TITLE: Small Fry
AUTHOR: Lisa Brennan-Jobs
AUTHOR: Lisa Brennan-Jobs
PUBLISHER: Grove Press
PUB. YEAR: 2018
SETTING: California
FORMAT: - library (400 pp)
RATING: 4.5/5
FORMAT: - library (400 pp)
RATING: 4.5/5
Lisa Brennan-Jobs was born on a commune in 1978, the child of Steve Jobs and Chrisann Brennan who met in 1972 when they were still in high school in California. The two had an on and off again relationship, and for years, Jobs denied he was Lisa's father. Her mother didn't receive child support for many years and worker as a housekeeper, waitress and received welfare benefits. Mother and daughter moved (13) times during Lisa's childhood. This is Lisa's story.
Chrisann came across as artsy, a dreamer and somewhat unstable - often depressed or angry. Jobs was as an oddball who never seemed to fit in. He was brilliant yet cold, aloof, heartless and cheap. Lisa was brilliant in her own right and attended Harvard. When her father threw her out one summer after an argument and refused to keep paying her Harvard tuition, she lived with neighbors who came up with the money so that she could finish her degree.
I found this memoir to be so well-written but heartbreaking as well at times. A coming of age story, a young girl moving between two households and just wanting to feel loved. I do wish there were more date references because at times I found myself trying to figure out how old Lisa was when certain things were happening.
I read the Steve Jobs bio by Walter Isaacson which came out in 2011 which I enjoyed and next up will be, A Bite of the Apple by Chrisann Brennan (2013).
I didn't like this one as much as you did. I thought her childhood was sad but I didn't think it was all her dad's fault I didn't think anyone came off looking good.
ReplyDeleteSmall Fry sounds like a big hit!
ReplyDeleteI doubt either party would come out looking good. Sad.
ReplyDeleteI want to read this and the Isaacson bio. I had not heard of A Bite of the Apple but that sounds interesting too.
ReplyDeleteI heard an interview with the author in NPR and thought the book sounded interesting. What a sad story.
ReplyDeleteI haven't been tempted to read this, but you make it sounds very interesting.
ReplyDeleteYou seem to know their family well by now. I'd like to read this book -- her childhood seems rough and yet she persevered.
ReplyDeleteWhy was he so nasty to her?
ReplyDelete