3 out of 4 stars
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The Universe Thru My Eyes is a touching memoir written by Stacii Lewis.
Stacii was only two years old when his mother was shot to death. He and his older brother, Ben, were sent to live with their grandmother who died after a couple of years. With the death of their grandmother, they got to live with their abusive father who beat them for any reason. When the school got wind of the beatings, the brothers were taken by the social services and were placed in foster homes. After a few months, their father got them back and the beatings resumed, even worse than before. The brothers tried to run away but were unsuccessful.
When their father brought home a woman with four children, Stacii and Ben were happy. They finally knew what it felt like to belong to a family. However, the beatings didn’t stop and even their step-siblings weren’t spared from the abuse. The beatings were so bad that one of the boys committed suicide to avoid another beating.
Living through the pain of loss, poverty, and abuse, Stacii grew up ambitious, aggressive, violent, and defiant. With a gang of friends behind him, Stacii hounded the streets of Miami leaving a trail of violent crimes and ended up with a bounty on his head.
This is a poignant and memorable book that depicts the life of a fearless and passionate individual who was propelled into a life of crime. It has eight chapters, has a consistently steady pacing, and is told in vernacular language. Generally, it is an easy read. Scenes are vividly described including the thoughts, feelings, and emotions of the author: his affection for his younger stepbrother, his animosity towards his father, his love for the important people in his life, and his disappointment towards those who betrayed him.
All in all, I enjoyed this book more than I expected I would. It is interesting and intriguing. The part I like most is the obvious effect of Stacii’s childhood, characterized by constant physical abuse and lack of warmth and affection, to his personality and character as an adult: his defiance against authority, his inability to obtain money through legal means, and his impetuous and impulsive behavior.
However, I find it difficult to keep track of all the names of the author’s friends and associates. There are just too many. Moreover, other readers may find the ending a bit inconclusive while the use of vernacular language needs getting used to. Finally, there are several noticeable errors within the entire book including typo errors (that what it looked like) and improperly placed quotation marks (“You do not have to live like that my aunt explained") as well as inconsistent verb tenses (The year is 1974 when it all began). They detract from the overall reading experience.
I, therefore, rate this book 3 out of 4 stars. It is touching and intriguing. I recommend it to readers who enjoy memoirs and crime novels. Scenes of abuse and violence, however, may not be suitable for young readers.
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The Universe Thru My Eyes
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