Townie

By Andre Dubus III,

Book cover of Townie: A Memoir

Book description

After their parents divorced in the 1970s, Andre Dubus III and his three siblings grew up with their overworked mother in a depressed Massachusetts mill town saturated with drugs and everyday violence. Nearby, his father, an eminent author, taught on a college campus and took the kids out on Sundays.…

Shepherd is reader supported. When you buy books, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Why read it?

1 author picked Townie as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

As we grow into our lives, we become more like our fathers than we ever thought. This memoir is equal parts anger and love, Dubus II writing about growing up in rough working-class Massachusetts towns with a father, the well-known short story writer Andre Dubus, only a partial presence in his life. Dubus II’s rage is channeled through his fists as he assumes the roles of neighborhood brawler and family protector. Andre II is drawn to his father’s violent tendencies but also to the sensitive perception that helped Andre become an acclaimed writer. As he punches his way through life,…

From Chuck's list on fathers and sons.

Want books like Townie?

Our community of 11,000+ authors has personally recommended 82 books like Townie.

Browse books like Townie

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in Massachusetts, the working class, and presidential biography?

11,000+ authors have recommended their favorite books and what they love about them. Browse their picks for the best books about Massachusetts, the working class, and presidential biography.

Massachusetts 140 books
The Working Class 106 books