4 out of 4 stars
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Victor V. Bianco's In Search of Self Without Selfies: A Historical Memoir is a non-fiction book in which the author reminisces about his past, narrating his journey of self-discovery and the significant events that impacted his life.
He begins with his earliest childhood memories and walks the reader through to his post-retirement years. Topping the list of his most memorable events is a month-long boat ride from Italy to Argentina, which he took with his family when he was seven years old. That set in motion a series of migrations and induced in him the "Marco Polo syndrome." It was a drastic change, and he explains why the move was necessary.
Through the eyes of a little boy, the author analyzes discrimination. At the time, he didn't understand why the children of this new world despised him. The silver lining is that the multiple instances of bullying helped him learn how to control his temper. The author also voices some strong political opinions and points out the reasons behind the unrest leading to the military dictatorship in Argentina. His poignant take on this topic will leave readers with much to reflect on. His first-hand experience as a college student during these dark times made me acknowledge and appreciate the perks of living in a relatively peaceful environment.
Memoirs are easier to read when the events appear in chronological order. With this one, the author did an excellent job of outlining and pacing the work, but on a few occasions, the plot tends to overlap. That, however, isn't glaring and doesn't detract from the reading experience. Bianco brought the text to life with vividly descriptive scenes which describe flora and fauna of the different places he visited, and It often felt like I was replaying the events from memory. I also like how he condensed over fifty years into less than two hundred pages. He provides relevant details, and nothing I read seemed to be out of place. The author is a retired social worker with years of experience exploring the human psyche. He presents these issues in a palatable manner, and I'm glad that the sections don't read like an academic paper.
Overall, this is a thought-provoking read that I will recommend to travel enthusiasts, people in search of their roots, and anyone interested in world affairs. The text is well-edited, with a few errors which are easy to overlook. I'll award this book a rating of 4 out of 4 stars because It deserves nothing less.
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In Search of Self Without Selfies
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