Lost In Place: Growing Up Absurd in Suburbia Paperback – May 28, 1996

Anyone who has enjoyed Mark Salzman's book and subsequent film "Iron and Silk" will love the glimpse at Salzman's adolescence offered in "Lost in Place." This warm and honest introspective look at the author's childhood is charming and funny. The author's love of martial arts and all things Asian manifested itself early, and Salzman's accomplishments as an adult have blossomed from his early eccentricities. Salzman was a bizarre kid, and this fact makes for terrific storytelling (at one point, he attempted to become a Zen monk, living austerely in the basement of his family home). The author has a natural, easy-going writing style that is at the same time intelligent and concise. He admits to the stranger moments of his adolescence with grace and dignity, and treats his accomplishments humbly. "Growing Up Absurd" is such a terrific story - Salzman's early teen experiences make a case for the adage "from humble beginnings come great things!." With a childhood like this (weird as he was), it's easy to see how Salzman grew up to be a great writer and filmmaker.

From the first page I was laughing out loud. I loved the descriptions of his early attempts at kung fu and his initial understandings of eastern philosophy. He is able to laugh at all of it, especially himself, which is all funnier knowing that he ultimately did not abandon either of them. I can remember beginning studying Zen and later yoga philosophy and being frustrated that I wasn't enlightened yet after a few years. He brought that all back in such a delightful way. His recollections of his conversations with his parents, primarily his father, were so heartwarming and filled with affection even as he was attempting to go to great extremes to not be like them. All of his experiences, including his playing the cello and spending a period of time stoned on pot, were filled with his search for the meaning of life and his unhappiness at not finding it immediately. Doesn't sound funny? Wrong! He makes it all very funny and very human. The last few pages where he sums up much of what he learned are priceless. I would say that his view of himself as mediocre was greatly mistaken. He's a gifted writer for sure and sounds like a fascinating person.

Although this humorous memoir should please many readers, it will especially appeal if you grew up in the 70s. Young Mark Salzman is one of those kids who, when he develops a passion, goes into it heart and soul. In this book, those passions are kung fu, the cello, and Chinese culture -- not your typical fare for an undersized, oversensitive kid from Connecticut.Why does the book work? Contrasts. There's Mark's maniacal kung fu instructor, for instance, Sensei O'Keefe -- a ripped, hard-drinking, pot-smoking sadist who verbally and physically abuses his charges as he exhorts them to live life like the stoic Eastern masters of old (a classic, "Do as I say, not as I do" guy). Also key is the wry resignation of Mark's dad. The two are close, and Dad's pithy quips on life are dry, wise, and as funny as Bob Newhart (and if you remember Newhart, then you DID grow up in the 70s).Toward the end, as Salzman attends Yale, the book skips about a bit and comes to a hasty conclusion, but overall it's an enjoyable voyage. In tone and style, Salzman is somewhat like Tom Perrotta, whose book of stories, BAD HAIRCUT, is similar to this. If you enjoyed that book, check this one out (and vice versa). Recommended.

I first found this book serendipitously in the library when I was looking for a Biography in the S section. I was not familiar with Mark Salzman or any of his books. However the back cover described a time period and young person's life that was very familiar. I was able to read it very quickly which is my first clue that this could be a 4 to 5 star book.I loved it because it was well written and like the "Wonder Years" described a phase we all go through with comedy, sadness, and sincerity. He describes parents we wonder about during the time we live with them but find out many years later how lucky we were to have them. His search for the meaning of life passes through kung fu, a summer of pot, and Chinese Literature at Yale. He doesn't quite find it but finally learns what he needs from the most unexpected of places. I give it a five star because of my last clue of greatness - as I was getting closer to the end I would see how close I was to the last page and then get a little sad.

Growing up in the suburbs can be cruel, tough, weird, and it generally takes too long. Salzman's coming of age story shortens the agony into less than 300 pages of well-told, self-deprecating vignettes. The reader can wince, smile and stay safely on the outside.Salzman's writing is not powerful enough to draw the reader in, but it is true enough to keep the reader interested. It has the same detached, keep-your-distance feel as "Lying Awake," which Salzman did better to avoided in "Iron and Silk" and "The Soloist."Some of his stories have no conclusion or point, but they don't seem to need one. Witnessing the sometimes wrenching transition of boy to almost-man is a satisfaction in itself.

Another good memoir about growing up in the sane years I did. While this was written from a male viewpoint, I still recognized a lot of what life was like during those days. Quite humorous with several chuckles throughout. I enjoyed it a lot.