Henry Allen (1) (1941–)

Henry Allen has deftly told you his family story and perhaps your family story as well.

Where We Live is a concise string of pictures painted about childhood homes, the home of his grandparents, his father's Navy Ship from WWII, his college dorm, and summer homes.

His descriptions of time and memories put into words the thoughts and feelings you may have had about had associated with family and places lived. I had to pause after reading his essay on summer homes. It truly caused me to put show more the book down and pause and think about these summer places where all of our good memories reside but seem so fleeting.

A book that will enhance your own view of where you've lived. show less

The name says it all. Henry Allen brings to life all the sights, sounds, and smells of every decade of the 20th Century and throws them into your mom's Oster blender with references to pop culture, literature, art, news events and politics. Closest thing to time travel one can get. Fascinating read.

Henry Allen won the Pulitzer for Criticism and it's very apparent in this fast paced nostalgic ride thru the decades of the 20th century. The speedy synopsis is quite compelling. Allen picks out not only the obvious but also the sublime and oft forgotten events of this faboulus century. I guess I found the decades I've lived in so far to be the most interesting. This book is a really fast trip down memory lane but it's well worth the ride.

A must read for those who enjoy history, the author takes you through the last century decade by decade you are given the sights, sounds, smell and feel of each decade.

I love the quote from Charles Baudelaire that the author starts the book off, he said that each age has "a department, a glance, a smile of its own."