3 out of 4 stars
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The laws of nature bend for no man, as David Glunt can attest. His book, Barely Surviving: A Long War with Physics, is equal parts memoir, short story collection, and cautionary tale. In a breezy, humorous style, it showcases his ongoing battles with gravity, force, states of matter, heat (or lack thereof), and everything else the universe has to offer.
In addition to healthy levels of self-deprecation, Glunt’s book has an almost grandfatherly charm to it. The writing feels as though he is telling you his stories over tea, dispensing bits of wisdom along the way – “Check the plumbing when you turn on the water in an old house,” he cautions, having learned that lesson the hard way when his ceiling soaked through and caved in thanks to a leaky, decades-old pipe. Throughout the book, his lighthearted tone and consistent repetition of his catchphrase – “Lord have mercy!” – brought a smile to my face. I found a few grammar and punctuation errors here and there, but none that significantly impacted the reading experience.
The stories themselves are short, sweet, and easy to pick up and put back down, making this book a perfect light read for those days when you need a pick-me-up. Each chapter is a roughly chronological account of the author’s ability to “barely survive,” and I particularly liked the tales from Glunt’s childhood in the good ol’ days when kids could freely wander the countryside. Another favorite was his account of the worst night of his life looking after a grandkid, a sick daughter, and a disobedient dog – definitely a long and eventful evening!
That said, I feel like Barely Surviving lacked a bit of focus. Some of the stories packed a real punch – usually funny or ironic, but sometimes surprisingly touching. However, other stories felt like they were thrown in because of a tangential relationship to whichever law of physics the chapter was dedicated to. Cutting back on quantity in favor of quality would really elevate the book, in my opinion.
On a related note, the epilogue seemed to come out of left field. After story upon story of mishaps and foibles, the epilogue switches to a more informative breakdown of fatality rates for various methods of travel and household activities. It ended a lighthearted read on a rather morbid note, and I’m not sure it was really necessary.
Though I have a few quibbles with the structure of Barely Surviving, I still wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a light, breezy memoir. Glunt’s writing is honest and genuine, and his stories are sure to liven up an afternoon and leave you smiling. I rate the book 3 out of 4 stars for its humor and wit.
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Barely Surviving
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