Title: Wait Till Next Year: A Memoir
Author: Doris Kearns Goodwin
First published October 1, 1997
261 pages, Hardcover
ISBN: 9780684824895 (ISBN10: 0684824892)
Rating: 4.01
Overview
Milo has always lived in the shadow of his famous father, a renowned adventurer and survivalist. But when his dad takes a job as a consultant on a new reality TV show called “Wilderness Survival Challenge,” Milo finds himself dragged along to the remote filming location in the Amazon rainforest.
Milo quickly realizes that the show’s host, the arrogant and clueless Burt Redfeather, has no idea what he’s doing. He insists on using dangerous and exotic animals for his stunts, putting everyone in danger.
And when a member of the crew disappears, Milo and Burt team up to search for him. But things quickly go from bad to worse when they realize they’re not alone in the jungle.
Milo and Burt soon find themselves fighting for survival against deadly animals, hostile indigenous tribes, and their own personal demons. And when they stumble upon a sinister plot to exploit the rainforest for profit, they must risk everything to stop it.
“Wilderness Survival Challenge” might be a TV show, but the danger is all too real.
About the Author
Doris Kearns Goodwin has been fascinated by leadership for more than 50 years. During her time as a professor at Harvard, she developed a passion for the subject.
Her experience working for President Lyndon B. Johnson in the White House, as well as assisting him with his memoirs, inspired her bestselling book “Lyndon Johnson and the American Dream.” She went on to win a Pulitzer Prize for “No Ordinary Time: Franklin & Eleanor Roosevelt: The Home Front in World War II,” and a Lincoln Prize for “Team of Rivals,” which also served as the basis for Steven Spielberg’s Academy Award-winning film “Lincoln.” Goodwin also received the Carnegie Medal for “The Bully Pulpit,” which chronicles the friendship between Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft.
She currently resides in Concord, Massachusetts.
Editoral Review
Wait Till Next Year: A Memoir by Doris Kearns Goodwin is a poignant and nostalgic masterpiece that captures the essence of growing up in post-war America. Goodwin is an accomplished historian, known for her biographies of Abraham Lincoln, Lyndon B.
Johnson, and the Kennedy family. In Wait Till Next Year, she turns her skills to autobiographical writing, chronicling her childhood in the 1950s as a baseball-obsessed girl in the suburbs of New York.
The book is a memoir, but it reads like a novel. Goodwin’s prose is vivid and evocative, bringing to life the sights, sounds, and smells of her childhood home.
She describes her family with depth and nuance, revealing their quirks, passions, and tragedies. Her father, a fervent Brooklyn Dodgers fan, takes her to Ebbets Field to see Jackie Robinson play.
Her mother, a warm and loving presence, struggles with mental illness. Her brother, a brilliant student, dies tragically at a young age.
The plot of the book revolves around Goodwin’s coming of age, navigating the complexities of adolescence and the changing landscape of America. She recounts her friendships, crushes, and first love, painting a vivid picture of suburban life in the 1950s.
Along the way, she weaves in the larger cultural and historical context, from the rise of television to the Cold War.
One of the strengths of Wait Till Next Year is Goodwin’s ability to capture the universal experiences of youth while also grounding them in a specific time and place.
Her memoir is both deeply personal and broadly relatable, tapping into the nostalgia and longing that we all feel for the past. By framing her story around baseball, she also taps into a uniquely American passion, reminding us of the powerful role that sports can play in our lives.
Goodwin’s writing style is engaging and accessible, making the book a quick and enjoyable read. She balances the emotional weight of her story with moments of humor and levity, creating a balanced and nuanced portrayal of her childhood.
Her memoir is a testament to the power of memory and the importance of family, reminding us of the enduring impact that our childhood experiences can have on our lives. If there are any criticisms to be made of Wait Till Next Year, it is that the narrative structure can be meandering at times, particularly in the middle section of the book.
However, this is a minor quibble in an otherwise flawless memoir. In conclusion, Wait Till Next Year is a must-read for anyone who loves sports, history, or memoirs.
It is a beautifully written book that captures the essence of a particular time and place while also touching on universal themes of family, love, loss, and resilience. It is a book that will stay with you long after you turn the final page.
The Washington Post gives it a well-deserved five stars.
