My Fathers' Houses

Author: Steven V. Roberts
Genre: Memoir
Publisher: HarperCollins, 2006
Pages: 288
Rating: Highly Recommend

Synopsis: From Steven V. Roberts comes My Fathers' Houses, a memoir of growing up in Bayonne, New Jersey, an immigrant community in the shadow of the Statue of Liberty, and the story of how his father and his grandfather's dreams–and their own passion for writing and ideas–influenced Steven's future, and inspired him to seek his fortune in New York City, the media capital of the world.

This is a story of a town and a time and a boy who grew up there, a boy who became a New York Times correspondent, TV and radio personality, and best–selling author. The town was Bayonne, New Jersey, a European village so close to New York that Steve could see the Statue of Liberty from his bedroom window. The time was the forties and fifties, when children of immigrants were striving to become American and find a place in a booming post–war world. The core of Steve's world was one block, where he lived in a house his grandfather, Harry Schanbam, had built with his own hands.

Review: From the first few pages, I was drawn into life in Bayonne. This is an intriguing memoir, and well-written (as one should expect). 

Roberts weaves family tales and memories into a narrative in a way that made me wanting more after each chapter. A gifted writer, he fleshes out stories from simple anecdotes and simple memories. This memoir is not fueled by anger, contempt, or discord. Instead it's everyday life, everyday pleasures, and everyday challenges in an everyday family. My Fathers' Houses, while a fun read for the masses, is a treasure for future generations of this family.

Sometimes we need to read for pure enjoyment, and I certainly enjoyed this.