Reviews
"By turns hilarious and heartbreaking, Peter Birkenhead's Gonville is a son's-eye view of growing up with an emotional terrorist: his father. The memoir is a deft and cunning performance, told in jaunty prose which elegantly maps the geography of fear and of a child's sad little wish to be loved." -John Lahr, senior drama critic, The New Yorker, “Birkenhead’s navigation of his budding masculinityeven through ominous stretches where he adopts his father’s mood swingsis poignant and often tears-in-the-eyes hilarious.â€� Booklist, eoeAn affecting . . . sometimes laugh-out-loud funny account of growing up with a crazy father.e e" Kirkus Reviews, “Fraught and funny. . . . Birkenhead’s memoir is intensely detailed, thus the feelings magnified, and full of the blistering ambivalence of a son who wondered whether it would have been easier to have a dad who was ‘all bad instead of almost good.’â€� Publishers Weekly, 'Few books I've ever read succeed like Gonville at capturing the crazed inventivenessof which the unhappy family is capable. Given the character of Peter Birkenhead'sfather, it's unsurprising that his son's terri c memoir is full of sadness, humor, andhigh absurdity. More remarkable is the tolerance, sanity, and good humor thatBirkenhead has won from experiences hardly conducive to those traits.'—Benjamin Kunkel, author of Indecision and co-editor of n + 1, "Charming and horrifying. . . . Birkenhead is a deft foreshadower, dropping dark little clouds over what seems to be a heartwarming scene and swinging back later to collect the thunderclaps. He is a master of the throwaway detail that later becomes the pivot into a horror movie." - Newsday, "Fraught and funny. . . . Birkenhead's memoir is intensely detailed, thus the feelings magnified, and full of the blistering ambivalence of a son who wondered whether it would have been easier to have a dad who was 'all bad instead of almost good.'" -- Publishers Weekly, 'In his debut memoir,Gonville,Peter Birkenhead breezily performs some of the most challenging creative magic. He mines insight from confusion, turns tragedy into comedy, and darkness into light. In the greatest trick of all, he turns the pain of his childhood into reading pleasure. It's a major accomplishment.'—Evan Handler, actor (Sex and the City; Californication) and author (Time on Fire: My Comedy of Terrors;It's Only Temporary: The Good News and the Bad News of Being Alive), "Few books I've ever read succeed like Gonville at capturing the crazed inventiveness of which the unhappy family is capable. Given the character of Peter Birkenhead's father, it's unsurprising that his son's terrific memoir is full of sadness, humor, and high absurdity. More remarkable is the tolerance, sanity, and good humor that Birkenhead has won from experiences hardly conducive to those traits." -Benjamin Kunkel, author of Indecision and co-editor of n + 1, "Peter Birkenhead's candor, humor, and insight about his father and ultimately himself combine to make this a highly enjoyable page-turner. It's Birkenhead's gift as a writer that the book is as laugh-out-loud funny as it is kick-you-in-the-chest brutal, and you'll be ready for the second volume as soon as you finish this one." -Elizabeth Crane, author of You Must Be This Happy to Enter, "Charming and horrifying. . . . Birkenhead is a deft foreshadower, dropping dark little clouds over what seems to be a heartwarming scene and swinging back later to collect the thunderclaps. He is a master of the throwaway detail that later becomes the pivot into a horror movie."—Newsday, "The intelligent facility of Birkenhead's writing shines. . . . Gonville is a captivating journey through the humor, pitfalls, delusions, and dangers of extreme family dysfunction and the boundless capacity of human love." -- Blogcritics, eoeFraught and funny. . . . Birkenheade(tm)s memoir is intensely detailed, thus the feelings magnified, and full of the blistering ambivalence of a son who wondered whether it would have been easier to have a dad who was e~all bad instead of almost good.e(tm)e e" Publishers Weekly, "Birkenhead is a writer for Salon.com, and his descriptive abilities and memory for detail are razor-sharp. Though the adult Birkenhead seeks answers from both parents about the details of his chaotic childhood, unsurprisingly, in real life, there are no tidy resolutions." -- Library Journal, "Birkenhead's navigation of his budding masculinity-even through ominous stretches where he adopts his father's mood swings-is poignant and often tears-in-the-eyes hilarious." - Booklist, eoeIn his debut memoir, Gonville, Peter Birkenhead breezily performs some of the most challenging creative magic. He mines insight from confusion, turns tragedy into comedy, and darkness into light. In the greatest trick of all, he turns the pain of his childhood into reading pleasure. Ite(tm)s a major accomplishment.e e"Evan Handler, actor ( Sex and the City; Californication ) and author ( Time on Fire: My Comedy of Terrors; Ite(tm)s Only Temporary: The Good News and the Bad News of Being Alive ), "In his debut memoir, Gonville, Peter Birkenhead breezily performs some of the most challenging creative magic. He mines insight from confusion, turns tragedy into comedy, and darkness into light. In the greatest trick of all, he turns the pain of his childhood into reading pleasure. It's a major accomplishment." -Evan Handler, actor ( Sex and the City; Californication ) and author ( Time on Fire: My Comedy of Terrors; It's Only Temporary: The Good News and the Bad News of Being Alive ), “Few books I’ve ever read succeed like Gonville at capturing the crazed inventiveness of which the unhappy family is capable. Given the character of Peter Birkenhead’s father, it’s unsurprising that his son’s terrific memoir is full of sadness, humor, and high absurdity. More remarkable is the tolerance, sanity, and good humor that Birkenhead has won from experiences hardly conducive to those traits.â€� Benjamin Kunkel, author of Indecision and co-editor of n + 1, “The intelligent facility of Birkenhead’s writing shines. . . . Gonville is a captivating journey through the humor, pitfalls, delusions, and dangers of extreme family dysfunction and the boundless capacity of human love.â€� Blogcritics, eoeBirkenheade(tm)s navigation of his budding masculinitye"even through ominous stretches where he adopts his fathere(tm)s mood swingse"is poignant and often tears-in-the-eyes hilarious.e e" Booklist, "Charming and horrifying. . . . Birkenhead is a deft foreshadower, dropping dark little clouds over what seems to be a heartwarming scene and swinging back later to collect the thunderclaps. He is a master of the throwaway detail that later becomes the pivot into a horror movie." -- Newsday, 'Peter Birkenhead's candor, humor, and insight about his father and ultimately himself combine to make this a highly enjoyable page-turner. It's Birkenhead's gift as a writer that the book is as laugh-out-loud funny as it is kick-you-in-the-chest brutal, and you'll be ready for the second volume as soon as you finish this one.'—Elizabeth Crane, author ofYou Must Be This Happy to Enter, "In his debut memoir, Gonville, Peter Birkenhead breezily performs some of the most challenging creative magic. He mines insight from confusion, turns tragedy into comedy, and darkness into light. In the greatest trick of all, he turns the pain of his childhood into reading pleasure. It's a major accomplishment." --Evan Handler, actor ( Sex and the City; Californication ) and author ( Time on Fire: My Comedy of Terrors; It's Only Temporary: The Good News and the Bad News of Being Alive ), “Birkenhead is a writer for Salon.com, and his descriptive abilities and memory for detail are razor-sharp. Though the adult Birkenhead seeks answers from both parents about the details of his chaotic childhood, unsurprisingly, in real life, there are no tidy resolutions.â€� Library Journal, 'In his debut memoir, Gonville, Peter Birkenhead breezily performs some of the mostchallenging creative magic. He mines insight from confusion, turns tragedy into comedy,and darkness into light. In the greatest trick of all, he turns the pain of his childhoodinto reading pleasure. It's a major accomplishment.' —Evan Handler, actor(Sex and the City; Californication) and author (Time on Fire: My Comedy of Terrors; It's Only Temporary: e Good News and the Bad News of Being Alive), eoeBy turns hilarious and heartbreaking, Peter Birkenheade(tm)s Gonville is a sone(tm)s-eye view of growing up with an emotional terrorist: his father. The memoir is a deft and cunning performance, told in jaunty prose which elegantly maps the geography of fear and of a childe(tm)s sad little wish to be loved.e e"John Lahr, senior drama critic, The New Yorker, "An affecting . . . sometimes laugh-out-loud funny account of growing up with a crazy father." -- Kirkus Reviews, "Birkenhead's navigation of his budding masculinity--even through ominous stretches where he adopts his father's mood swings--is poignant and often tears-in-the-eyes hilarious." -- Booklist, "The intelligent facility of Birkenhead's writing shines. . . . Gonville is a captivating journey through the humor, pitfalls, delusions, and dangers of extreme family dysfunction and the boundless capacity of human love." - Blogcritics, eoeCharming and horrifying. . . . Birkenhead is a deft foreshadower, dropping dark little clouds over what seems to be a heartwarming scene and swinging back later to collect the thunderclaps. He is a master of the throwaway detail that later becomes the pivot into a horror movie.e e" Newsday, "Few books I've ever read succeed like Gonville at capturing the crazed inventiveness of which the unhappy family is capable. Given the character of Peter Birkenhead's father, it's unsurprising that his son's terrific memoir is full of sadness, humor, and high absurdity. More remarkable is the tolerance, sanity, and good humor that Birkenhead has won from experiences hardly conducive to those traits." --Benjamin Kunkel, author of Indecision and co-editor of n + 1, 'Few books I've ever read succeed likeGonvilleat capturing the crazed inventiveness of which the unhappy family is capable. Given the character of Peter Birkenhead's father, it's unsurprising that his son's terrific memoir is full of sadness, humor, and high absurdity. More remarkable is the tolerance, sanity, and good humor that Birkenhead has won from experiences hardly conducive to those traits.'—Benjamin Kunkel, author ofIndecisionand co-editor ofn + 1, "An affecting . . . sometimes laugh-out-loud funny account of growing up with a crazy father." - Kirkus Reviews, “Peter Birkenhead’s candor, humor, and insight about his father and ultimately himself combine to make this a highly enjoyable page-turner. It’s Birkenhead’s gift as a writer that the book is as laugh-out-loud funny as it is kick-you-in-the-chest brutal, and you’ll be ready for the second volume as soon as you finish this one.â€� Elizabeth Crane, author of You Must Be This Happy to Enter, 'By turns hilarious and heartbreaking, Peter Birkenhead's Gonville is a son's-eye viewof growing up with an emotional terrorist: his father. e memoir is a deft and cun-ning performance, told in jaunty prose which elegantly maps the geography of fearand of a child's sad little wish to be loved.'—John Lahr, senior drama critic, e New Yorker, "By turns hilarious and heartbreaking, Peter Birkenhead's Gonville is a son's-eye view of growing up with an emotional terrorist: his father. The memoir is a deft and cunning performance, told in jaunty prose which elegantly maps the geography of fear and of a child's sad little wish to be loved." --John Lahr, senior drama critic, The New Yorker, 'By turns hilarious and heartbreaking, Peter Birkenhead'sGonvilleis a son's-eye view of growing up with an emotional terrorist: his father. The memoir is a deft and cunning performance, told in jaunty prose which elegantly maps the geography of fear and of a child's sad little wish to be loved.'—John Lahr, senior drama critic,The New Yorker, eoePeter Birkenheade(tm)s candor, humor, and insight about his father and ultimately himself combine to make this a highly enjoyable page-turner. Ite(tm)s Birkenheade(tm)s gift as a writer that the book is as laugh-out-loud funny as it is kick-you-in-the-chest brutal, and youe(tm)ll be ready for the second volume as soon as you finish this one.e e"Elizabeth Crane, author of You Must Be This Happy to Enter, eoeThe intelligent facility of Birkenheade(tm)s writing shines. . . . Gonville is a captivating journey through the humor, pitfalls, delusions, and dangers of extreme family dysfunction and the boundless capacity of human love.e e" Blogcritics, eoeFew books Ie(tm)ve ever read succeed like Gonville at capturing the crazed inventiveness of which the unhappy family is capable. Given the character of Peter Birkenheade(tm)s father, ite(tm)s unsurprising that his sone(tm)s terrific memoir is full of sadness, humor, and high absurdity. More remarkable is the tolerance, sanity, and good humor that Birkenhead has won from experiences hardly conducive to those traits.e e"Benjamin Kunkel, author of Indecision and co-editor of n + 1, “In his debut memoir, Gonville, Peter Birkenhead breezily performs some of the most challenging creative magic. He mines insight from confusion, turns tragedy into comedy, and darkness into light. In the greatest trick of all, he turns the pain of his childhood into reading pleasure. It’s a major accomplishment.â€� Evan Handler, actor ( Sex and the City; Californication ) and author ( Time on Fire: My Comedy of Terrors; It’s Only Temporary: The Good News and the Bad News of Being Alive ), "Fraught and funny. . . . Birkenhead's memoir is intensely detailed, thus the feelings magnified, and full of the blistering ambivalence of a son who wondered whether it would have been easier to have a dad who was 'all bad instead of almost good.'" - Publishers Weekly, “An affecting . . . sometimes laugh-out-loud funny account of growing up with a crazy father.â€� Kirkus Reviews, 'Peter Birkenhead's candor, humor, and insight about his father and ultimately him-self combine to make this a highly enjoyable page-turner. It's Birkenhead's gift as awriter that the book is as laugh-out-loud funny as it is kick-you-in-the-chest brutal,and you'll be ready for the second volume as soon as you nish this one.'—Elizabeth Crane, author of You Must Be is Happy to Enter, "Peter Birkenhead's candor, humor, and insight about his father and ultimately himself combine to make this a highly enjoyable page-turner. It's Birkenhead's gift as a writer that the book is as laugh-out-loud funny as it is kick-you-in-the-chest brutal, and you'll be ready for the second volume as soon as you finish this one." --Elizabeth Crane, author of You Must Be This Happy to Enter, "Birkenhead is a writer for Salon.com, and his descriptive abilities and memory for detail are razor-sharp. Though the adult Birkenhead seeks answers from both parents about the details of his chaotic childhood, unsurprisingly, in real life, there are no tidy resolutions."—Library Journal, "An affecting . . . sometimes laugh-out-loud funny account of growing up with a crazy father."—Kirkus Reviews, "Birkenhead is a writer for Salon.com, and his descriptive abilities and memory for detail are razor-sharp. Though the adult Birkenhead seeks answers from both parents about the details of his chaotic childhood, unsurprisingly, in real life, there are no tidy resolutions." - Library Journal, "The intelligent facility of Birkenhead's writing shines. . . . Gonville is a captivating journey through the humor, pitfalls, delusions, and dangers of extreme family dysfunction and the boundless capacity of human love."—Blogcritics, “Charming and horrifying. . . . Birkenhead is a deft foreshadower, dropping dark little clouds over what seems to be a heartwarming scene and swinging back later to collect the thunderclaps. He is a master of the throwaway detail that later becomes the pivot into a horror movie.â€� Newsday, "Fraught and funny. . . . Birkenhead's memoir is intensely detailed, thus the feelings magnified, and full of the blistering ambivalence of a son who wondered whether it would have been easier to have a dad who was ?all bad instead of almost good.'"—Publishers Weekly, eoeBirkenhead is a writer for Salon.com, and his descriptive abilities and memory for detail are razor-sharp. Though the adult Birkenhead seeks answers from both parents about the details of his chaotic childhood, unsurprisingly, in real life, there are no tidy resolutions.e e" Library Journal, "Birkenhead's navigation of his budding masculinity—even through ominous stretches where he adopts his father's mood swings—is poignant and often tears-in-the-eyes hilarious."—Booklist, “By turns hilarious and heartbreaking, Peter Birkenhead’s Gonville is a son’s-eye view of growing up with an emotional terrorist: his father. The memoir is a deft and cunning performance, told in jaunty prose which elegantly maps the geography of fear and of a child’s sad little wish to be loved.â€� John Lahr, senior drama critic, The New Yorker
