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Roller Rink Starlight: A Memoir
William Hart’s true coming of age memoir begins when at fourteen he joins an amateur roller racing team comprised of both sexes and loaded with RSROA national champions. A varsity sprinter in track, he soon excels at speed skating.
Insiders know roller rinks are conspiracies to turn singles into couples.
The main storyline follows Hart’s early education in romance—piquant, humorous, harrowing, and laced with major life lessons. The setting: Wichita, Kansas, early 1960s, when the sexual repression of the 50s still prevails, except in rare zones of marked liberation. Adults have their watering holes, teens the rink, where they can experiment with their budding sexualities. Immersed in powerful mood music they glide in pairs through darkness under stars and make out in the bleachers. Falling in love is ridiculously easy, as we see in the adventures of teammates, parents, and certainly the author. Hart fell hard for a gifted racer, his kindred spirit, costar of many of his most indelible memories.
This sports memoir about love and roller skating chronicles poignantly the ecstasies and perils of 60s high school romance against a backdrop of flat-out athletic competition.
Roller Rink Starlight is nostalgic nonfiction for seniors and educational nonfiction for young adults interested in love and sex in another time.
Insiders know roller rinks are conspiracies to turn singles into couples.
The main storyline follows Hart’s early education in romance—piquant, humorous, harrowing, and laced with major life lessons. The setting: Wichita, Kansas, early 1960s, when the sexual repression of the 50s still prevails, except in rare zones of marked liberation. Adults have their watering holes, teens the rink, where they can experiment with their budding sexualities. Immersed in powerful mood music they glide in pairs through darkness under stars and make out in the bleachers. Falling in love is ridiculously easy, as we see in the adventures of teammates, parents, and certainly the author. Hart fell hard for a gifted racer, his kindred spirit, costar of many of his most indelible memories.
This sports memoir about love and roller skating chronicles poignantly the ecstasies and perils of 60s high school romance against a backdrop of flat-out athletic competition.
Roller Rink Starlight is nostalgic nonfiction for seniors and educational nonfiction for young adults interested in love and sex in another time.
- GenresMemoir
255 pages, Paperback
Published March 25, 2021
9 people want to read
About the author
William Hart
5 books106 followersWilliam Hart is a novelist and poet living in Los Angeles. After earning a doctorate in English from the University of Southern California, he taught college writing courses in LA and wrote. Now he writes--fiction mostly--while helping produce the documentaries of filmmaker Jayasri Majumdar, his wife. Hart's work has appeared in several hundred literary journals, commercial magazines, newspapers, and anthologies, and fourteen books. A pair of one-hour documentaries from Hartfilms aired nationally on PBS, the latest receiving Emmy nominations.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
January 17, 2022
Initially, while reading William Hart’s memoir ‘Roller Rink Starlight‘ I had just planned to summarize it as the explicitly intimate [more on what I exactly mean with this term later on] coming-of-age story of a self-declared nerd (although in all honesty I do thing ‘geeky jock’ might be a more fitting term for the protagonists “real” personality…) in Wichita, Kansas around 1960 [a time when the median age of first marriage in the USA was around 20 years for women and just under 23 years for men—nowadays these numbers stand at 29 years and just above 30 years respectively]. As it happens with teenagers at one point, the protagonist lets the newly accumulating testosterone in his body take over [AKA—he starts ‘thinking’ with his d*ck] which after meeting his ‘femme fatal’ causes him to – metaphorically - ‘fly out’ of the roller rink oval (that had been such a big part of his formative years) with his speed skates still attached at high speed [the story basically ends exactly at that moment and given that the author has lived to write his memoir I don’t believe he actually ‘crashed’ after that point (although he got quite close just before)—but he definitely leaves the circular repetitiveness which was a big part of his youth behind forever].
BUT then I reached the last fifth of the book (and especially so chapter 49) and realized that the above summary would just not do this work the justice it deserves. Therefore:
The GOOD—the BAD—and the UGLY of William Hart’s memoir ‘Roller Rink Starlight’ [the UGLY contains spoilers, just that you know…]
Let’s start with the GOOD:
The writing is engaging and the author definitely paints a clear reflective picture of his teenage self and of the state his mind was in at that time. He does this in an intimate, believably honest way, with an inherent cathartic quality. His writing made it an interesting read even for a ‘nerd’ like myself who has never really had any interest in sports whatsoever and even less so in high-school competitive sports but with reading this book I now feel I have a better understanding of the formative role these activities can have in a young person’s life [an experience which as a ‘true nerd’ myself I never ever have been through personally]. At times, Hart’s prose has a lyrical touch to it, which clearly reflects his novelist roots.
Now the BAD (although BAD is definitely the wrong word here—it is more about what I personally feel could have made the book even stronger than it is):
Although it seems like the State of Kansas was off to a great start as a ‘literary destination’ in the year 1900 thanks to a small girl and her dog I personally longed for getting more of a ‘sense of place’ about Wichita, Kansas [a place personally completely foreign to me…] similarly as the author has achieved with the ‘sense of rollerskating and competitive high school sports’ above. In our ever growing dualistic and divided world of the present day there should perhaps be a push for more literature ‘set in Kansas’ (and the author’s roots should make it easy for him to explore this perhaps at some point in the future?)—there are quite enough books out there already taking place in New York City, San Francisco or Paris in my opinion… ). To a somewhat lesser extent something similar holds true for the portrayal of the historic epoch of the early 1960s—the author refers to some of the tumultuous historic events that took place, however rarely does he share with the reader how these affected him personally at that very moment in time and he skips most of what could have been quite interesting ‘source accounts’ of the mundane—how e.g. was it like eating in what must have been one of the first ever McDonald’s in Colorado or what was it like actually taking a train from Wichita to Chicago (versus flying Southwest airlines….?). The book is not a long one, so it easily could ‘afford’ a minor detour into some of the everyday mundanities of the early 1960s. In all fairness, one must say that elaborating more on space and time period would, of course, distract from the ‘teenage’ self of the protagonist and the inherent self-absorption that occurs at that age.
Well, and this is the UGLY:
To make this very clear, the UGLY does not make ‘Roller Rink Starlight’ a ‘bad book’ or diminishes its quality—quite on the contrary. It is about what has perhaps moved me most about the story (one could even say shocked…) and which made it a memorable read for me. As hinted above the UGLY for me really does not happen until quite at the end of the book and after thinking about it I believe the UGLY at its core for me is caused by two things:
Mentioning the generations that follow my own brings me to my last point:
Would I, as a Gen Xer parent, recommend ‘Roller Rink Starlight’ as a reading for my Gen Z kids?
My answer here is a very clear YES.
Of course their ‘coming-of-age’ is even more different from William Hart’s than the one I had as a Gen Xer—as a matter of fact they will have the inevitable access to not only all the online porn they want (or do not want) with a simple tap from their hand-held device—but they will surely also be soon able to experience this sort of things in the ‘Metaverse’. Pretending that this will be controllable as a Gen X-parent is just utterly unrealistic wishful thinking. But after reading ‘Roller Rink Starlight’ a new thought came to me: Perhaps in itself it is not that bad of an idea to go ‘fully virtual’ during the ‘human sexual exploration’ phase as it appears on first thought: What if the ‘Metaverse’ had been around in Wichita, Kansas at the beginning of the 1960s? Would a ‘fully virtual experience’ have allowed the teenage William to ‘overcome’ his ‘thinking with his d*ck’ phase and end up happily ever after with Katy once she felt ready? Will technology provide a better outlet for testosterone and estrogen driven lust, which frequently leads to heartache if consummated outside of a loving relationship? Is a ‘virtual’ affair just as hurtful as a real one? How will Gen Z look back at their teenage years if their first “sexual encounter” happened with an algorithm? And what kind of memoirs will people write who end up finding their first love not in a Roller Rink in Kansas but in the ‘Oz’ section of the Metaverse?
In the unlikely scenario that humanity actually does not manage to self-destruct itself, we should have an answer to the last question around the year 2080.
BUT then I reached the last fifth of the book (and especially so chapter 49) and realized that the above summary would just not do this work the justice it deserves. Therefore:
The GOOD—the BAD—and the UGLY of William Hart’s memoir ‘Roller Rink Starlight’ [the UGLY contains spoilers, just that you know…]
Let’s start with the GOOD:
The writing is engaging and the author definitely paints a clear reflective picture of his teenage self and of the state his mind was in at that time. He does this in an intimate, believably honest way, with an inherent cathartic quality. His writing made it an interesting read even for a ‘nerd’ like myself who has never really had any interest in sports whatsoever and even less so in high-school competitive sports but with reading this book I now feel I have a better understanding of the formative role these activities can have in a young person’s life [an experience which as a ‘true nerd’ myself I never ever have been through personally]. At times, Hart’s prose has a lyrical touch to it, which clearly reflects his novelist roots.
Now the BAD (although BAD is definitely the wrong word here—it is more about what I personally feel could have made the book even stronger than it is):
Although it seems like the State of Kansas was off to a great start as a ‘literary destination’ in the year 1900 thanks to a small girl and her dog I personally longed for getting more of a ‘sense of place’ about Wichita, Kansas [a place personally completely foreign to me…] similarly as the author has achieved with the ‘sense of rollerskating and competitive high school sports’ above. In our ever growing dualistic and divided world of the present day there should perhaps be a push for more literature ‘set in Kansas’ (and the author’s roots should make it easy for him to explore this perhaps at some point in the future?)—there are quite enough books out there already taking place in New York City, San Francisco or Paris in my opinion… ). To a somewhat lesser extent something similar holds true for the portrayal of the historic epoch of the early 1960s—the author refers to some of the tumultuous historic events that took place, however rarely does he share with the reader how these affected him personally at that very moment in time and he skips most of what could have been quite interesting ‘source accounts’ of the mundane—how e.g. was it like eating in what must have been one of the first ever McDonald’s in Colorado or what was it like actually taking a train from Wichita to Chicago (versus flying Southwest airlines….?). The book is not a long one, so it easily could ‘afford’ a minor detour into some of the everyday mundanities of the early 1960s. In all fairness, one must say that elaborating more on space and time period would, of course, distract from the ‘teenage’ self of the protagonist and the inherent self-absorption that occurs at that age.
Well, and this is the UGLY:
To make this very clear, the UGLY does not make ‘Roller Rink Starlight’ a ‘bad book’ or diminishes its quality—quite on the contrary. It is about what has perhaps moved me most about the story (one could even say shocked…) and which made it a memorable read for me. As hinted above the UGLY for me really does not happen until quite at the end of the book and after thinking about it I believe the UGLY at its core for me is caused by two things:
Mentioning the generations that follow my own brings me to my last point:
Would I, as a Gen Xer parent, recommend ‘Roller Rink Starlight’ as a reading for my Gen Z kids?
My answer here is a very clear YES.
Of course their ‘coming-of-age’ is even more different from William Hart’s than the one I had as a Gen Xer—as a matter of fact they will have the inevitable access to not only all the online porn they want (or do not want) with a simple tap from their hand-held device—but they will surely also be soon able to experience this sort of things in the ‘Metaverse’. Pretending that this will be controllable as a Gen X-parent is just utterly unrealistic wishful thinking. But after reading ‘Roller Rink Starlight’ a new thought came to me: Perhaps in itself it is not that bad of an idea to go ‘fully virtual’ during the ‘human sexual exploration’ phase as it appears on first thought: What if the ‘Metaverse’ had been around in Wichita, Kansas at the beginning of the 1960s? Would a ‘fully virtual experience’ have allowed the teenage William to ‘overcome’ his ‘thinking with his d*ck’ phase and end up happily ever after with Katy once she felt ready? Will technology provide a better outlet for testosterone and estrogen driven lust, which frequently leads to heartache if consummated outside of a loving relationship? Is a ‘virtual’ affair just as hurtful as a real one? How will Gen Z look back at their teenage years if their first “sexual encounter” happened with an algorithm? And what kind of memoirs will people write who end up finding their first love not in a Roller Rink in Kansas but in the ‘Oz’ section of the Metaverse?
In the unlikely scenario that humanity actually does not manage to self-destruct itself, we should have an answer to the last question around the year 2080.
July 21, 2021
A memoir that will resonate with those whose youth was spent in the late '50s and '60s. As I read, I wondered what was the point of the story? What you realize is the story is the point. This is a tale of a young man's journey from almost primal youth to disaffected adult.
There is a moral to this story: if you focus on one thing, you will miss the big picture. As this book flows, my mind drifted to the title song from the Boss' album in 1980. Bill thought his girlfriend was beautiful, but he wanted intimacy. He found intimacy and that was all she wrote. For his 18th birthday, he got a marriage license and...
This book would be important reading for every kid who's thirteen. If every youth could read this book, they just might reconsider their thought processes as they stumble towards adulthood.
The book is well-formatted and flows easily. This book is a memoir that almost reads like a diary. I also think a moral here is that Bill didn't realize what he had ‘til it was gone.
If you want a very accurate read about life in the 1950s, get this book. If you like to reminisce about the mid 20th century, pick up this book. If you are someone who whiled away their youth at a roller rink, buy this book. A book that tells a tale that will be of interest to many people.
Disclaimer: I received a copy from the author in the hopes I'd review it.
My Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by: Mr. N
This review first appeared: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/po...
There is a moral to this story: if you focus on one thing, you will miss the big picture. As this book flows, my mind drifted to the title song from the Boss' album in 1980. Bill thought his girlfriend was beautiful, but he wanted intimacy. He found intimacy and that was all she wrote. For his 18th birthday, he got a marriage license and...
This book would be important reading for every kid who's thirteen. If every youth could read this book, they just might reconsider their thought processes as they stumble towards adulthood.
The book is well-formatted and flows easily. This book is a memoir that almost reads like a diary. I also think a moral here is that Bill didn't realize what he had ‘til it was gone.
If you want a very accurate read about life in the 1950s, get this book. If you like to reminisce about the mid 20th century, pick up this book. If you are someone who whiled away their youth at a roller rink, buy this book. A book that tells a tale that will be of interest to many people.
Disclaimer: I received a copy from the author in the hopes I'd review it.
My Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by: Mr. N
This review first appeared: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/po...
July 5, 2021
Roller Rink Starlight by William Hart is the true story of a teenager who is eager to find the right girl for romance. Other adventures of school and roller rink are thrown in to describe the delight of growing up. Hart shares his memories of a happy and secure childhood; he talks fondly about his parents whose smiling faces filled him with new energy at the skating club. Other anecdotes like Gretchen’s profane chatter against her teacher and her own preposterous exploits; millionaire parents of speed club members’ attitude and how teens fall in love add a humorous touch to the memoir.
The book slackens at places but soon picks up, as the chapters are short and Hart discusses a lot of topics connected with his school, how his grades fell and why he disliked Mr. Semple, his English teacher whose “head was lodged so high in the clouds.” His honest and candid style of sharing his innermost thoughts and desires provide a wealth of knowledge about how a teenager’s mind works. Katy’s subdued love adds extra thrill to their love story and you would be curious to know how far did they go. This book gives an interesting insight into the life of teenagers during the 60’s.
The book slackens at places but soon picks up, as the chapters are short and Hart discusses a lot of topics connected with his school, how his grades fell and why he disliked Mr. Semple, his English teacher whose “head was lodged so high in the clouds.” His honest and candid style of sharing his innermost thoughts and desires provide a wealth of knowledge about how a teenager’s mind works. Katy’s subdued love adds extra thrill to their love story and you would be curious to know how far did they go. This book gives an interesting insight into the life of teenagers during the 60’s.
October 7, 2021
A coming-of-age memoir from the sixties with a roller-skating back-drop
Hart’s memoir is a personal tale from a boy’s perspective in the early sixties. Romance and other more complicated adult themes are viewed through the skewed lens of the youngster as the story progresses.
Chapters are short, but the reading experience (ebook) still felt rather dense, involving long paragraphs told by the young narrator. The look back to a bygone era gives the reader a glimpse into a time that fed into the swinging sixties. Sexism is rampant, though our guide is portrayed as more enlightened.
I’ve read several memoirs in the past. Usually, they involve a specific event, time in politics, achievements of celebrities or philanthropists, adventurers or overcoming a significant setback. However, with this book, other than an interesting personal story, I wondered what particular category of memoir to place it in. At its heart, this is a romance, but don’t expect it to follow the fictional formula because real life just isn’t like that.
Certainly, an entertaining read for those looking to relive the nostalgia of the early nineteen-sixties, but perhaps more so men than women.
Hart’s memoir is a personal tale from a boy’s perspective in the early sixties. Romance and other more complicated adult themes are viewed through the skewed lens of the youngster as the story progresses.
Chapters are short, but the reading experience (ebook) still felt rather dense, involving long paragraphs told by the young narrator. The look back to a bygone era gives the reader a glimpse into a time that fed into the swinging sixties. Sexism is rampant, though our guide is portrayed as more enlightened.
I’ve read several memoirs in the past. Usually, they involve a specific event, time in politics, achievements of celebrities or philanthropists, adventurers or overcoming a significant setback. However, with this book, other than an interesting personal story, I wondered what particular category of memoir to place it in. At its heart, this is a romance, but don’t expect it to follow the fictional formula because real life just isn’t like that.
Certainly, an entertaining read for those looking to relive the nostalgia of the early nineteen-sixties, but perhaps more so men than women.
July 18, 2021
Roller Rink Starlight is mostly set in the early 1960s, a memoir that doesn't follow strict narrative structure and offers a thorough recounting of the author's adolescence. There's a value in allowing people to document stories from their past, as many aspects of daily living are lost to history as time goes on. So if only for that reason, I found the book worth my time. I'm not from the author's generation and was curious to see how society shifted in the years between his high school days and mine. The prose is clear and non-pretentious. If you're not as intrigued by this era, you might have a tougher time with the book. It doesn't read as a carefully plotted novel, inspired by events of the past while also taking dramatic liberties to enhance the narrative, it's more like someone talking to you face-to-face about his formative years. Understanding this will likely help with your enjoyment of the book.
February 4, 2022
I don't usually read memoirs, but I enjoyed this one. Having no attachment or anything outside general knowledge of the location or era written by the author, I found the book descriptive, easy to follow and with a 'Wonder Years type feel' (if that makes sense). The story starts by following the escapades of a 14 year old with a crush at a roller rink and follows him through growing up in Wichita, ending when he's 18 years old and become 'a man'. I liked the realness of things; and by that I mean everyday life is what it is, it's not a Van Damme movie or something; it's the discovery and journey along the way that you end up remembering and appreciate the most. Was the story filled with regret? Yes, much like everyone's teen years, and it was those mistakes are what have made us who we are today.
Throughout reading this book, I also did a lot of self reflection about me around that age, and I do not think I would be able to tell a story about me growing up anywhere close to this quality or as engaging as the author did. My only criticism is at about 1/2-3/4 of the book there was less about the rink and more about the adventure, which is fine, just a personal thing I would have liked about the story. That said, I did like the other parts too.
So, is this story about a roller-rink? Yes. Is there a lot more to the story? Yes. Would I recommend the book? Also, yes.
Throughout reading this book, I also did a lot of self reflection about me around that age, and I do not think I would be able to tell a story about me growing up anywhere close to this quality or as engaging as the author did. My only criticism is at about 1/2-3/4 of the book there was less about the rink and more about the adventure, which is fine, just a personal thing I would have liked about the story. That said, I did like the other parts too.
So, is this story about a roller-rink? Yes. Is there a lot more to the story? Yes. Would I recommend the book? Also, yes.
January 15, 2022
Is this a book of the author’s memories – or our own?
Roller Rink Starlight – A Memoir is just that – a recounting of the author’s teen years in high school and in the roller rink where he learned to become a speed skater. One might ask why one should bother reading about the mundane details of another person’s life. The answer is that they spark us to remember the details of our own.
The story told here is mundane – the events of the author’s life were not extraordinary, or even very meaningful to anyone but himself. However, they are told in such exquisite detail that I couldn’t help putting the book down to relive similar incidents in my own life. Those weren’t extraordinary either, but were very meaningful to me.
Why is it that our teen years are the ones we seem to remember with the greatest clarity? I think it is because that’s the period in which we are learning to live life, and we are so very concerned that we get it right. Even though I hardly ever had roller skates on my feet, reading about the author’s exploits helped me to unearth details of my teens that I hadn’t thought of in years. For that I am grateful.
Roller Rink Starlight – A Memoir is just that – a recounting of the author’s teen years in high school and in the roller rink where he learned to become a speed skater. One might ask why one should bother reading about the mundane details of another person’s life. The answer is that they spark us to remember the details of our own.
The story told here is mundane – the events of the author’s life were not extraordinary, or even very meaningful to anyone but himself. However, they are told in such exquisite detail that I couldn’t help putting the book down to relive similar incidents in my own life. Those weren’t extraordinary either, but were very meaningful to me.
Why is it that our teen years are the ones we seem to remember with the greatest clarity? I think it is because that’s the period in which we are learning to live life, and we are so very concerned that we get it right. Even though I hardly ever had roller skates on my feet, reading about the author’s exploits helped me to unearth details of my teens that I hadn’t thought of in years. For that I am grateful.
July 24, 2021
Ah, yes. The coming-of-age memoir. Many authors attempt it, some very well, some not-so-well.
Usually the key to success in this genre is to place one's adolescence in the context of something else: The 1960s, the Beatles, The New York Mets, Motown...something. And William Hart is no exception as he tells the tale of his upbringing as it relates to roller skating. Wait, what? Roller skating?
Yes, roller skating. A clumsy, unathletic Gen-Xer like myself obviously had no comprehension what a big deal roller skating could be in a place like Kansas in the 1950s. Hart does a superb job conveying what a genuine athletic endeavor competitive speed skating truly was, and how much it meant to the boys and girls who devoted themselves to it.
In addition to noticing what an unexpected topic roller skating is, the reader will quickly notice something else: This book is superbly written. Upon researching Mr. Hart's bio, this comes as little surprise. He is a very seasoned writer with a doctorate in English, with countless writing credits to his name. Every sentence in his memoir snaps with vitality and youthful exuberance.
If I had to complain (and I always do), usually when people tackle their memoirs, there's a healthy (or unhealthy) dose of truly captivating things: Addiction, child abuse, poverty, violence, discrimination, etc. For William Hart...well, he grew up in 1950s Kansas with a healthy family and a passion for girls, roller skating, and track. It ain't exactly "Angela's Ashes." But still, thanks to Hart's talent, it is somehow engrossing. (I especially loved the anecdotes about going to church, or not going.)
In a perfect world we would all pen our own memoirs and convey what a joyful yet baffling experience growing up truly is. Readers seeking perfectly-written memoirs of 1950s heartland love and adolescence need look no further than "Roller Rink Starlight."
Usually the key to success in this genre is to place one's adolescence in the context of something else: The 1960s, the Beatles, The New York Mets, Motown...something. And William Hart is no exception as he tells the tale of his upbringing as it relates to roller skating. Wait, what? Roller skating?
Yes, roller skating. A clumsy, unathletic Gen-Xer like myself obviously had no comprehension what a big deal roller skating could be in a place like Kansas in the 1950s. Hart does a superb job conveying what a genuine athletic endeavor competitive speed skating truly was, and how much it meant to the boys and girls who devoted themselves to it.
In addition to noticing what an unexpected topic roller skating is, the reader will quickly notice something else: This book is superbly written. Upon researching Mr. Hart's bio, this comes as little surprise. He is a very seasoned writer with a doctorate in English, with countless writing credits to his name. Every sentence in his memoir snaps with vitality and youthful exuberance.
If I had to complain (and I always do), usually when people tackle their memoirs, there's a healthy (or unhealthy) dose of truly captivating things: Addiction, child abuse, poverty, violence, discrimination, etc. For William Hart...well, he grew up in 1950s Kansas with a healthy family and a passion for girls, roller skating, and track. It ain't exactly "Angela's Ashes." But still, thanks to Hart's talent, it is somehow engrossing. (I especially loved the anecdotes about going to church, or not going.)
In a perfect world we would all pen our own memoirs and convey what a joyful yet baffling experience growing up truly is. Readers seeking perfectly-written memoirs of 1950s heartland love and adolescence need look no further than "Roller Rink Starlight."
August 25, 2021
Disjointed and without focus
This book starts with a lot of casual discussion about underage sex and abuse before swiftly moving on without really exploring why the author has chosen to discuss this. The memoir jumps from topic to topic without pause for reflection and I’m not sure what the take-home message is supposed to be. I’m not even clear on who the author sees as his target audience, as this seems to be a memoir and that is highly personal and I can’t imagine it being of much interest to the general reader. For me, a memoir should have meaning or a message, or relate to a significant event or period. This has none of those elements.
I wasn’t particularly interested in the content and I wasn’t enthralled by the style of writing.
This book starts with a lot of casual discussion about underage sex and abuse before swiftly moving on without really exploring why the author has chosen to discuss this. The memoir jumps from topic to topic without pause for reflection and I’m not sure what the take-home message is supposed to be. I’m not even clear on who the author sees as his target audience, as this seems to be a memoir and that is highly personal and I can’t imagine it being of much interest to the general reader. For me, a memoir should have meaning or a message, or relate to a significant event or period. This has none of those elements.
I wasn’t particularly interested in the content and I wasn’t enthralled by the style of writing.
July 25, 2021
This memoir of a roller speed skater, a tale of growing up in the late nineteen-fifties and early sixties, is very well written. Told in the first person, the author does not spare himself, which makes the stories honest and interesting as a boy encounters the real world beyond his sheltered home. Many concerns of the people in this book seem very different from those of people nowadays, but it's the similarities, the ways in which some things never change, that make this book worth reading.
September 1, 2021
(I read and reviewed this book for the San Francisco Book Review.)
Despite the title and preface, Roller Rink Starlight doesn’t have a whole lot to do with competitive speed skating. Sure, there’s some skating action in here—several chapters are chock full of arcane skating lingo, race times, and second-by-second retellings of pivotal races. But speed skating is merely the thread that ties together the various essays and short stories of this memoir. Author William Hart makes clear he was only particularly skilled in one area—the sprint—and he gradually becomes aware in his final year on the team that even there he was losing his competitive edge (not to mention, his interest in the sport).
Readers will more often be treated to the inner thoughts of teenage Hart as he navigates high school, religion, and personal relationships in the early 1960s. Although he’s as mercurial, impulsive, self-centered, and hopelessly aroused as the next young man, his experiences are colored by a much older William Hart—a man who has gained valuable insights into his younger self’s thoughts and ambitions. Evaluations of his teenage years are so frank and honest that I sometimes felt like I was sneaking a peek at Hart’s private diary.
He spends his formative years at his local rink, hanging out with friends and participating in myriad skating activities. Couples skates, playing limbo, things like that. Over time we get to know his friends, the DJ, the owners, his skating team coach, and many other rink denizens. It’s sure to bring fond memories to anyone who spent any number of childhood weekends at a skating rink. As soon as young William Hart strapped on his skates and rolled onto the oval, my own long-dormant memories resurfaced like a basketball suddenly released underwater. The disco balls, the loud music. The circular, carpet-covered benches. That suffused smell of popcorn and sugar and deodorizers. It’s surprising how little skating rinks have changed since the 1960s.
William Hart’s memoir is as captivating as it is well written, with rich, evocative prose and intriguing snippets of historical events of the 50s and 60s. Anyone who picks this up is bound to be pleasantly surprised by the poignant, coming-of-age tale under its somewhat garish cover. The ending is especially surprising, and I can’t help but wonder whether the final revelation occurred to Hart at the very same moment he typed the last words. I highly recommend this book.
Despite the title and preface, Roller Rink Starlight doesn’t have a whole lot to do with competitive speed skating. Sure, there’s some skating action in here—several chapters are chock full of arcane skating lingo, race times, and second-by-second retellings of pivotal races. But speed skating is merely the thread that ties together the various essays and short stories of this memoir. Author William Hart makes clear he was only particularly skilled in one area—the sprint—and he gradually becomes aware in his final year on the team that even there he was losing his competitive edge (not to mention, his interest in the sport).
Readers will more often be treated to the inner thoughts of teenage Hart as he navigates high school, religion, and personal relationships in the early 1960s. Although he’s as mercurial, impulsive, self-centered, and hopelessly aroused as the next young man, his experiences are colored by a much older William Hart—a man who has gained valuable insights into his younger self’s thoughts and ambitions. Evaluations of his teenage years are so frank and honest that I sometimes felt like I was sneaking a peek at Hart’s private diary.
He spends his formative years at his local rink, hanging out with friends and participating in myriad skating activities. Couples skates, playing limbo, things like that. Over time we get to know his friends, the DJ, the owners, his skating team coach, and many other rink denizens. It’s sure to bring fond memories to anyone who spent any number of childhood weekends at a skating rink. As soon as young William Hart strapped on his skates and rolled onto the oval, my own long-dormant memories resurfaced like a basketball suddenly released underwater. The disco balls, the loud music. The circular, carpet-covered benches. That suffused smell of popcorn and sugar and deodorizers. It’s surprising how little skating rinks have changed since the 1960s.
William Hart’s memoir is as captivating as it is well written, with rich, evocative prose and intriguing snippets of historical events of the 50s and 60s. Anyone who picks this up is bound to be pleasantly surprised by the poignant, coming-of-age tale under its somewhat garish cover. The ending is especially surprising, and I can’t help but wonder whether the final revelation occurred to Hart at the very same moment he typed the last words. I highly recommend this book.
May 20, 2021
Roller Rink Starlight: A memoir by William Hart is a true coming of age story. Having grown up a little after William I found the journey to be both an insight into my parents’ youth and at times nostalgic of my own. I too had my church experiences as a youth and found the golden rule (Do unto others…) to be both insightful and adaptable. I spent many Saturdays at the roller rink and certainly found myself smitten by Hailey Mills in Pollyanna. As a journey into a slice of Americana, the book focuses on Wichita, Kansas and in particular near the Alaskan, a super-sized roller-skating rink. It also focuses on our author’s early love life. From girls whispering in his ears in elementary school, to finding real love at the rink, to the drama of teen break-ups, and cover-up lies to stay on the track team, Roller Rink Starlight does not fil to disappoint its reader. For those young men, especially us growing up before the digital age, there is a connection here. A world of sports and sport injuries, of families and learning not everyone’s mom and dad are like yours, a world that grows larger as you age is all here.
I love the line, “I had an uneasy awareness that part of my childhood had been left behind that afternoon. I felt destined for a place I knew almost nothing about. I wondered if I’d be as happy there as I’d be be in the safe, familiar world of my boyhood. I knew I might not be happy there at all, but I was going there for sure because I’d fallen under the power of something I didn’t want to fight.”
That something, is found in the roller rink. “I doubt roller rinks were designed specifically to promote population growth, but had they been, they couldn’t have done a much better job.” As the story progresses with a few stops for vignettes, we find our author’s key love interest, Katy. Their story is both unique and one that most can connect to. The thrill of first love, played out in a theatre stage where you only get one pass at the performance.
While the story of William and Katy holds interest, the real gem of this book for me was the vignettes. The side story of shooting cars with a slingshot made me laugh. The chapter on Lucas, “Mr. Essential,” made me remember such adults in my own life, and the story of Melvin Semple made me thankful I did not have similar experiences with teachers.
Overall, the memoir is well worth a read and its ending is one most adults can appreciate as we look back on our journeys. Oh, and the cover of the teen legs in roller skates is definitely well done. I read the book over several days during my lunch hour. Several co-workers saw it and picked it up. One of them is its new owner as I like to pass on a good read.
I love the line, “I had an uneasy awareness that part of my childhood had been left behind that afternoon. I felt destined for a place I knew almost nothing about. I wondered if I’d be as happy there as I’d be be in the safe, familiar world of my boyhood. I knew I might not be happy there at all, but I was going there for sure because I’d fallen under the power of something I didn’t want to fight.”
That something, is found in the roller rink. “I doubt roller rinks were designed specifically to promote population growth, but had they been, they couldn’t have done a much better job.” As the story progresses with a few stops for vignettes, we find our author’s key love interest, Katy. Their story is both unique and one that most can connect to. The thrill of first love, played out in a theatre stage where you only get one pass at the performance.
While the story of William and Katy holds interest, the real gem of this book for me was the vignettes. The side story of shooting cars with a slingshot made me laugh. The chapter on Lucas, “Mr. Essential,” made me remember such adults in my own life, and the story of Melvin Semple made me thankful I did not have similar experiences with teachers.
Overall, the memoir is well worth a read and its ending is one most adults can appreciate as we look back on our journeys. Oh, and the cover of the teen legs in roller skates is definitely well done. I read the book over several days during my lunch hour. Several co-workers saw it and picked it up. One of them is its new owner as I like to pass on a good read.
June 7, 2021
This memoir begins with William’s experiences at school as a young teen, meeting Gretchen. His innocence is well portrayed, against the contrast of Gretchen and her tastefully explained sexual experiences.
I was initially drawn to this book because of my own love of roller skating, but this immediately transferred to an enjoyment of William’s new found desire to spend his time at the roller rink, particularly after meeting Gloria and her sister, Katy.
William addresses his struggle with God in the next chapter. His upset that you can be condemned for not believing in Him causes him to question his loyalties and actually leads to a new discovery in a love of literature. Each paragraph is written so wonderfully that you feel as though you’re in the journey of this part of his life. The transitions to and from his home life to his new-found social life are seamless and keep you reading.
Katy (and Gloria’s) contrast in upbringing and parenting experiences appear to be what makes William and Katy so wonderful together; he’s the ying to her yang and vice versa.
As you read deeper into the Memoir, you come to learn of how skating becomes a form of escape during more trying times and how things change both in and out of the rink, except for his love for Katy. William, or Bill, as he’s more frequently known to others finds friendship, and more contrast in Rick. Their relationship only deepens his love for Katy, which grows as you venture deeper into the book, but not without its complications.
As time goes on, you grow with William and experience his new experiences with him as the world and equally his life evolves and changes around him.
The language throughout the memoir is complex enough to enjoy without being so difficult that you need to research ever other sentence. It is well constructed and entertaining. A thoroughly enjoyable read.
I received an ARC copy of this book on Reedsy Discovery.
I was initially drawn to this book because of my own love of roller skating, but this immediately transferred to an enjoyment of William’s new found desire to spend his time at the roller rink, particularly after meeting Gloria and her sister, Katy.
William addresses his struggle with God in the next chapter. His upset that you can be condemned for not believing in Him causes him to question his loyalties and actually leads to a new discovery in a love of literature. Each paragraph is written so wonderfully that you feel as though you’re in the journey of this part of his life. The transitions to and from his home life to his new-found social life are seamless and keep you reading.
Katy (and Gloria’s) contrast in upbringing and parenting experiences appear to be what makes William and Katy so wonderful together; he’s the ying to her yang and vice versa.
As you read deeper into the Memoir, you come to learn of how skating becomes a form of escape during more trying times and how things change both in and out of the rink, except for his love for Katy. William, or Bill, as he’s more frequently known to others finds friendship, and more contrast in Rick. Their relationship only deepens his love for Katy, which grows as you venture deeper into the book, but not without its complications.
As time goes on, you grow with William and experience his new experiences with him as the world and equally his life evolves and changes around him.
The language throughout the memoir is complex enough to enjoy without being so difficult that you need to research ever other sentence. It is well constructed and entertaining. A thoroughly enjoyable read.
I received an ARC copy of this book on Reedsy Discovery.
June 12, 2021
William Hart is an excellent writer, accomplished and professional; in a way, that makes this otherwise standard coming-of-age memoir a slight cut above. In point of fact, I call it “coming of age”, but truthfully the characters are much younger than this – for this reason the content of this book didn’t really sit right with me at times, and readers are warned in this respect. It is pretty vivid in its the sexual content, and I found this a little uncomfortable, because in the main William and his friends were quite early teens when most of it is set. Sexual exploration and teenage libido play a very big part in this book, even more so than the speed skating which ties it together, and whilst not graphic, are I think the primary theme of Roller Rink Starlight (“starlight” referring to the bleachers where the kids make out). The sex wasn’t presented as controversial or naïve childish fumblings by its author, but rather more matter of fact than that, which I found perhaps slightly more disturbing.
Other than this, and the races William occasionally participates in, the rest is pretty easygoing filler – another teenage years autobio which authors tend to write more for their own catharsis than any commercial venture – not that the genre isn’t a popular one, particularly in the U.S., when set in the more popular moments in their recent history: the rock ‘n’ roll then Kennedy years. I felt there was a missed opportunity to expand on these events much more, though in William’s defence here there are many, many memoirs written more about the times than the subject; William’s is the opposite way around, and credit to him for that. Still, it has all the formula ingredients of an American memoir: teenage sex; teenage drinking; high school sports; Vietnam and left-wing politics. For fans of this genre it is an incredibly well written, if not overly eventful example, and worth a read.
Other than this, and the races William occasionally participates in, the rest is pretty easygoing filler – another teenage years autobio which authors tend to write more for their own catharsis than any commercial venture – not that the genre isn’t a popular one, particularly in the U.S., when set in the more popular moments in their recent history: the rock ‘n’ roll then Kennedy years. I felt there was a missed opportunity to expand on these events much more, though in William’s defence here there are many, many memoirs written more about the times than the subject; William’s is the opposite way around, and credit to him for that. Still, it has all the formula ingredients of an American memoir: teenage sex; teenage drinking; high school sports; Vietnam and left-wing politics. For fans of this genre it is an incredibly well written, if not overly eventful example, and worth a read.
February 10, 2022
Roller Rink Starlight: A Memoir by William Hart
2 stars: It was ok.
Roller Rink Starlight is a gentle, sweet, sometimes humorous, often nostalgic journey into the past. It ably recreates the roller rink experience of the fifties and sixties: the sounds, the smells, the adolescent sexual tensions. To my unease, it rekindled my own cringe-worthy memories of those days.
Unfortunately, beyond that, the writing did little to claim to the interest of this reader. The author recounts his memories of those times, an emotional accounting of his experiences, in little chapters, without seeming concern for weaving the story together in an engaging manner. The chapters are short and often unconnected, a bit like a series of snapshots rather than a film of a story that flows with a beginning, middle and end. Though the author's self-observations are numerous and well-crafted, conveying joy, sadness and heartfelt regrets for mistakes made and opportunities lost, there is little sense of what the protagonist learn from these experiences and how he grew from them.
The story suffers from a lack of building or dynamic tension and absence of personally meaningful challenges that he the protagonist sets out to overcome. I had the feeling that the author was leaving a lot out. Indeed, it struck me that the author had written the book much like he had lived those early years, rather passively, more as an object to which things just happened (internally and externally) rather than as a subject who laid claim to writing his own story, to creating his own life, to interpreting his own meaning. Though this is true of many teenage lives, there needed to be something that held the story together and there simply wasn’t. Thus, uncommitted, I could not commit to him. I could not root either for him or against him. I could not find anything to root for. Ironically, Roller Rink Starlight was a coming-of-age story that, for me, never came of age.
2 stars: It was ok.
Roller Rink Starlight is a gentle, sweet, sometimes humorous, often nostalgic journey into the past. It ably recreates the roller rink experience of the fifties and sixties: the sounds, the smells, the adolescent sexual tensions. To my unease, it rekindled my own cringe-worthy memories of those days.
Unfortunately, beyond that, the writing did little to claim to the interest of this reader. The author recounts his memories of those times, an emotional accounting of his experiences, in little chapters, without seeming concern for weaving the story together in an engaging manner. The chapters are short and often unconnected, a bit like a series of snapshots rather than a film of a story that flows with a beginning, middle and end. Though the author's self-observations are numerous and well-crafted, conveying joy, sadness and heartfelt regrets for mistakes made and opportunities lost, there is little sense of what the protagonist learn from these experiences and how he grew from them.
The story suffers from a lack of building or dynamic tension and absence of personally meaningful challenges that he the protagonist sets out to overcome. I had the feeling that the author was leaving a lot out. Indeed, it struck me that the author had written the book much like he had lived those early years, rather passively, more as an object to which things just happened (internally and externally) rather than as a subject who laid claim to writing his own story, to creating his own life, to interpreting his own meaning. Though this is true of many teenage lives, there needed to be something that held the story together and there simply wasn’t. Thus, uncommitted, I could not commit to him. I could not root either for him or against him. I could not find anything to root for. Ironically, Roller Rink Starlight was a coming-of-age story that, for me, never came of age.
June 12, 2021
This was an enjoyable read. In some instances, it brought back memories for an old guy like me. Yeah, I hung out at the roller rink in my town a bit. I may not have done so as often as William Hart, the author of this memoir, and it was a decade later, but many of the experiences he recounts still felt familiar. Some were different (I was definitely not athletic or involved in organized racing at the rink) but reading about his experiences were still interesting.
In fact, in some ways reading about experiences that were different from my own was more of a positive than any flashback I had. At one point in the book the racing team had gone to a racing competition in another town that was unfamiliar to most of them. The author mentioned that visiting other towns was an education to many of them, saying that there is “something about spending even a day in an unfamiliar town that can open a young mind to life’s possibilities.” This is something I’ve recognized as a positive of travel in general, but it struck me here that when you’re young and inexperienced the place you go doesn’t have to be very far away to feel a lot different. I like reading memoirs for the same basic reason, but instead of putting yourself somewhere different physically, it allows you to put yourself in someone else’s body and mind, seeing the world through their eyes. Both are learning experiences that benefit the reader while also being an enjoyable activity. I’d recommend this book to those of you of a certain age, if you’re interested in going back in time like I did. But for those who are a bit younger than William Hart and myself, it gives you the chance to put yourself in someone else’s shoes for a while.
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **
In fact, in some ways reading about experiences that were different from my own was more of a positive than any flashback I had. At one point in the book the racing team had gone to a racing competition in another town that was unfamiliar to most of them. The author mentioned that visiting other towns was an education to many of them, saying that there is “something about spending even a day in an unfamiliar town that can open a young mind to life’s possibilities.” This is something I’ve recognized as a positive of travel in general, but it struck me here that when you’re young and inexperienced the place you go doesn’t have to be very far away to feel a lot different. I like reading memoirs for the same basic reason, but instead of putting yourself somewhere different physically, it allows you to put yourself in someone else’s body and mind, seeing the world through their eyes. Both are learning experiences that benefit the reader while also being an enjoyable activity. I’d recommend this book to those of you of a certain age, if you’re interested in going back in time like I did. But for those who are a bit younger than William Hart and myself, it gives you the chance to put yourself in someone else’s shoes for a while.
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **
April 28, 2021
The Review
A fantastic and in-depth look into the life of a young man coming into his own and discovering life one step at a time, the author does a wonderful job of drawing the reader in with insightful looks into his own life and creative writing that makes the book feel like both a memoir and an original story all at once. The ease in which the author writes paints a visual image in the reader’s mind, transporting us all back to that era in the 1960s and watching the young man’s life unfolding before our eyes.
What really sets this memoir apart however was the way the author wrote the book itself. It seemed at multiple times that the author was not just retelling the story, but almost conversing with his younger self, reflecting on the important moments of his life and how he’s learned from them since. It immediately clear when he begins retelling his interaction with a young classmate named Gretchen, and how her actions during her high school years led to some major changes in her life and impacted the author as well second-hand. This was a brief glimpse into the rest of this narrative, and yet it felt like it set the tone immediately for the coming-of-age aspect of this book.
The Verdict
An insightful, engaging, and wildly descriptive yet narrative memoir, author William Hart’s “Roller Rink Starlight: A Memoir” is a must-read nonfiction story. The author’s discovery of life, love, and romance, and everything in between is so beautifully written, and the author masterfully engages the reader on both a nostalgic and thought-provoking level. Whether the author’s words reflected a similar time in the reader’s life or spoke to the road not taken, this was a read that shouldn’t be missed, so be sure to grab your copy today!
A fantastic and in-depth look into the life of a young man coming into his own and discovering life one step at a time, the author does a wonderful job of drawing the reader in with insightful looks into his own life and creative writing that makes the book feel like both a memoir and an original story all at once. The ease in which the author writes paints a visual image in the reader’s mind, transporting us all back to that era in the 1960s and watching the young man’s life unfolding before our eyes.
What really sets this memoir apart however was the way the author wrote the book itself. It seemed at multiple times that the author was not just retelling the story, but almost conversing with his younger self, reflecting on the important moments of his life and how he’s learned from them since. It immediately clear when he begins retelling his interaction with a young classmate named Gretchen, and how her actions during her high school years led to some major changes in her life and impacted the author as well second-hand. This was a brief glimpse into the rest of this narrative, and yet it felt like it set the tone immediately for the coming-of-age aspect of this book.
The Verdict
An insightful, engaging, and wildly descriptive yet narrative memoir, author William Hart’s “Roller Rink Starlight: A Memoir” is a must-read nonfiction story. The author’s discovery of life, love, and romance, and everything in between is so beautifully written, and the author masterfully engages the reader on both a nostalgic and thought-provoking level. Whether the author’s words reflected a similar time in the reader’s life or spoke to the road not taken, this was a read that shouldn’t be missed, so be sure to grab your copy today!
December 19, 2025
Roller Rink Starlight is a heartfelt and evocative memoir that invites readers into the world of William Hart’s past with both tenderness and precision. From the very first page, Hart’s voice feels deeply authentic, he writes with the kind of clarity that can only come from lived experience. The memoir captures moments of youth, discovery, and reflection with an honesty that feels both personal and universal.
What stands out most is the storytelling. Hart doesn’t just recount events; he weaves them together like scenes in a beautifully edited film, balancing nostalgia with insight. His pacing feels deliberate and rhythmic, never rushed, never indulgent. Each chapter feels like a conversation with an old friend, where every detail is offered for a reason. The way he draws emotion from everyday experiences shows remarkable skill and sensitivity.
Beyond its structure and language, Roller Rink Starlight shines because of its humanity. Hart allows vulnerability to lead the narrative, and in doing so, he transforms simple memories into something profound and relatable. The memoir reminds readers how the smallest places, like a roller rink, can become the backdrop for our biggest lessons about love, loss, and identity.
This is a book that lingers long after the final page. William Hart’s storytelling is masterful in its simplicity and depth, making Roller Rink Starlight not just a memoir, but a piece of art that captures the essence of growing up and looking back. Highly recommended for readers who appreciate sincerity, reflection, and stories that celebrate the beauty of ordinary life.
What stands out most is the storytelling. Hart doesn’t just recount events; he weaves them together like scenes in a beautifully edited film, balancing nostalgia with insight. His pacing feels deliberate and rhythmic, never rushed, never indulgent. Each chapter feels like a conversation with an old friend, where every detail is offered for a reason. The way he draws emotion from everyday experiences shows remarkable skill and sensitivity.
Beyond its structure and language, Roller Rink Starlight shines because of its humanity. Hart allows vulnerability to lead the narrative, and in doing so, he transforms simple memories into something profound and relatable. The memoir reminds readers how the smallest places, like a roller rink, can become the backdrop for our biggest lessons about love, loss, and identity.
This is a book that lingers long after the final page. William Hart’s storytelling is masterful in its simplicity and depth, making Roller Rink Starlight not just a memoir, but a piece of art that captures the essence of growing up and looking back. Highly recommended for readers who appreciate sincerity, reflection, and stories that celebrate the beauty of ordinary life.
May 23, 2021
The author's writing style, the power of the story, the characters, will make you fall in love with them. Above all, the osmotic capacity that the memoir has will penetrate you deeply. Here, with Roller Rink Starlight it happened. William Hart dragged me into his story in the span of a few pages and his skill was of being able to immerse me so intensely in the middle of a personal drama.
The stylistic choice produces very noteworthy steps. The author with this punctual style, combined with a unique skill in sewing the action that takes place in his coming of age years tells his past, and succeeds in giving us the simple rawness of a story of love, a dance out of tune, danced by people who each go with their own rhythm.
Ultimately, this book is a short and intense masterpiece made up of images, unspoken thoughts and fears, capable of upsetting and overwhelming intentions. The book is presented as a confession to an imaginary listener, of which there is a sign only at the end, with a final line. Written in a masterly way, it strongly involves the reader and is full of considerations on an era, the passage of time and the transience of life.
Read the full review here
The stylistic choice produces very noteworthy steps. The author with this punctual style, combined with a unique skill in sewing the action that takes place in his coming of age years tells his past, and succeeds in giving us the simple rawness of a story of love, a dance out of tune, danced by people who each go with their own rhythm.
Ultimately, this book is a short and intense masterpiece made up of images, unspoken thoughts and fears, capable of upsetting and overwhelming intentions. The book is presented as a confession to an imaginary listener, of which there is a sign only at the end, with a final line. Written in a masterly way, it strongly involves the reader and is full of considerations on an era, the passage of time and the transience of life.
Read the full review here
December 26, 2021
Early teen years are, for most people, the best period of life. That age when you have a lot of exuberance, almost no real worries, and a full life in front of you. Roller Rink Starlight’s recollection of memories starts with Gretchen. An interesting character, full of life and mischief during the boring hours in class. Then we find that she had more than fifteen lovers. An eleven-twelve-year-old girl. In the 1950s. In a small town. It’s a pity, I liked Gretchen, but this is a memoir, not an erotica fantasy.
The novel is in fact a collection of almost disjointed stories told by an almost detached storyteller. They feel a little awkward in the beginning then, somehow, they start to work well, and it works exactly because of that detachment, which usually comes much later in life, when memories start to blur and, sometimes, fantasy replaces reality. In the end, it resembled talking ancient stories around a bottle of wine, something that I always enjoyed.
The novel is in fact a collection of almost disjointed stories told by an almost detached storyteller. They feel a little awkward in the beginning then, somehow, they start to work well, and it works exactly because of that detachment, which usually comes much later in life, when memories start to blur and, sometimes, fantasy replaces reality. In the end, it resembled talking ancient stories around a bottle of wine, something that I always enjoyed.
February 6, 2022
A coming-of-age memoir
Being a millennial who is obsessed with this decade, this book (very successfully) transported me to the 1950, to the thought process and everyday life of a young man then. The grandest struggles of all: finding love. And what a gem that was! The world needs more authors like William Hart, who don't mind spilling their raw story for us. I am a fan of fiction, but there is something about the realness of a genuine experience that cannot be substituted by made-up stories.
The only thing I am sorry about when I was reading this is not being a young adult in the 50s! This book awoke in me nostalgia for simpler times when technology wasn't in charge of everything.
The writing style was very easy to follow, unlike a lot of other memoirs I have read in the past. It's very hard to tell your OWN story in an easy-going way, choosing what's important only to you and what's important for the story as well. Hart managed to do so.
5/5
Being a millennial who is obsessed with this decade, this book (very successfully) transported me to the 1950, to the thought process and everyday life of a young man then. The grandest struggles of all: finding love. And what a gem that was! The world needs more authors like William Hart, who don't mind spilling their raw story for us. I am a fan of fiction, but there is something about the realness of a genuine experience that cannot be substituted by made-up stories.
The only thing I am sorry about when I was reading this is not being a young adult in the 50s! This book awoke in me nostalgia for simpler times when technology wasn't in charge of everything.
The writing style was very easy to follow, unlike a lot of other memoirs I have read in the past. It's very hard to tell your OWN story in an easy-going way, choosing what's important only to you and what's important for the story as well. Hart managed to do so.
5/5
March 6, 2022
A memoir recounting the author's adolescence.
We follow the escapades of a 14 year old at a roller rink, growing up in Wichita in the 60s, ending when he's 18 years old.
The story is obviously filled with regret like everyone's teen years, and the experiences and the mistakes that formed who he is today.
The book is full of memories, I especially enjoyed the happy and secure ones of his childhood and of his smiling parents and how he described the crush he felt in those years. It took me back in time.
I found the book easy to read like the author was telling me the story face-to-face. I'm not from the author's generation and found it very interesting to read about the differences between his teen years and mine.
An enjoyable, well written read.
We follow the escapades of a 14 year old at a roller rink, growing up in Wichita in the 60s, ending when he's 18 years old.
The story is obviously filled with regret like everyone's teen years, and the experiences and the mistakes that formed who he is today.
The book is full of memories, I especially enjoyed the happy and secure ones of his childhood and of his smiling parents and how he described the crush he felt in those years. It took me back in time.
I found the book easy to read like the author was telling me the story face-to-face. I'm not from the author's generation and found it very interesting to read about the differences between his teen years and mine.
An enjoyable, well written read.
February 7, 2022
Roller Rink Starlight: A Memoir is a work of nonfiction detailing the author’s childhood experience during the 1950s and 60s roller skating and the impact it placed on him. From that growing passion he builds a relationship, one that will end with a heavy toll. Hart does a good job describing in detail the culture that existed during his time, and through his writing style, Hart is able to grasp readers attention through detail. As I continued reading, I was left wondering whether Hart continues to roller skate even as an older person. This type of genre is out of my scope but I recommend this book to those who are into memoirs and roller skating.
September 17, 2021
Roller Rink Starlight: A Memoir is a trip down memory lane for the author. He recalls with vivid clarity his early years, the highs and lows, his emotional journey through turbulent teenage experiences especially his love interests.
I found the book hard to put down, in fact stimulating. Perhaps this was because it resurrected my own memories of early relationships. I might add mine were not as entertaining as the authors. The book is well written, it certainly captured my interest right through to the final word.
I found the book hard to put down, in fact stimulating. Perhaps this was because it resurrected my own memories of early relationships. I might add mine were not as entertaining as the authors. The book is well written, it certainly captured my interest right through to the final word.
July 26, 2022
I didn't finish it. I bailed with about 40 pages left. I enjoyed the skating scenes though!
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