deweydecimator's review against another edition
4.0
We all arrive to adulthood with a wide variety of regrets, disappointments and things we would like to change about how we've gone along the path of life. Robin Hemley has taken a look at the placed along his path he would like to try again at -- moving from early experiences, like kindergarten through prom and frat membership and more. The book is a look into the present and into the past and what makes us who we are -- and how much of that is (or is not) up for change. A thoughtful read that might be great for a bookclub discussion.
sharonfalduto's review against another edition
The author attempts to "do over" things that went wrong in his life. This is a nonfiction memoir--he does things like attend summer camp as an adult, appear in the play in which he flubbed his lines as a 9 year old, and attend kindergarten (at Horace Mann Elementary right here in Iowa City).
mamasquirrel's review against another edition
5.0
A quick but thought-provoking humourous autiobiographical book in which the author revisits his bad experiences of childhood and attempts to re-do some of them. I appreciated Hemley's honesty and humility in revisiting old relationships and his down-to-earth writing style. The book made me think about what from my youth I regret and would want to re-do.
carolsnotebook's review against another edition
2.0
There were a lot of laugh-out-loud moments in this book, like when he’s playing pretend in kindergarten. Hemley’s got a great sense of humor and it really is funny seeing the lives of kids and teenagers through an adult’s eye. He also makes some wonderful observations about human nature. It amazes me how willingly the kids accepted him as one of themselves.
The faculty and other adults he ran into during his project had mixed reactions, but most seemed to understand. I, however, didn’t. I just didn’t get this book or his project. It was funny, but really, what was the point? I know: to have a do-over, to make new memories, to find some degree of closure, to become a better father to his own kids. It sounds good, but to be honest, I just didn’t get it. I felt like it was a waste of my time. I was amused fairly often, but I didn’t care about Hemley or his “project” and really thought it was kind of odd. I think I’d be creeped out if a 48 year-old man was joining Amber’s class or camp for a week – as a student. Maybe the fact that I can’t ever imagine wanting to “do-over” any of those points in my life didn’t help.
The faculty and other adults he ran into during his project had mixed reactions, but most seemed to understand. I, however, didn’t. I just didn’t get this book or his project. It was funny, but really, what was the point? I know: to have a do-over, to make new memories, to find some degree of closure, to become a better father to his own kids. It sounds good, but to be honest, I just didn’t get it. I felt like it was a waste of my time. I was amused fairly often, but I didn’t care about Hemley or his “project” and really thought it was kind of odd. I think I’d be creeped out if a 48 year-old man was joining Amber’s class or camp for a week – as a student. Maybe the fact that I can’t ever imagine wanting to “do-over” any of those points in my life didn’t help.
rothcoe's review
4.0
Dude is basically a straight, Jewish David Sedaris. I laughed out loud reading this, and had to scurry into the other room to read passages to my boyfriend, where we both giggled. Fun to read.
kinderny's review against another edition
2.0
One I wanted to like. The author had certain standout events that he never quite got over- whether because he could not participate (prom) or he messed up (school play). Interesting to a degree to see him relive the actually experiences by spending a week with the peers going through the event for the first time. However, there just was not enough insight/perspective/growth to keep the interest up. The author chose to organize the book according to the age level of the experiences, not how he did them, and I wonder if that affected the arc of his understanding and putting everything in perspective. So, this was a miss for me.
debnanceatreaderbuzz's review
3.0
Another book in the genre I call challenge books. Hemley takes on the personal challenge of going back to places in his life where he fumbled the ball and tries to do things over. Better.
Who wouldn’t like to try these things?
Loved the kindergarten do-over but I grew less and less intrigued with his subsequent trials. A good summer read.
Who wouldn’t like to try these things?
Loved the kindergarten do-over but I grew less and less intrigued with his subsequent trials. A good summer read.
boxtagram's review
4.0
I guess I cannot fully relate to a forty-eight year old man trying to relive such insignificant and yet monumental moments in his life, but I did enjoy this book immensely. While I have always been one to follow the theory of running as fast as physically possible (literally and figuratively) from an embarrassing moment, Robin Hemley has recorded himself throwing himself back into situations that have haunted him for years in order to relate to his two daughters. The parallels he draws between his current life, the past experiences, and his reasoning for reliving them all come together in a quirky and interesting read. There were times I was embarrassed for him as he remembered and then relived those moments. The most shocking for me was when he took another man’s wife to prom. I know there was full consent given, but I squirmed a bit (I guess this shows my immaturity). Prom is generally acknowledged to be one of the greatest moments of one’s high school years, but to go at such an…old… age is a bit too uncomfortable for me.
In all it was interesting to look through his eyes and wonder myself what embarrassments and mistakes, or moments of cowardice have affected my life. His application of his life events as a father and preparation for the upcoming years with his daughters was sweet. His style of writing made me feel like he was sitting in front of me telling me these stories himself in a tongue-in-cheek manner.
In all it was interesting to look through his eyes and wonder myself what embarrassments and mistakes, or moments of cowardice have affected my life. His application of his life events as a father and preparation for the upcoming years with his daughters was sweet. His style of writing made me feel like he was sitting in front of me telling me these stories himself in a tongue-in-cheek manner.
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