Review of Hard Knocks: Memoir of a Small Moment

[Shadreck Rogers]

Hands down one of my favorite books of all time! Each chapter is a story in itself, each chapter’s ending making you want to read more. Ray has a way with words, and his book is written proof of his wonderful story telling abilities.

[Taiwo_Olawoye]

Raymond troubled teenage years apply to many people in that age bracket. Adult finds the book outstanding. I hope Raymond turned out to be a responsible adult. Thanks for the review.

[James Nicholas75]

Childhood is a delicate phase of life. Reading about Raymond's difficult moments in his early life, which led him to dangerous lifestyles like alcoholism, reminds me of my own childhood and well up a great part of my adult life, which was dominated by a lot of mistakes and pains.

[Danielle Briggs]

I love the ability to put real faces with people in a book, so I’m glad this book includes some! Thanks for a great, informative review!

[SUBIN S T]

Hard Knocks is a touching story of Raymond's troubled teenage years. This is a story of a boy who grew up in a small Irish town in the 1960's. Raymond's difficult childhood was filled with racial violence, bullying, and other forms of mistreatment. Many people missed how Raymond internalized these experiences, as it led him to make very poor choices as an adult. This book is an honest and compelling account of one man's struggles during this difficult time in his life.

From his family to his schoolmates, Raymond was subjected to a good many negative experiences. The man in this book experienced abuse, racism, and alienation from his community. It was not until he took his own life that we realized just how difficult his life really was.
The reader is made aware of all of this through Raymond's own words as well as those of others who knew him. The author of this book has done an excellent job of allowing us to walk through Raymond's world through his eyes. The reader is privy to all of the thoughts he had and all of the things he did to try to cope with them. It is honest, raw, and very poignant. Adults can learn much from this book about dealing with difficult emotions and bad experiences throughout life.

I loved this book. It is a very well-written story of a troubled teenager's struggles in the 1960s. It is interwoven with many incidents of racism, bullying, and other forms of mistreatment

[Chris Walter Mason]

How wonderful is this? I believe that most books do not cover the subjects covered in this book. People try to present themselves in the most positive manner possible, but Ray is candid about the harsh reality he had to face. I like the author's honesty.

[Atieno Magero]

The review has made me want to read this book to find out how things will turn out for Raymond. I like that this book highlights a lot of important issues that teenagers face. I'm looking forward to reading Raymond's story.

[Chimereucheya Okoroafo]

The trials every single one of us faces in our life. Ray's story is a revealed truth and a story with lessons that are beneficial to everyone. A mix of emotions, I like this both and this review is a good representation of this book. Nice review.

[Ceeco2002]

Hard knocks by Ray Lopez exposes the life of a young teenage boy as he matures and struggles
to grow up in an environment filled with negative influences such racism and bullying.

[Gene_2]

I can feel Raymond pains through your review. This a topic that needs to be addressed to all. The feeling of rejection is something of another level.

[Mosele 19]

The author motivated me by overcoming his own difficulty. Nice review.

[Ikechukwu Blessing]

Racism and bullying contribute to a negative impact on someone, especially at a younger age in life. Parents and Guardians should watch their subjects closely.

[AntonelaMaria]

It is always great to read about people raising above their life circumstances, struggles, and mistakes. It seems like this is truly a powerful memoir. I will add it to my TBR. Great review.

[Ivan Mukaaga]

Teenage years, very challenging for many. A book addressing this challenge is pretty worth reading. Thanks.

[Amy Luman]

Everyone has some trials in the teenage years, though not usually this bad.