Andre Dubus III: "Townie"
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2011-02-28/andre-dubus-iii-townie
Courtesy W.W. Norton & Company
In the 1970s, life along Massachusetts' Merrimack River was harsh and unforgiving. Jobs were scarce, neighborhoods were rife with drugs and violence, and hopelessness and despair prevailed. To survive amid such hardship, "House of Sand and Fog" author Andre Dubus III, built himself up from a scared, scrawny victim to a muscled street fighter who could defend his family and channel his anger at his absent father. Later on, Dubus found redemption through writing. He healed old wounds and forged a new life as one of America's bestselling authors.
Guests
Andre Dubus III
author of the memoir "Townie;" the novels "House of Sand and Fog" and "The Garden of Last Days;" and a collection of short stories.
Comments
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As someone born in 1959, I am glad to hear Mr. Dubus make reference to the lack of direction that many in the sandwich between the older boomers and Generation X felt in our youth.
Thank you.
Broken homes, bullying, and alcoholic adults aside, an unspoken tragedy here is that in America, richest nation in the world, we pay our public servants such a pittance that a divorce sends their children into near-poverty. When a college professor and a social worker can't get a divorce without the children living in a bad neighborhood, going to bad schools, being beaten up and even nearly absorbed by a nar-do-well street culture, something is very wrong with the American Dream.
By the way, _House of Sand and Fog_ is one of my alltime favorite novels.
My best to Mr. D.
Mr. Dubus, my name is Marie Gardella and I live in Delray Beach, Florida, but, my family settled in Haverhill. My grandfather had a fruit store and his daughter, Dora, became Dora Hansbury, a first grade teacher at Wood School. Did you have her as
your first grade teacher? She would be so proud to know you have become an author.
My uncle was John Gardella, a policeman alter a detective. You may have met him, a very special and kind man.
It's so wonderful to hear you speak of Haverhill, where as a child I spent so
much time visiting relatives. Thank you!
A question for Mr. Dubus. I am impress about your resilience to overcome your problems and change your life. Can you tell me if there was a spiritual force behind to help you? Maybe somebody that you looked up to? Is you book suitable for a girl 15 years old? My daughter who dreams to be psychologist will love to read your story.
Thank you,
Mariel Guerra
Miami, Florida
Hello Andre,
I was a poor kid myself growing up in a "broken home" with a single mom raising 4 of us. I was home schooled until middle school and got beat up a lot in school because I was not a social child. I later channeled those issues into making myself a better person. I am currently a Criminal Justice major in College and served 6 years in the Marines.
I was wondering if you ever resolved those feelings, or are you still dealing with them?
- Justin
Several comments were made during the show about how difficult it is for single mothers to raise a family and to deal with domestic violence. Not once were single fathers mentioned.
Let's not perpetuate the idea that mothers are the only ones to suffer. There are many single fathers who deal with the same problems - and have the additional burden of doing so in a society where the rights and needs of single fathers are largely ignored.
The same could be said regarding domestic violence. The notion that men are always the guilty party too often misrepresents that facts.
Please, when we talk on these subjects do not be gender exclusive.
How can they talk about cuts and how broke we are, yet they threw out the tax increases for the most wealthy? Its like purposefully letting the fox in and then complain because the chicken gets killed.
I teach 4th grade in Brooklyn NY. One of my student's parents writes children's books about sensitive issues, like bullying, that sometimes don't get addressed well in a busy classroom. My students LOVE all Mutiya Vision's books, but there was one in particular that we all loved. Mutiya asked if I would develop some lesson plans for this book, THE LAND OF EXPRESSION. I agreed. All the lessons I developed were tested in my classroom. They were all a huge success. Take a look at the site below. You could even try them at home with your children. A classroom of students who develop empathy early in life is a happy classroom. Happy, relaxed children who feel safe and loved are able to focus much easier on their schoolwork! Here's the info about getting the pdfs for the lesson plans. http://www.visionworkspub.com/art_in_education.htm
House of Sand and Fog and The Garden of Last Days will stay with me forever. I recommend both to friends all the time. I am excited to begin Townie. Thank you for your beautiful and heart-wrenching prose.
Thanks to NPR for introducing me to Mr. Dubus. He was the most enjoyable guest I've ever heard in many years of listening to NPR. In particular, I enjoyed the way he engaged the callers in the conversation. He is a model of strength and compassion for everyone. Thank you Mr. Dubus.
I was taken by the interview and the wisdom of Andre Dubus e.g., how important it is to raise loving kids and that a mother can't be a father etc. I had a harsh childhood and felt understood by Andre Dubus. I am not sure that I will have the nerve to read his books ... still wondering if it would be of benefit to me or if it would bring me down emotionally because I do like happy endings :)
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