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Looking Back: A Book of Memories
"I would like to introduce you to this book. It has no plot. It is about moments, memories, fragments, falsehoods, and fantasies. It is about things that happened, which caused other things to happen, so that eventually stories emerged." Children as well as adults often ask Lois Lowry where the ideas for her stories came from. In this fascinating, moving autobiography, the Newbery Medalist answers this and many other questions. Her writing often transports readers into her own world. She explores her rich history through family pictures, memories, and recollections of childhood friends. She details pivotal moments that affected her life, inspired her writing, and that magically evolved into rich and wonderful stories that one is reluctant to put down. Lowry fans, and anyone interested in the writing process, will tremendously enjoy this poignant trip through a remarkable writer's past.
181 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1998
31 people are currently reading
1425 people want to read
About the author
Lois Lowry
164 books23k followersTaken from Lowry's website:
"I’ve always felt that I was fortunate to have been born the middle child of three. My older sister, Helen, was very much like our mother: gentle, family-oriented, eager to please. Little brother Jon was the only boy and had interests that he shared with Dad; together they were always working on electric trains and erector sets; and later, when Jon was older, they always seemed to have their heads under the raised hood of a car. That left me in-between, and exactly where I wanted most to be: on my own. I was a solitary child who lived in the world of books and my own vivid imagination.
Because my father was a career military officer - an Army dentist - I lived all over the world. I was born in Hawaii, moved from there to New York, spent the years of World War II in my mother’s hometown: Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and from there went to Tokyo when I was eleven. High school was back in New York City, but by the time I went to college (Brown University in Rhode Island), my family was living in Washington, D.C.
I married young. I had just turned nineteen - just finished my sophomore year in college - when I married a Naval officer and continued the odyssey that military life requires. California. Connecticut (a daughter born there). Florida (a son). South Carolina. Finally Cambridge, Massachusetts, when my husband left the service and entered Harvard Law School (another daughter; another son) and then to Maine - by now with four children under the age of five in tow. My children grew up in Maine. So did I. I returned to college at the University of Southern Maine, got my degree, went to graduate school, and finally began to write professionally, the thing I had dreamed of doing since those childhood years when I had endlessly scribbled stories and poems in notebooks.
After my marriage ended in 1977, when I was forty, I settled into the life I have lived ever since. Today I am back in Cambridge, Massachusetts, living and writing in a house dominated by a very shaggy Tibetan Terrier named Bandit. For a change of scenery Martin and I spend time in Maine, where we have an old (it was built in 1768!) farmhouse on top of a hill. In Maine I garden, feed birds, entertain friends, and read...
My books have varied in content and style. Yet it seems that all of them deal, essentially, with the same general theme: the importance of human connections. A Summer to Die, my first book, was a highly fictionalized retelling of the early death of my sister, and of the effect of such a loss on a family. Number the Stars, set in a different culture and era, tells the same story: that of the role that we humans play in the lives of our fellow beings.
The Giver - and Gathering Blue, and the newest in the trilogy: Messenger - take place against the background of very different cultures and times. Though all three are broader in scope than my earlier books, they nonetheless speak to the same concern: the vital need of people to be aware of their interdependence, not only with each other, but with the world and its environment.
My older son was a fighter pilot in the United States Air Force. His death in the cockpit of a warplane tore away a piece of my world. But it left me, too, with a wish to honor him by joining the many others trying to find a way to end conflict on this very fragile earth.
I am a grandmother now. For my own grandchildren - and for all those of their generation - I try, through writing, to convey my passionate awareness that we live intertwined on this planet and that our future depends upon our caring more, and doing more, for one another."
"I’ve always felt that I was fortunate to have been born the middle child of three. My older sister, Helen, was very much like our mother: gentle, family-oriented, eager to please. Little brother Jon was the only boy and had interests that he shared with Dad; together they were always working on electric trains and erector sets; and later, when Jon was older, they always seemed to have their heads under the raised hood of a car. That left me in-between, and exactly where I wanted most to be: on my own. I was a solitary child who lived in the world of books and my own vivid imagination.
Because my father was a career military officer - an Army dentist - I lived all over the world. I was born in Hawaii, moved from there to New York, spent the years of World War II in my mother’s hometown: Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and from there went to Tokyo when I was eleven. High school was back in New York City, but by the time I went to college (Brown University in Rhode Island), my family was living in Washington, D.C.
I married young. I had just turned nineteen - just finished my sophomore year in college - when I married a Naval officer and continued the odyssey that military life requires. California. Connecticut (a daughter born there). Florida (a son). South Carolina. Finally Cambridge, Massachusetts, when my husband left the service and entered Harvard Law School (another daughter; another son) and then to Maine - by now with four children under the age of five in tow. My children grew up in Maine. So did I. I returned to college at the University of Southern Maine, got my degree, went to graduate school, and finally began to write professionally, the thing I had dreamed of doing since those childhood years when I had endlessly scribbled stories and poems in notebooks.
After my marriage ended in 1977, when I was forty, I settled into the life I have lived ever since. Today I am back in Cambridge, Massachusetts, living and writing in a house dominated by a very shaggy Tibetan Terrier named Bandit. For a change of scenery Martin and I spend time in Maine, where we have an old (it was built in 1768!) farmhouse on top of a hill. In Maine I garden, feed birds, entertain friends, and read...
My books have varied in content and style. Yet it seems that all of them deal, essentially, with the same general theme: the importance of human connections. A Summer to Die, my first book, was a highly fictionalized retelling of the early death of my sister, and of the effect of such a loss on a family. Number the Stars, set in a different culture and era, tells the same story: that of the role that we humans play in the lives of our fellow beings.
The Giver - and Gathering Blue, and the newest in the trilogy: Messenger - take place against the background of very different cultures and times. Though all three are broader in scope than my earlier books, they nonetheless speak to the same concern: the vital need of people to be aware of their interdependence, not only with each other, but with the world and its environment.
My older son was a fighter pilot in the United States Air Force. His death in the cockpit of a warplane tore away a piece of my world. But it left me, too, with a wish to honor him by joining the many others trying to find a way to end conflict on this very fragile earth.
I am a grandmother now. For my own grandchildren - and for all those of their generation - I try, through writing, to convey my passionate awareness that we live intertwined on this planet and that our future depends upon our caring more, and doing more, for one another."
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August 13, 2017
By the time I got to the last 10 pages of this very touching "Book of Memories", with beautiful black and white photographs inserted throughout....tears were beginning to run down my cheeks.
My first introduction to Lois Lowry was through her teen book, "Number The Stars", that my teen ( at the time), daughter, was reading -- then "The Giver".
From years 1910 to 2016.....Lois Lowry shares about her life, her family, writing, reading , and literature in her life. This is a BEAUTIFUL book that any reader will cherish.
Alice Hoffman wrote a new introduction.
Here's an excerpt by Hoffman which gives a flavor of this book:
"Share your history, and knowledge lives. That is the lesson of 'The Giver' and the quiet message of this book as well. Lois Lowry is a survivor, one who has lived a life filled with wonderful gifts and terrible losses, most especially the loss of her son Grey.
In snapshots, both visual and emotional, the author shares her past, and in doing so she presents to us the life of a generous, gutsy, singular woman who reminds us that Books and Love and memory are all that matter".
My first introduction to Lois Lowry was through her teen book, "Number The Stars", that my teen ( at the time), daughter, was reading -- then "The Giver".
From years 1910 to 2016.....Lois Lowry shares about her life, her family, writing, reading , and literature in her life. This is a BEAUTIFUL book that any reader will cherish.
Alice Hoffman wrote a new introduction.
Here's an excerpt by Hoffman which gives a flavor of this book:
"Share your history, and knowledge lives. That is the lesson of 'The Giver' and the quiet message of this book as well. Lois Lowry is a survivor, one who has lived a life filled with wonderful gifts and terrible losses, most especially the loss of her son Grey.
In snapshots, both visual and emotional, the author shares her past, and in doing so she presents to us the life of a generous, gutsy, singular woman who reminds us that Books and Love and memory are all that matter".
August 20, 2017
I have read many of Lois Lowry's books...and have been haunted by some. A few I have carried in my heart and begged others to read. This book of her memories was written in a way that catches your heart...or makes you stop and look back at your own life and reflect . I think that even if you have not been touched by her books , there is something to be gained by this small book of photos and life stories.
September 9, 2015
Gorgeous. Some of the most beautiful writing ever. Chapter 36 especially. "You're on your own."
April 20, 2017
While most people know about the book The Giver, not many people know about the person behind the book—Lois Lowry. In this autobiography, we learn about her in a firsthand narrative!
The format of this book is not like normal autobiographies. Instead of just chapters and chapters of stories about the person’s life, this book is filled with pictures as well as a page or two about each photograph. It is truly fascinating!
The cover is really intriguing in a strange sort of way. Instead of thinking to myself, “Hey, this looks like an adventurous story,” I thought, “Wow, I wonder what story is behind that picture!” This cover deserves 4 stars!
I definitely like the book altogether! Reading autobiographies can be at times thought of as a chore. I mean, sometimes an autobiography seems to go on and on and never stop. Where is the action? In this book, the reader is swept immediately into the world of Lois Lowry! I am going to give this book 5 stars! I would recommend this to any person, young or old, in need of an inspiring autobiography.
Title: Looking Back: A Book of Memories
Author: Lois Lowry
Author’s Website: http://www.loislowry.com/
Reading Resolution: #44
This review is written in my own opinions and words.
The format of this book is not like normal autobiographies. Instead of just chapters and chapters of stories about the person’s life, this book is filled with pictures as well as a page or two about each photograph. It is truly fascinating!
The cover is really intriguing in a strange sort of way. Instead of thinking to myself, “Hey, this looks like an adventurous story,” I thought, “Wow, I wonder what story is behind that picture!” This cover deserves 4 stars!
I definitely like the book altogether! Reading autobiographies can be at times thought of as a chore. I mean, sometimes an autobiography seems to go on and on and never stop. Where is the action? In this book, the reader is swept immediately into the world of Lois Lowry! I am going to give this book 5 stars! I would recommend this to any person, young or old, in need of an inspiring autobiography.
Title: Looking Back: A Book of Memories
Author: Lois Lowry
Author’s Website: http://www.loislowry.com/
Reading Resolution: #44
This review is written in my own opinions and words.
January 30, 2019
Absolutely precious book. It's written in tidbit format, with tons of pictures, and with quotes from books that tie into the memories. I really liked the format, even though I wasn't expecting it. A treasure for Lois Lowry fans!
March 3, 2017
This was a fun book to read. Lois Lowry writes it in snipits. She shares a photograph, and then a memory. Some memories made me laugh, most made me happy, and a few made me cry.
April 28, 2024
Ok WAIT this was over way too soon. This is an ode to life and living and memories and the way time keeps moving, people keep being born and dying and creating and destroying. It was so beautiful. It's focused on Lois's life, but it holds so much else to it. I am so happy to be an author that's part of adding to the world of books.
February 18, 2021
A moving book of reminiscence told in pictures, quotes, and anecdotes by a perceptive and thoughtful author
August 18, 2016
Multi-award winning Children's author Lois Lowry has had a (literally) storied career and, in this cozy retrospective, she provides insights into her process and the events that inspired her many books. The book is framed as a photo album with the author's commentaries. Her family pictures extend back to the beginning of the 20th century when her mother was young, through photos of her own family, both children and grandchildren. With an extensive body of work, Lowry is able to pull from her own writing, the appropriate quotes and inspirations for her reflections. There is no continuity to this volume. It is very much stream of thought. However, it is delightful as she recalls her quiet yet mischievous childhood; her years as a young wife and mother of four with writing squeezed in at odd hours; to the loss of her pilot son, Grey, which echoed the earlier loss of her idolized older sister. Like most of us, Lowry has not had an uneventful life, but she manages to weave the vignettes into a book that is well worth reading, especially by her fans. This is an expanded version of an earlier edition, bringing readers up to date on Lowry's life, at least through the filming of The Giver.
February 3, 2017
As Ms. Lowry says in the title, this is literally a book of memories - Ms. Lowry's happy, sad, awkward, and funny memories to be exact. With each memory comes a beautiful photograph. I have recently developed a fascination with old photographs and these photos are no exception. I especially like the ones with Lois and her sister Helen as young girls. The innocence and pure joy captured on some of those photos reminded me of my own childhood days. Lowry writes her memories as she writes her books - with a touch of humor and poignancy that blend together, resulting in pure splendidness. I have not read all of Lowry's books, but I plan on adding more to my to-read list after reading some of her profound quotes. After reading this, her books that I have read are more meaningful.
And now I have enough grit to watch the film adaptation of The Giver (which is one of my favorites). If she thinks the movie is good and approved the changes, then I as a fan can give it a try.
I recommend especially to those who enjoy Lowry's books. Even if you are not familiar with her as an author, I still recommend it...after reading, it may inspire you to read some of her wonderful works!
And now I have enough grit to watch the film adaptation of The Giver (which is one of my favorites). If she thinks the movie is good and approved the changes, then I as a fan can give it a try.
I recommend especially to those who enjoy Lowry's books. Even if you are not familiar with her as an author, I still recommend it...after reading, it may inspire you to read some of her wonderful works!
September 25, 2016
Yesterday at the Library of Congress National Book Festival I had the pleasure of hearing and meeting (exceptionally briefly while she signed a book) Lois Lowry. I have read The Giver several times, and decided it gets better with age. I also distinctly remember reading Number the Stars in 5th (???) grade. I remember it clearly because it was one of the first introductions they did to WWII and the Holocaust in elementary school. I now feel inspired to read more of her books. She is just so interesting! The introduction to this book describes it as being fragments of memories, and that is exactly what it was. She has pictures paired with short stories or musings about her life. I hope that someday when I am almost 80 I can look back on pictures and think that I have had a full life of adventure, love, loss, silliness, and all the things that make life.
February 4, 2011
After we saw Lois Lowry, my friend, Terrie, said, "You have to read her autobiography! It will make you cry!" Well, she was correct. I did love it, and it was quietly inspirational. I'm so glad I read it! This book isn't really an autobiography or even a memoir. It's a collection of photos, memories, and musings. Reading Looking Back is like curling up on the couch with your favorite aunt and a photo album.
Each "chapter" also begins with a snippet from one of Lowry's works and the memories explain some of the ideas for her characters and stories. This is a must read for fans of Lowry's work! Readers will come away with a greater appreciation for Lowry as an author and as a person.
Each "chapter" also begins with a snippet from one of Lowry's works and the memories explain some of the ideas for her characters and stories. This is a must read for fans of Lowry's work! Readers will come away with a greater appreciation for Lowry as an author and as a person.
February 24, 2012
Newbery medal and honor award winning author Lois Lowry takes us on a journey throughout her life. This is a stellar book, filled with hope, sadness, joy and the sheer beauty of living life to the fullest.
Each chapter begins with a quote from one of her many books with an accompanying photo. We learn how her life inspired her works.
This was such a wonderful, pleasant read that I hated to see it end. This is what good writing is with each word, each phrase a delightful tidbit to savor!
Highly recommend
Each chapter begins with a quote from one of her many books with an accompanying photo. We learn how her life inspired her works.
This was such a wonderful, pleasant read that I hated to see it end. This is what good writing is with each word, each phrase a delightful tidbit to savor!
Highly recommend
July 23, 2012
Enjoyable memoir. Lowry has a gift of words, as she can turn ordinary moments/memories into poignant accounts. I'd like my own personal history to be done like this one day. Maybe she can write it for me??
February 6, 2017
This was great! I think I would have REALLY loved it if I had read more than just the Giver quartet and Number the Stars. Lowry sweetly showed how her own life influenced her writing. Now it's time to read more of her books!
August 23, 2010
I love the idea of memory attached to photo + I love Lois Lowry = I love this book.
September 8, 2016
I'm not sure if I've read any of her books before, but, my goodness, does she have voice in her writing. It's a beautiful display of her life and it's amazing the timespan it covers!
July 25, 2016
Lois Lowry’s LOOKING BACK was originally published in 1999; this new edition has been updated with pictures, vignettes, and commentary to include the last fifteen years of Lowry’s life. It’s an extraordinary book, not so much an autobiography (although you could certainly call it that) as a very personal look at the writing process from the perspective of a woman who has written scores of wonderful children’s books. LOOKING BACK is all about how much a writer’s life influences her characters, her stories, and her message to her readers. Lowry juxtaposes photos and personal reminiscences with excerpts from her many books to illustrate how the life she lived shaped the words she wrote.
As a writer myself (although not on Lowry’s level!), I understand exactly what she’s getting at here. My own characters have been inspired by my own life, often unexpectedly. Lowry’s relationship with her mother, her sister, her two husbands, and her children and grandchildren has inspired the stories she writes, the fictional worlds she has created, and the characters her readers have come to love. And here, in LOOKING BACK, she shares those connections with us. It’s a wonderful experience for any fan of Lowry’s, or any lover of writing.
Most importantly, Lowry writes about her love affair with words, which began with her own mother reading to her and still goes on today as she reads to her grandchildren. For her, words were magical, and the stories they created became real to her. She describes a game she plays where she and her friends and family members look at a scene (such as a baby eating lunch) and try to come up with a book they are reminded of. “There are no wrong answers,” she says. Whatever your answer, you will be right! It’s all about loving books – “Reading a lot,” Lowry says, “does make winners of people.”
Through this book, Lowry looks at her life as a story, one that has yet to conclude. She says that the story must develop on its own – it can’t be rushed or manipulated. And that’s how she has developed the stories in the books she’s written. At one point, she references Jonas’s awed reaction to the wonderful books he sees in the Giver’s library that “one day . . . would belong to him.” These books, Jonas realizes, “contained the knowledge of centuries.” As Lowry describes it, all of us “hold the knowledge of centuries,” just by sharing our memories with our children and grandchildren. “[A]s we look back,” she writes, “and say to a child, ‘I remember ____’ we do, in fact, hold the knowledge of centuries. And we all become Givers.”
I loved reading LOOKING BACK. It makes me want to do something similar, to spend some time “looking back” at my own life and the people and experiences that have shaped both me and my writing. It’s the kind of thing we don’t do often enough, but should. We are our memories, and when we share them we share ourselves. Lowry’s memoir is beautifully done. I highly recommend it.
[Please note: I was provided a copy of this book for review; the opinions expressed here are my own.]
As a writer myself (although not on Lowry’s level!), I understand exactly what she’s getting at here. My own characters have been inspired by my own life, often unexpectedly. Lowry’s relationship with her mother, her sister, her two husbands, and her children and grandchildren has inspired the stories she writes, the fictional worlds she has created, and the characters her readers have come to love. And here, in LOOKING BACK, she shares those connections with us. It’s a wonderful experience for any fan of Lowry’s, or any lover of writing.
Most importantly, Lowry writes about her love affair with words, which began with her own mother reading to her and still goes on today as she reads to her grandchildren. For her, words were magical, and the stories they created became real to her. She describes a game she plays where she and her friends and family members look at a scene (such as a baby eating lunch) and try to come up with a book they are reminded of. “There are no wrong answers,” she says. Whatever your answer, you will be right! It’s all about loving books – “Reading a lot,” Lowry says, “does make winners of people.”
Through this book, Lowry looks at her life as a story, one that has yet to conclude. She says that the story must develop on its own – it can’t be rushed or manipulated. And that’s how she has developed the stories in the books she’s written. At one point, she references Jonas’s awed reaction to the wonderful books he sees in the Giver’s library that “one day . . . would belong to him.” These books, Jonas realizes, “contained the knowledge of centuries.” As Lowry describes it, all of us “hold the knowledge of centuries,” just by sharing our memories with our children and grandchildren. “[A]s we look back,” she writes, “and say to a child, ‘I remember ____’ we do, in fact, hold the knowledge of centuries. And we all become Givers.”
I loved reading LOOKING BACK. It makes me want to do something similar, to spend some time “looking back” at my own life and the people and experiences that have shaped both me and my writing. It’s the kind of thing we don’t do often enough, but should. We are our memories, and when we share them we share ourselves. Lowry’s memoir is beautifully done. I highly recommend it.
[Please note: I was provided a copy of this book for review; the opinions expressed here are my own.]
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March 26, 2012Looking Back by Lois Lowry
The way this memoir was written is notably different than some of the others we’ve looked at for this project. It's message, purpose, and features are unique to this genre. This book was particularly interesting because we are familiar with Lowry’s works. For example, The Giver is a novel I’ve read and am even doing for another class now. That said, it is so wonderful that her memoir has quotes from it (and other works), and notes, and pictures. It’s really awesome that she utilized this book to answer questions from her fans, while incorporating her own life and backstory to do so. The connections she makes between the pictures and her writing gives us a more rounded idea of her life, which becomes more powerful to the reader. Just like in a separate book we covered earlier in the semester, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, the photographs give more depth to her memories.
As a reader, I liked the aspect of getting to know this author on such a personal level. Of course our other memoirs allowed us to do the same thing, but the fact that Lowry is a writer that has previously meant something to me makes this special. She’s very personable in her style and tone. The way she relates her memories to the reader is very endearing. I loved getting all these fun facts about her. The little snippets had me feeling so connected. I (Claire) lived in Japan for a little while growing up, too, so that was cool to read. Overall, I really enjoyed the anecdotes and little quips about her life and family. This was like flipping open to the inside cover of a novel to read the little bio about the author, but so much better. Whereas that would be a taste, this was a full-on meal; and a rich one at that.
As a teacher, this would be a great book to have in the classroom; especially if you had some of Lowry’s novels on your shelf, too. I believe that students can get more into a work if there is some level of familiarity with the writer. Having that connection makes you more invested in the book. In this memoir, Lowry is explaining her inspiration for her writing, which is such a wonderful thing for students to be exposed to. Perhaps you could share this book with your class (depending on the grade level you’re teaching and if this would be part of instruction) as they prepare to write anything fictional, or autobiographical. It helps them understand process, inspiration, and style. Also, it can serve as a motivational tool for students that have trouble connecting to the creative aspect of writing, and by reading her stories, they may find some relate able connection to writing through Lowry.
I’d definitely recommend this, both as a supplementary text and a stand-alone work. It’s a fun and easy read that actually contains a lot of depth and some very valuable content.
-Claire Ramos and Jessica Griggs
The way this memoir was written is notably different than some of the others we’ve looked at for this project. It's message, purpose, and features are unique to this genre. This book was particularly interesting because we are familiar with Lowry’s works. For example, The Giver is a novel I’ve read and am even doing for another class now. That said, it is so wonderful that her memoir has quotes from it (and other works), and notes, and pictures. It’s really awesome that she utilized this book to answer questions from her fans, while incorporating her own life and backstory to do so. The connections she makes between the pictures and her writing gives us a more rounded idea of her life, which becomes more powerful to the reader. Just like in a separate book we covered earlier in the semester, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, the photographs give more depth to her memories.
As a reader, I liked the aspect of getting to know this author on such a personal level. Of course our other memoirs allowed us to do the same thing, but the fact that Lowry is a writer that has previously meant something to me makes this special. She’s very personable in her style and tone. The way she relates her memories to the reader is very endearing. I loved getting all these fun facts about her. The little snippets had me feeling so connected. I (Claire) lived in Japan for a little while growing up, too, so that was cool to read. Overall, I really enjoyed the anecdotes and little quips about her life and family. This was like flipping open to the inside cover of a novel to read the little bio about the author, but so much better. Whereas that would be a taste, this was a full-on meal; and a rich one at that.
As a teacher, this would be a great book to have in the classroom; especially if you had some of Lowry’s novels on your shelf, too. I believe that students can get more into a work if there is some level of familiarity with the writer. Having that connection makes you more invested in the book. In this memoir, Lowry is explaining her inspiration for her writing, which is such a wonderful thing for students to be exposed to. Perhaps you could share this book with your class (depending on the grade level you’re teaching and if this would be part of instruction) as they prepare to write anything fictional, or autobiographical. It helps them understand process, inspiration, and style. Also, it can serve as a motivational tool for students that have trouble connecting to the creative aspect of writing, and by reading her stories, they may find some relate able connection to writing through Lowry.
I’d definitely recommend this, both as a supplementary text and a stand-alone work. It’s a fun and easy read that actually contains a lot of depth and some very valuable content.
-Claire Ramos and Jessica Griggs
December 7, 2016
Lois Lowry is one of my favorite authors since discovering her books through my children. Her memoir is a treasure. She provides short stories and photographs of her life from childhood memories onward. Have you ever read something by an author and felt like you knew them? This is how I felt on reading this lovely book. I loved her honesty. I have been "accused" of being too honest by my former employer - as if this were a bad trait! But, I really can't live with myself if I can't be a genuine version of who I am.
I loved her childhood stories, the stories about her siblings and travels. I loved the stories that inspired her books. I admired her candor about how difficult it was to re-enter the dating world at 42. I liked her descriptions of Martin. I cried when she wrote about the worst day of her life.
Here's a short segment of the quiet, reflective thoughts of a beloved author:
"We're all on our own, aren't we? That's what it all boils down to.
We come into this world on our own--in Hawaii, as I did, or New York, or China, or Africa, or Montana--and we leave it in the same way, on our own, wherever we happen to be at the time--in a plane, in our beds, in a car, in a space shuttle, or in a field of flowers.
And between those times, we try to connect along the way with others who are also on their own.
If we're lucky, we have a mother who read to us.
We have a teacher or two along the way who made us feel special.
We have dogs who do the stupid dog tricks we teach them and who lie on our bed when we're not looking, because it smells like us, and so we pretend not to notice the paw prints on the bedspread.
We have friends who loan us their favorite books.
Maybe we have children, and grandchildren, and funny mailmen, and eccentric great-aunts, and uncles who can pull pennies out of their ears.
All of them teach us stuff. They teach us about combustion engines and the major products of Bolivia, and what poems are not boring, and how to be kind to each other, and how to laugh, and when the vigil is in our hands, and when we just have to make the best of things even though it's hard sometimes.
Looking back together, telling our stories to one another, we learn how to be on our own."
Cherished author and lovely person. Highly recommend.
I loved her childhood stories, the stories about her siblings and travels. I loved the stories that inspired her books. I admired her candor about how difficult it was to re-enter the dating world at 42. I liked her descriptions of Martin. I cried when she wrote about the worst day of her life.
Here's a short segment of the quiet, reflective thoughts of a beloved author:
"We're all on our own, aren't we? That's what it all boils down to.
We come into this world on our own--in Hawaii, as I did, or New York, or China, or Africa, or Montana--and we leave it in the same way, on our own, wherever we happen to be at the time--in a plane, in our beds, in a car, in a space shuttle, or in a field of flowers.
And between those times, we try to connect along the way with others who are also on their own.
If we're lucky, we have a mother who read to us.
We have a teacher or two along the way who made us feel special.
We have dogs who do the stupid dog tricks we teach them and who lie on our bed when we're not looking, because it smells like us, and so we pretend not to notice the paw prints on the bedspread.
We have friends who loan us their favorite books.
Maybe we have children, and grandchildren, and funny mailmen, and eccentric great-aunts, and uncles who can pull pennies out of their ears.
All of them teach us stuff. They teach us about combustion engines and the major products of Bolivia, and what poems are not boring, and how to be kind to each other, and how to laugh, and when the vigil is in our hands, and when we just have to make the best of things even though it's hard sometimes.
Looking back together, telling our stories to one another, we learn how to be on our own."
Cherished author and lovely person. Highly recommend.
April 3, 2015
Wow.
I have finished this book just moments ago, and just could not wait to collect my thoughts on it. All I can think is... wow.
I'm not normally someone who likes to read non-fiction. I took a class in college where we had to write pieces like those contained in this book - short, essay-like depictions of our own lives. I disliked it immensely. I always liked to write fiction, with smart descriptions, deeply involved storylines, and plentiful backstory for my characters. Short non-fiction? Blah. Just months ago, my local library was running a writing contest that I entered where we had to write about a memory and how it affected our lives in two hundred words or less. I entered, but it was a struggle to write and I wasn't surprised when I didn't place. Short, non-fiction pieces are not my thing, whether to read them or write them.
Or so I thought.
I only picked this book up because Lois Lowry was scheduled to come to my hometown for a lecture and book signing, and I wanted to read something of hers that was less well-known. After it arrived, I let it sit on the desk for almost four months before I finally cracked it open, and now I can not believe I withheld such a beautiful gift from myself.
To put it simply, this book was utterly pleasurable to read. It is a collection of photographs with short, autobiographical vignettes. Even though each piece is only a page long or even shorter, as a collection, you get a glimpse of Lois Lowry's life, from her early years all the way to her adulthood, where she reminisces about her children and grandchildren. By the end of the book, I felt like I really knew this woman, even though I have never met her. For most of the book, I just could not stop smiling. There was even a point where I cried, which I don't often do when reading. It's just a beautiful book that creeps warmly into your heart. I am already looking forward to coming back and reading this book again and again!
I have finished this book just moments ago, and just could not wait to collect my thoughts on it. All I can think is... wow.
I'm not normally someone who likes to read non-fiction. I took a class in college where we had to write pieces like those contained in this book - short, essay-like depictions of our own lives. I disliked it immensely. I always liked to write fiction, with smart descriptions, deeply involved storylines, and plentiful backstory for my characters. Short non-fiction? Blah. Just months ago, my local library was running a writing contest that I entered where we had to write about a memory and how it affected our lives in two hundred words or less. I entered, but it was a struggle to write and I wasn't surprised when I didn't place. Short, non-fiction pieces are not my thing, whether to read them or write them.
Or so I thought.
I only picked this book up because Lois Lowry was scheduled to come to my hometown for a lecture and book signing, and I wanted to read something of hers that was less well-known. After it arrived, I let it sit on the desk for almost four months before I finally cracked it open, and now I can not believe I withheld such a beautiful gift from myself.
To put it simply, this book was utterly pleasurable to read. It is a collection of photographs with short, autobiographical vignettes. Even though each piece is only a page long or even shorter, as a collection, you get a glimpse of Lois Lowry's life, from her early years all the way to her adulthood, where she reminisces about her children and grandchildren. By the end of the book, I felt like I really knew this woman, even though I have never met her. For most of the book, I just could not stop smiling. There was even a point where I cried, which I don't often do when reading. It's just a beautiful book that creeps warmly into your heart. I am already looking forward to coming back and reading this book again and again!
September 7, 2016
When we first look through photographs of faces we don’t recognize, we usually don’t feel much connection to them. We need context to read the story behind the moment, and affection to respond to the soul behind the one dimensional image. Lowry lets us into her own family as she draws us past these disconnects. She points out details and gives backstory, shares personal responses and humorous reminisces, much like one might pass down stories to a grandchild. She conveys not only her own life, but includes photographs of her parents, children, grandchildren, and even some friends, showing the web through which we form our identity.
Far from being merely a means to assuage curiosity, Lowry uses these fragile moments from the past as a launching board for philosophical inquiry. Looking Back is not entitled a “Book of Memories” for nothing; Lowry gently asks many questions about the nature of memory throughout these pages, a theme readily seen in The Giver as well. When we see a face but cannot remember a name, what does that do to a person’s identity? Does time’s inevitable morphing of names and details mean that our memories become false? How is our memory influenced by the fleeting moments captured by the camera, even when these moments would be seen differently in the bigger picture? One thing becomes clear: memory is a gift.
Continued at TheWillowNook.com you are welcome to join us there!
*Review copy of HMH Books for Young Readers*
Far from being merely a means to assuage curiosity, Lowry uses these fragile moments from the past as a launching board for philosophical inquiry. Looking Back is not entitled a “Book of Memories” for nothing; Lowry gently asks many questions about the nature of memory throughout these pages, a theme readily seen in The Giver as well. When we see a face but cannot remember a name, what does that do to a person’s identity? Does time’s inevitable morphing of names and details mean that our memories become false? How is our memory influenced by the fleeting moments captured by the camera, even when these moments would be seen differently in the bigger picture? One thing becomes clear: memory is a gift.
Continued at TheWillowNook.com you are welcome to join us there!
*Review copy of HMH Books for Young Readers*
April 25, 2016
Biographies tell the story of the person but this book, written by the famous author herself is more than an autobiography. This book is an ‘aha’ memoir of memories and thoughts by author Lois Lowry. The chapters are arranged as vignettes and give personal details about Lowry’s life, family, and experiences. Where else will you learn that the author, born in Honolulu Hawaii in 1937, would move to the East Coast just before the bombing of Pearl Harbor! Or that the fourth book in the Giver quartet, The Son, contained many heartfelt and poignant feelings for the author who had just lost her grown son, a pilot for the U.S. Air Force. The settings vary throughout the book based on the time span. Lowry begins by writing about her parents and then goes on to compare herself to her mother, complete with photos at the same ages, to begin a conversation as to what each was feeling at that age during times in their lives. The photos are sepia and the shape of the book gives to more of a familial photo album feel, inviting the readers into a special and more personal look inside the author. Target audience: 9th grade – Adult.
September 9, 2016
This memoir, with its simple layout of photographs and memories, packs a poignant punch. From her own childhood to the childhoods of her grandchildren, Lois Lowry tells the story of her family; as well as reveals what things in life end up seeming the most important, when all is said and done. Family, friends, homes, pets, photographs, books, words, writings . . . all important. Yet she reminds readers towards the end of the book: "You're on your own." You come into the world on your own and you leave on your own. How do we learn to be on our own? "Looking back together, telling our stories to one another . . . ."
P.S. 9/8: Lois Lowry is quoted as saying in a September 7th Washington Post article that she regrets saying in this book: "You're on your own." She said if she was to redo this book, she would probably leave that belief out; because a psychiatrist friend convinced her that "all the people who have been part of our lives become part of us". Personally, I think you're on your own when you come into this world and when you leave this world.
(Note: I received a free copy of this book from Amazon Vine in exchange for an honest review.)
P.S. 9/8: Lois Lowry is quoted as saying in a September 7th Washington Post article that she regrets saying in this book: "You're on your own." She said if she was to redo this book, she would probably leave that belief out; because a psychiatrist friend convinced her that "all the people who have been part of our lives become part of us". Personally, I think you're on your own when you come into this world and when you leave this world.
(Note: I received a free copy of this book from Amazon Vine in exchange for an honest review.)
January 24, 2009
I chose this book, thinking it was a memoir, and since Phoebe and I had been sharing notes about Lois Lowry's The Giver and some of her other works for young adults, I was drawn to reserve this one at the library. It's a beautiful collection of old photos with short notations and quotations from her books accompanying the photos and notes (several from The Giver--which was first published in 1993 I think). I didn't know that Lois Lowry had a son who died in 1995 until I read this book. On Elizabeth's shelf I found Lowry's A Summer to Die about two sisters, Meg and Molly. She had read it along with several Lurlene McDaniel books about death and dying when she was 13 and 14, and I worried then that she was overdoing the morbid choices. Looking at A Summer to Die now, I"m going to read that one along with a reread of The Giver and The Messenger. (I won't pass judgment on the Lurlene McDaniel ones just now; I am not sure I want to examine too closely titles like So Much to Live For, Time to Let Go, Too Young to Die, and Goodbye Doesn't Mean Forever, all by McDaniel.)
December 18, 2018
As someone who loved The Giver, I found this book especially interesting and moving. I was able to share in the simple joys and complex heartaches that Lois Lowry has experienced throughout her life and relish in the beauty of language which she wields so eloquently. I think my favorite quote from this book is the last paragraph:
"Jonas looks at the books of the Giver, and realizes that one day they will be his.
I have come to believe that all of us, as we write, or read, or draw... as we hold the pages of a book tilted so that a little one can see... as we choose and wrap a book as a gift for a child... as we provide privacy and a comfortable chair, or a favorite book on a table beside a guest room bed... as we sift through memories, sort them out and see their meaning... and as we look back, and say to a child, "I remember--" we do, in fact, hold the knowledge of centuries. And we all become Givers" (p. 181).
"Jonas looks at the books of the Giver, and realizes that one day they will be his.
I have come to believe that all of us, as we write, or read, or draw... as we hold the pages of a book tilted so that a little one can see... as we choose and wrap a book as a gift for a child... as we provide privacy and a comfortable chair, or a favorite book on a table beside a guest room bed... as we sift through memories, sort them out and see their meaning... and as we look back, and say to a child, "I remember--" we do, in fact, hold the knowledge of centuries. And we all become Givers" (p. 181).
March 9, 2011
This book is an amazing find for my classroom. At my school the 4th graders read Number the Stars by Lois Lowry and the 6th graders read The Giver by Lois Lowry. I cannot wait to share the book Looking Back: A Collection of Memories with my 5th grade students. I honestly cannot believe I had never heard of this book until I saw the title in our textbook.
The introduction of this book is my favorite part! I love hearing and sharing with my students about the inspiration authors have that helped them write their books. I also think it is so interesting how Lois Lowry used personal photographs and shared memories from her childhood. My fifth graders do a lot of writing about themselves and memory work along with our service-learning intergenerational year long project. This book is a perfect tool to help them!
The introduction of this book is my favorite part! I love hearing and sharing with my students about the inspiration authors have that helped them write their books. I also think it is so interesting how Lois Lowry used personal photographs and shared memories from her childhood. My fifth graders do a lot of writing about themselves and memory work along with our service-learning intergenerational year long project. This book is a perfect tool to help them!
June 22, 2017
The Giver always has and always will be a staple of my childhood reading experience. It stands up to the test of time every time I reread it. Gathering Blue was also excellent, and I think that Son would have been fantastic had it not been obligated to reference messenger.
Don't watch the movie. You'll only cause yourself pain.
Lowry is an author that I have criminally under-read. which I aim to remedy soon. Reading her captions about her memories and seeing her photographs helps me remember that Lowry is as much an ordinary person as I am. That she struggled, that she lost, that she coped like I did.
It gives me hope as a writer and as a person.
It's humbling to see someone you idolize reduced to the status of Human, but not in the way that makes you feel like that person is less good. Or that you like them less.
Don't watch the movie. You'll only cause yourself pain.
Lowry is an author that I have criminally under-read. which I aim to remedy soon. Reading her captions about her memories and seeing her photographs helps me remember that Lowry is as much an ordinary person as I am. That she struggled, that she lost, that she coped like I did.
It gives me hope as a writer and as a person.
It's humbling to see someone you idolize reduced to the status of Human, but not in the way that makes you feel like that person is less good. Or that you like them less.
October 15, 2016
This reads like a conversation with someone who just found a box of photos from the attic. As she picks up each photo and tells its story, the reader gets a glimpse through a window into the past. There's plenty of humor, a good amount of sadness, and plenty of reality, such as it is. The quotes from Lowry's fictional works at the beginning of each segment were not always clearly connected to the stories of her life; sometimes it made me want to read/reread her books.
Memorable passage: In that moment it really hits home how personal this book is, how honest she is being, and it really offers an amazing connection to this woman I never met but whose books I grew up loving.
Memorable passage: In that moment it really hits home how personal this book is, how honest she is being, and it really offers an amazing connection to this woman I never met but whose books I grew up loving.
January 3, 2017
So can every author that I like just write a book exactly like this about their lives. First of all I read this in one nap setting...how amazing is that...I haven't done that with a book since before children. It was a fast read because of all these beautiful pictures in the book matched with a quote from her books she wrote matched with a memory or snippet from her life. I adored this style and enjoyed learning more about this author I taught for several years (The Giver)...the whole series of the Giver is in my top five list. If you ever read anything by Lois Lowry...you should read this one. Only wanted her to talk a little more about the books she added to the series of The Giver since I so love them all.
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