Space: A Memoir

by Jesse Lee Kercheval

Book Overview

Describing what it was like to grow up in 1960s America, the author uses her childhood proximity to, and her father's involvement with, Cape Canaveral and the space program as the anchor for her... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0299300242
• ISBN13: 9780299300241
• Release Date: July 2014
• Publisher: University of Wisconsin Press
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.0" x 6.9"

Customer Reviews

A 60's Time Capsule

This is a classic coming of age book placed in a time and location that is one of the most turbulent, yet interesting, in American history. A girl grows up in Florida in the 60's living in the excitement and optimism of the Space program, while dealing with the realities of a dysfunctional family and growing up. The author will take you there, profuse with memories long forgotten. You will find this book to be highly entertaining, amusing, poignant, and unforgettable. I will be seeking more books by this author!

FLorida in the 60's, pure nostalgia for those who lived then

Perhaps it was because this book brought back so many memories of growing up in the 60's - or perhaps it was because this writer's words and storytelling skills are superb- for whatever reason, I absolutely loved this book. Kercheval moved to Florida as a child and found it an exotic place at first, with the endless vistas of sand and sea and the pastel colored houses. But there was a darker side to life in Florida, including a mother who began to fade away emotionally, getting lost in her own emotional darkness, an older sister who was forced to assume her mother's responsibilities and a father who couldn't face his wife's illness. Although I'm sure many readers will nod their heads in recognition of the major events (the Space Race, President Kennedy, the public fascination with Jacqueline Kennedy) which Kercheval recounts from that period, she also reveals the unique, often funny, sometimes heartbreaking, life in her family. She writes so vividly and so well that I didn't want this book to end. I felt close to each member of her family, flaws and all. But mostly I felt entranced by the special world Kercheval brought to life.

Funny, Moving

A great memoir of Jesse Lee's Life. The book is both funny and moving. But in the end it seems rushed and like she just wants to end the book. All in all I would highly recomend this book.

fun and enjoyable

I got this book on a whim--just saw it in the store, and I am glad I did. It was a fun, quick read. I did not want to put it down. I recommend this book to anyone who wants some light,funny,entertaining summer reading.

A great book for young girls ( like me!) To relate to

I can't believe the reviews some wrote about this book, like, "promicing, but eventually a dissapointment." It was a guy who wrote that though, and I don't think he could have related to this book half as much as I did. It was amazing how many times I felt myself noding my head in agreement to statements in the book, or thinking while I read, "wow, that really reminds me of when..." It was so moving, and probably one of the best books in a while. You have to have a certain taste of books to love this, but I think most people do if they need a novel to know that they're not alone, and I don't mean aliens, I mean growing up. I especially reccomend it to teenaage girls, like myself.