delivered by Thursday, December 24.

Edition: 1st Perennial Library ed Publisher: Harper Perennial Date Published: 12/1/1989 ISBN-13: 9780060972776 ISBN: 0060972777

Description: Very good. read more

condition:

Book: Very Good

 

seller information:

Name: Ukazoo Books, MD, USA

Reliability: Best

This Boy's Life: a Memoir used book

This Boy's Life: a Memoir

by Tobias Wolff

price: $1.99

Ships from MD, USA Order this item today and choose Expedited shipping for addresses in the continental United States or Canadian shipping for addresses in Canada, and it should be delivered by Thursday, December 24.

Edition: 1st Perennial Library ed Publisher: Harper Perennial Date Published: 12/1/1989 ISBN-13: 9780060972776 ISBN: 0060972777

Description: Very good. read more

condition:

Book: Very Good

 

seller information:

Name: Ukazoo Books, MD, USA

Reliability: Best

This Boy's Life: a Memoir used book

This Boy's Life: a Memoir

by Tobias Wolff

price: $1.99

Ships from MD, USA Order this item today and choose Expedited shipping for addresses in the continental United States or Canadian shipping for addresses in Canada, and it should be delivered by Thursday, December 24.

Edition: 1st Perennial Library ed Publisher: Harper Perennial Date Published: 12/1/1989 ISBN-13: 9780060972776 ISBN: 0060972777

Description: Very good. read more

condition:

Book: Very Good

 

seller information:

Name: Ukazoo Books, MD, USA

Reliability: Best

This Boy's Life: a Memoir used book

This Boy's Life: a Memoir

by Tobias Wolff

price: $1.99

Ships from IN, USA Order this item today and choose Expedited shipping for addresses in the continental United States or Canadian shipping for addresses in Canada, and it should be delivered by Thursday, December 24.

ISBN-13: 9780060972776 ISBN: 0060972777

Description: Acceptable. Shows definite wear, and perhaps considerable marking on inside. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits world literacy! read more

condition:

see description

 

seller information:

Name: Better World Books, IN, USA

Reliability: Best

This Boy's Life: a Memoir used book

This Boy's Life: a Memoir

by Tobias Wolff

price: $1.99

Ships from IN, USA Order this item today and choose Expedited shipping for addresses in the continental United States or Canadian shipping for addresses in Canada, and it should be delivered by Thursday, December 24.

ISBN-13: 9780060972776 ISBN: 0060972777

Description: Good. Shows some signs of wear, and may have some markings on the inside. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits world literacy! read more

condition:

Book: Good

Available qty: 3

 

seller information:

Name: Better World Books, IN, USA

Reliability: Best

This Boy's Life: a Memoir used book

This Boy's Life: a Memoir

by Tobias Wolff

price: $1.99

Ships from IL, USA Order this item today and choose Expedited shipping for addresses in the continental United States or Canadian shipping for addresses in Canada, and it should be delivered by Thursday, December 24.

Binding: Paperback Publisher: Harper Perennial Date Published: 1989 ISBN-13: 9780060972776 ISBN: 0060972777

Description: Good. Good Condition for being read. ** Shop the most eco-conscious seller and keep the earth clean! ** read more

condition:

Book: Good

 

seller information:

Name: Red Carpet Books, Inc., IL, USA

Reliability: Best

This Boy's Life: a Memoir used book

This Boy's Life: a Memoir

by Tobias Wolff

price: $1.99

Ships from GA, USA Order this item today and choose Expedited shipping for addresses in the continental United States or Canadian shipping for addresses in Canada, and it should be delivered by Thursday, December 24.

Binding: Softcover Publisher: Harper Perennial ISBN-13: 9780060972776 ISBN: 0060972777

Description: Fair. A tradition of southern quality and service. All books guaranteed at the Atlanta Book Company. read more

condition:

Book: Fair

 

seller information:

Name: Atlanta Book Company, GA, USA

Reliability: Best

This Boy's Life: a Memoir used book

This Boy's Life: a Memoir

by Tobias Wolff

price: $1.99

Ships from GA, USA Order this item today and choose Expedited shipping for addresses in the continental United States or Canadian shipping for addresses in Canada, and it should be delivered by Thursday, December 24.

Binding: Softcover Publisher: Harper Perennial ISBN-13: 9780060972776 ISBN: 0060972777

Description: Good. Book shows minor use. Cover and Binding have minimal wear and the pages have only minimal creases. A tradition of southern quality and service. All books guaranteed at the Atlanta Book Company. read more

condition:

Book: Good

 

seller information:

Name: Atlanta Book Company, GA, USA

Reliability: Best

This Boy's Life: a Memoir used book

This Boy's Life: a Memoir

by Tobias Wolff

price: $1.99

Ships from GA, USA Order this item today and choose Expedited shipping for addresses in the continental United States or Canadian shipping for addresses in Canada, and it should be delivered by Thursday, December 24.

Binding: Softcover Publisher: Harper Perennial ISBN-13: 9780060972776 ISBN: 0060972777

Description: Good. Book shows minor use. Cover and Binding have minimal wear and the pages have only minimal creases. A tradition of southern quality and service. All books guaranteed at the Atlanta Book Company. read more

condition:

Book: Good

 

seller information:

Name: Atlanta Book Company, GA, USA

Reliability: Best

This Boy's Life: a Memoir used book

This Boy's Life: a Memoir

by Tobias Wolff

price: $1.99

Ships from GA, USA Order this item today and choose Expedited shipping for addresses in the continental United States or Canadian shipping for addresses in Canada, and it should be delivered by Thursday, December 24.

Binding: Softcover Publisher: Harper Perennial ISBN-13: 9780060972776 ISBN: 0060972777

Description: Good. Book shows minor use. Cover and Binding have minimal wear and the pages have only minimal creases. A tradition of southern quality and service. All books guaranteed at the Atlanta Book Company. read more

condition:

Book: Good

 

seller information:

Name: Atlanta Book Company, GA, USA

Reliability: Best

This Boy's Life a Memoir used book

This Boy's Life a Memoir

by Wolff, Tobias

price: $2.75

Ships from ND, USA Order this item today and choose Expedited shipping for addresses in the continental United States or Canadian shipping for addresses in Canada, and it should be delivered by Thursday, December 24.

Binding: Softcover Publisher: HarperPerennial ISBN-13: 9780060972776 ISBN: 0060972777

Description: [0-06-097277-7] 1992, later printing., later printing. (Trade paperback) Fair to good. Wuld be about fine but for a couple of deep pencil gashes on the front cover. Movie tie-in. (Biography) read more

condition:

Book: Fair

 

seller information:

Name: Pandora's Books Ltd., ND, USA

Reliability: Best

This Boy's Life: a Memoir used book

This Boy's Life: a Memoir

by Wolff, Tobias

price: $2.95

Ships from TX, USA Order this item today and choose Expedited shipping for addresses in the continental United States or Canadian shipping for addresses in Canada, and it should be delivered by Thursday, December 24.

Edition: 15th Printing Binding: Trade Paperback Publisher: Perennial Library, New York, New York, U.S.A. Date Published: 1989 ISBN-13: 9780060972776 ISBN: 0060972777

Description: Good. No Dust Jacket as Issued. 8vo-over 7¾"-9¾" tall. Book shows moderate wear/ spine tight, pages clean/ covers slightly creased; moderate edge wear/ corners creased/ several page tips creased. read more

condition:

Book: Good

 

seller information:

Name: Harvest Moon Farm Book Cellar, TX, USA

Reliability: Best


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goodreads rating 5 out of 5 5 out of 5
Nov 22, 2009
By Chris, Washington, DC

"Wow, I loved this one. I had been familiar with a few of Wolff's short stories (Bullet in the Brain is one of my all time favorites) but this is the first of his longer works that I had read. I felt it described the awkwardness, anxiety and tragic passivity of boyhood perfectly. I reltated to it on so many levels even though I grew up in a different place and time and had a completely different personality than the main character of the book.

It is a dark book, however. Which is something I might have expected from reading The Vintage Book of American Short Stories (which Wolff edited) cover to cover. I loved that collection as well, but the themes of those stories were quite dismal. This Boys Life is about the futility of the many things we strive for. Its about loneliness and the poverty of human relations. We connect so briefly with others in ways that leave us wanting more. The ending brings no redemption for the main character, though Wolff does intimate that their are some comforts brought by maturity and experience. Wolff writes,

"Knowing that everything comes to an end is a gift of experience, a consolation gift for knowing that we ourselves are coming to an end. Before we get it we live in a continuous present, and imagine the future as more of the present. Happiness is endless happiness, innocent of its own sure passing. Pain is endless pain."

So even these comforts of maturity come with the realization of much grimmer realities. But the books darkness doesn't come off as maudlin or sentimental. Rather it seems a bravely told truth, one much better accepted than ignored."

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goodreads rating 5 out of 5 5 out of 5
Nov 12, 2009
By Cabs, Clifton Springs, NY

"This book was one of the most interesting books I have ever read. It is an autobiography by author, Tobias Wolff. It tells of the beginning of his childhood until he finishes (or is expelled from) high School. Tobias and his mother (Rosemary) moved from place to place in search of job opportunities and a chance to enhance their living conditions. They have lived in places such as Florida, Connecticut, and Utah. The majority of the story takes place in Utah. There, Rosemary and Toby (or Jack, which he changes his name to) live with a man named Dwight and his three children. They live in a small town named Chinook. At first, Dwight seems to be a normal and pleasant man, but this perception changes. In very little time, Dwight starts to be verbally and physically abusive towards Toby. Toby chooses not to tell his mother. Toby is also a trouble-maker in school, he repeatedly gets detention and hangs around with the wrong crowd. When he was a freshman he was hanging out with upper classmen. From the book I learned many things. I learned that Toby was almost bound to be unsuccessful by his extremely rough upbringing. His mother dated/married many abusive men and they all had negative effects on Toby. I learned that I should be very happy to be in the situation that I am in. My parents are supportive of me and my endeavors. Toby was pretty much alone from his very early childhood and on. This made him extremely rough but also caused him to have emotional problems. Overall, it is amazing how the author had such a rough upbrining and turned out the way he did."

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goodreads rating 4 out of 5 4 out of 5
Oct 1, 2009
By Tlc, Grayslake, IL

"My daughter and I read this together - a class assignment. I liked the writing style in that it was gripping with the drama somewhat underscored through this young man's life. I'm always amazed, though, at how depressing these school assignment books are when, I think, they mean to pick "realistic" books.

Jack just can't get a break with his mom involved with a series of losers that he's forced to deal with and so it's no wonder that he makes so many bad choices that he becomes more of an enemy to himself than his stepfathers! Didn't like the ending much but understand why the author chose it. Hope "Jack" went on to a more successful life as a grown up!"

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goodreads rating 5 out of 5 5 out of 5
Aug 4, 2009
By Cindy, Berkeley, CA

"I read This Boy's Life in one day. It is that rare kind of memoir page-turner that compels not because of blood and gore, or because you have to see what the insane parents are going to do next, but because of the writer's voice itself. This is a boy you just want to listen to. He is so genuine and honest that even while throwing rocks through windows, forging checks, and lying to himself and everyone around him, I found him unbearably sweet and vulnerable.

EXCERPT:
"Her name was Alice. My class had been exchanging letters with her class since school began. We were supposed to write once a month but I wrote at least once a week, ten, twelve, fifteen pages at a time. I represented myself to her as the owner of a palomino horse named Smiley who shared my encounters with mountain lions, rattlesnakes, and packs of coyotes on my father's ranch, the Lazy B. When I wasn't busy on the ranch I raised German shepherds and played for several athletic teams. Although Alice was a terse and irregular correspondent, I believed that she must be in awe of me, and imagined someday presenting myself at her door to claim her adoration.""

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16 of 16 (100%) customers said they would recommend this book to a friend.

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