The Times of My Life

The acclaimed author reminisces about the events of his life, from the time of the Depression to the Vietnam War, set against a backdrop of historical events including World War II, the Peace Corps, and the civil rights movement

Grade 5 Up-- An autobiographical volume that offers young people a personal perspective of the past, a portrait of the development of an author, and an example of successful career changes. With a text that reads like a novel, Ashabranner briefly discusses growing up in the Depression, serving in the navy during World War II, and working abroad for various governmental agencies such as the Point Four program and the Peace Corps, as well as his experiences with the civil rights movement of the '60s, all of which provide historical background for an era that is known to contemporary students solely through accounts such as this. While Ashabranner acknowledges that strides have been made in eliminating racism and poverty in this country, he also points out that much more needs to be done. Black-and-white family photographs of the Ashabranners both at home and on their various overseas assignments add authenicity and interest to the readable text. Patrons in both school and public libraries should benefit from this insightful and provocative memoir. --Nancy E. Curran, Decatur Public Schools, IL
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

This autobiography by a YA author ( Always to Remember ) sadly belies Ashabranner's emphasis on his writing career. "I have lived through most of the special moments of the twentieth century," he claims, meaning the Depression (his father had to sell his pharmacy, but the family did not suffer much), WW II (he served in the Navy, but missed being "tested in battle"), the founding of the Peace Corps (he started one of its first programs in Africa and was later the Corps' deputy director). Nevertheless, he doesn't give the reader any reason to pay special attention to his story--he lacks a novelist's sense of narrative. Inane details clutter promising material, such as his youthful intimations of the racism in his Oklahoma home town or his anecdotes about Peace Corps volunteers in India. His patriotism is gooey--either he is condescending to his readers here, or a career in government service has dulled his critical faculties. How else to explain his failure to discuss the well-known connections of the Peace Corps and the CIA, or his burying of his criticism of the Vietnam war in his exposition of the "official" point of view? Photos. Ages 10-up.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.