Reading: This Boy's Life; pages 281-302 (End), By Tobias Wolff

 SUMMARY:
   On page 302, Toby learns that the Welch's end up requesting that Toby not work on their farm which is far worse for Toby than actually working on it. Things end up getting even worse a few weeks later when the sheriff arrived at the Bolger's door telling them that Chuck may be charged with rape. Chuck learns that a girl, Tina, was pregnant with his child and that if he doesn't marry her that her father will charge him and he will go to jail. Although Chuck is afraid of jail he never gives in to the idea of marrying her because he envisions a much happier future for himself. Luck goes Chuck's way as the sheriff comes to the Bolgers to inform them that a friend of his will be marrying Tina. Chuck rejoices and hugs Toby as if they were friends.
    In Toby's life things start to turn out for the better as well when he gets a call from Mr. Howard informing him that he had won the scholarship for Hill prep school. Toby was happy to be leaving and Mr. Howard told Toby that he would like to take him to his tailor to get him outfits for school. Toby concurred and was excited to start his new school. Before this could happen, however, Chuck had to drive Toby to Seattle to meet up with his dad and Geoffrey for the summer. Toby had a plan of his own, and decided to get back at Dwight for all the troubles he had caused him by stealing all of his guns and pawning them at a shop on the way. Toby then describes getting fitted at the tailor and it is a lengthy process in which Mr. Howard picks out multiple fabrics and pieces of clothing for Toby to put on. Toby then looks at himself in the mirror at the new boy he has become.
    Next, Toby then describes in a few paragraphs his future life. Toby explains that his mother had gotten a job in Seattle, and Dwight had been arrested for trying to strangle his mother. He also says that he does not do well at Hill and was only accepted by his English teacher who saw hope in Toby. Toby ends up getting kicked out of Hill and decides to join in the military as he said he knew he always would. Toby then goes back to his scene in the car with Chuck and describes that they had both been so triumphantly joyful to be free of all their troubles that they sang and sang the whole way home, and sums up his memoir by his happy memory of singing.
REACTION:
    Wow, this book was definitely a great read. I enjoyed it more than the last book I read, The Road, mainly because the story just keeps on going and is always exciting. Tobias Wolff was able to take a non fictional account of his life and turn it into an adventure that seems not even believable. I think that I enjoyed this book so much due to the fact that it is reliable. Although the time period is 50 years ago from today, it appears that society still has most of all of the same views that it had then as well. When I read Toby's life I picture me in his place and imagine myself doing all the funny and almost criminal things that he did. It also makes me feel happy that his mother was able to keep up with such a moving life and be safe. I would absolutely recommend this book to a friend, family member, extc.