Review of Hard Knocks: Memoir of a Small Moment
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Tabitha Toles
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Review of Hard Knocks: Memoir of a Small Moment
[Following is a volunteer review of "Hard Knocks: Memoir of a Small Moment" by Ray Lopez.]
In Hard Knocks: Memoir of a Small Moment author, Ray Lopez, walks the reader through the life of a young man; from birth to age twenty-one. Highlighting how racism, cultural differences, adolescent alcoholism, and delinquency can make or break you in the real world. Growing up as a child of immigrants in New York, Lopez shows how every small moment in his childhood has led to where he is now, a faith-abiding member of society. As readers, we’re exposed to the good, the bad, and the ugly that this man has faced, just within his first twenty-one years of life.
In full transparency, I was ready to dislike this book. Not due to the story itself, just due to its apparent connection to Catholicism and belief in God, something that does not entice me in the least. I recognize that that’s a personal standpoint, so I gave the book a shot. I’m so glad that I did. While it is very much rooted in Catholicism, it’s also so much more than that. This beautifully written novel feels like sitting down and conversing with a friend. While the world continues turning, from the 1960s to the 1970s, shrouding society with wars, cultural movements, and more; Ray Lopez sucks the reader in and makes you feel his longing for love, acceptance, strength, and understanding.
It feels almost wrong to say there’s anything inherently wrong with this book because there’s not. As someone who isn’t religious, I found it hard to separate Ray Lopez’s “coming to Jesus” moment from him having a schizophrenic episode. It would make sense that every moment in his life thus far led him to find his faith. However, all I could gather from it was a young man had a mental breakdown and claimed to be the second coming of Christ… and wanted everyone around him to know it.
My rating of this book is a 4 out of 4 stars . As mentioned, this memoir is beautifully written and I can feel that Ray Lopez put his heart and raw feelings into each page. Where it loses a point for me, personally, is just how rooted in religion it is. Each chapter ends in a passage from the bible and while each passage ties into the context, I wish it wasn’t there at all.
I would happily recommend this book to most people. Young adults, adults, anyone going through some tough times, and anyone feeling lost in their day-to-day lives. I feel like there’s something for any person to grasp onto. However, I think it needs to be noted that there are some triggering instances in the novel; some words, situations, substance abuse, and mental illnesses may be hard for some readers to get through.
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Hard Knocks: Memoir of a Small Moment
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
In Hard Knocks: Memoir of a Small Moment author, Ray Lopez, walks the reader through the life of a young man; from birth to age twenty-one. Highlighting how racism, cultural differences, adolescent alcoholism, and delinquency can make or break you in the real world. Growing up as a child of immigrants in New York, Lopez shows how every small moment in his childhood has led to where he is now, a faith-abiding member of society. As readers, we’re exposed to the good, the bad, and the ugly that this man has faced, just within his first twenty-one years of life.
In full transparency, I was ready to dislike this book. Not due to the story itself, just due to its apparent connection to Catholicism and belief in God, something that does not entice me in the least. I recognize that that’s a personal standpoint, so I gave the book a shot. I’m so glad that I did. While it is very much rooted in Catholicism, it’s also so much more than that. This beautifully written novel feels like sitting down and conversing with a friend. While the world continues turning, from the 1960s to the 1970s, shrouding society with wars, cultural movements, and more; Ray Lopez sucks the reader in and makes you feel his longing for love, acceptance, strength, and understanding.
It feels almost wrong to say there’s anything inherently wrong with this book because there’s not. As someone who isn’t religious, I found it hard to separate Ray Lopez’s “coming to Jesus” moment from him having a schizophrenic episode. It would make sense that every moment in his life thus far led him to find his faith. However, all I could gather from it was a young man had a mental breakdown and claimed to be the second coming of Christ… and wanted everyone around him to know it.
My rating of this book is a 4 out of 4 stars . As mentioned, this memoir is beautifully written and I can feel that Ray Lopez put his heart and raw feelings into each page. Where it loses a point for me, personally, is just how rooted in religion it is. Each chapter ends in a passage from the bible and while each passage ties into the context, I wish it wasn’t there at all.
I would happily recommend this book to most people. Young adults, adults, anyone going through some tough times, and anyone feeling lost in their day-to-day lives. I feel like there’s something for any person to grasp onto. However, I think it needs to be noted that there are some triggering instances in the novel; some words, situations, substance abuse, and mental illnesses may be hard for some readers to get through.
******
Hard Knocks: Memoir of a Small Moment
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Natural Born Guilt by Jacqueline Mendelson
