≡ Download Gratis DoOver! In Which a FortyEightYearOld Father of Three Returns to Kindergarten Summer Camp the Prom and Other Embarrassments Robin Hemley 9780316020602 Books

DoOver! In Which a FortyEightYearOld Father of Three Returns to Kindergarten Summer Camp the Prom and Other Embarrassments Robin Hemley 9780316020602 Books

Download As PDF : DoOver! In Which a FortyEightYearOld Father of Three Returns to Kindergarten Summer Camp the Prom and Other Embarrassments Robin Hemley 9780316020602 Books

DoOver! In Which a FortyEightYearOld Father of Three Returns to Kindergarten Summer Camp the Prom and Other Embarrassments Robin Hemley 9780316020602 Books

Whenever I go to a family gathering on occasions such as Thanksgiving... Christmas... or the Fourth Of July... and there is an adult table... and a kids table... the kids always yell out... Uncle Rick... Uncle Rick... sit over here. And you know what? That's where I wanted to sit anyway. If you're anything like me... then this book is for you. The author, Robin Hemley is a forty-eight-year-old Father of three... and the director of the Nonfiction Writing Program at the University of Iowa. Robin not only wanted to sit at the kids table... but he also wanted to go back to Kindergarten... perform in a school play... go back to summer camp... go back to sixth grade... join a fraternity... go back to eighth grade... go to the high school prom with the girl he didn't get to go with... take the SAT test... go back to his childhood home (which is inhabited by strangers)... and "do-over" his truncated participation in the Japanese exchange student program.

With a full "do-over" wish list of this magnitude there is a lot of detail to cover... so I'll hit just a few of the highlights. When "doing-over" Kindergarten Robin marvels at how nice the new teacher is. I guess... based on the fact that Robin's original kindergarten teacher used to step on his back as a means of punishment... and eventually was put in a mental institution... it's pretty easy for his new teacher Mrs. Statler to impress him with kindness. The author quickly sees the traits in these Kindergarteners' that will morph them into specific adult demographics. In the sixth grade redux there are future prom queens and bullies. In both classes the students are curious about how he gets to school. The conversations between the forty-eight-year-old student and the kids definitely define "attention-spans". "EXCUSE ME, SIR. HAS ANYONE EVER FIGURED OUT HOW TO READ HIEROGLYPHICS? WHY YES, THEY HAVE, I SAY AND TELL HIM BRIEFLY ABOUT THE ROSETTA STONE. THIS INNOCENT BOY IS BRET, A FIFTH GRADER WHO WILL ATTACH HIMSELF TO ME FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK THE WAY STEFAN DID IN KINDERGARTEN AND THE WAY MARCY DID TO PEPPERMINT PATTY IN "PEANUTS". DOES ANYONE IN AMERICA KNOW HOW? HE ASKS. I BELIEVE THE INFORMATION ON HOW TO DECIPHER HIEROGLYPHICS HAS FILTERED TO AMERICA, I TELL HIM. BY NOW."... "HE NODS, DO YOU KNOW HOW TO PLAY HARMONICA? HE ASKS WITH THE SAME DEGREE OF SERIOUSNESS."

When Robin is back in his private religious high school... there is a sign on the wall that reads: "AS LONG AS THERE ARE FINAL EXAMS, THERE WILL BE PRAYER IN THE SCHOOLS." What is just as interesting as the interplay between an adult... that is supposedly on equal footing... with kids... ranging from Kindergarten to high school... is the effort put in... and the obstacles overcome... to allow a forty-eight-year-old man... to be part of these classes and plays in the first place. With all the perversion being divulged in today's world on a daily basis... the scenario's themselves... are as unique as the humorous interactions.


Tags : Do-Over! In Which a Forty-Eight-Year-Old Father of Three Returns to Kindergarten, Summer Camp, the Prom, and Other Embarrassments [Robin Hemley] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Robin Hemley's childhood made a wedgie of his memory, leaving him sore and embarrassed for over forty years. He was the most pitiful kindergartner,Robin Hemley,Do-Over! In Which a Forty-Eight-Year-Old Father of Three Returns to Kindergarten, Summer Camp, the Prom, and Other Embarrassments,Little, Brown and Company,0316020605,General,Life Stages - Adolescence,American authors;Biography.,Authors, American - 20th century,Authors, American;20th century;Biography.,Hemley, Robin,1958-,20th century,ADOLESCENT PSYCHOLOGY,AMERICAN PROSE,Authors, American,BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY General,BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY Personal Memoirs,Biography,Biography & Autobiography,Biography Autobiography,BiographyAutobiography,FAMILY & RELATIONSHIPS Life Stages Adolescence,General Adult,HUMOR General,Hemley, Robin,,HumorGeneral,Non-Fiction,Personal Memoirs,United States

DoOver! In Which a FortyEightYearOld Father of Three Returns to Kindergarten Summer Camp the Prom and Other Embarrassments Robin Hemley 9780316020602 Books Reviews

... it must be Robin Hemley. I had the good fortune of studying under Robin Hemley in 2004 and I once described him as a cross between Woody Allen, Indiana Jones and Willy Wonka, and I think Do-Over bears this out. What Robin has decided to do is go back and "do-over" the more significant losses and humiliations of his younger life a kindergarten play in which he flubbed his lines, his high school prom (which, in fact, he didn't really do a first time) and his stint as an exchange student in Japan (probably the most satisfying do-over as it is both hilarious and lump-in-your-throat touching). In the process, Robin gives us a very honest glimpse into his married and family life (a second marriage and daughters from both), a process he is simply doing, and hoping to get right.
What, I think, Robin puts to the test is the old adage, "If I could go back, knowing then what I know now..." And the reality is, even if you knew then what you know now, and you could do it again, the heart would still get in the way of the facts. Eighth grade still feels like eighth grade, whether you're thirteen or 46. Flubbing a line in a play still feels the same whether you're five or 46. You might reconcile the event in some way, but there's a good chance you'll never feel any differently about it. It's funny and touching to see Robin sitting in a classroom filled with kids and be concerned about whether the cool kids like him -- in fact, worrying about it the way we all did when we were that age.
Robin finally does the prom (with a boyhood crush that, if the photo in the book is any indication, still looks preeettty good). Of course, now, he picks up his date at her house and makes conversation with her husband as she gets ready, but as you follow him along this adventure, you feel that "going to the prom" feeling you did back then.
And the final Do-Over, in which Robin goes back to Japan as an exchange student, is a terrific ending. Mostly because it is clear that Robin meant a great deal to his Japanese friend and created some indelible memories for him. As these two grown men wander the mean streets of Japan, his friend reminds Robin of things that Robin had forgotten. After all those years, someone was still carrying a torch, so to speak.
The idea of Doing Over is not so appealing to me as it would be to others. In fact, it is a daunting idea ... and I'm glad Robin Hemley did it for me so I could enjoy it from the safety of my house where, even after all these years, I am haunted by feelings and regrets that I could only dream of trying to face again. Most of us say "If only..." Robin goes out there and finishes that sentence for us. A wonderful book.
Enjoyed Robin's Do-Overs and his absolute candor and willingness to commit. Great reminder that even the past (or how we look at it) can be changed. Spurred me to imagine some Do-Overs of my own.
This is supposed to be a fun book, and it had so much potential, but it just made me sad because the author seems to be stuck in the past instead of enjoying his present life.
There are some moments that we would all like to have over. But this author lists a lot of them and that is a little sad - and distracted me from enjoying the story. When I bought the book I thought I might like to try doing some things over - but after I read this - I was convinced that I would probably do more harm to my self-esteem and the people around me than I would do good.

I am reminded of two things - one is Alan Alda's biography - "Never Have Your Dog Stuffed" which is a reference to holding on to memories and moments longer than you should.

The second is a book called "Necessary Endings" which is a book about change - and letting things go.
Whenever I go to a family gathering on occasions such as Thanksgiving... Christmas... or the Fourth Of July... and there is an adult table... and a kids table... the kids always yell out... Uncle Rick... Uncle Rick... sit over here. And you know what? That's where I wanted to sit anyway. If you're anything like me... then this book is for you. The author, Robin Hemley is a forty-eight-year-old Father of three... and the director of the Nonfiction Writing Program at the University of Iowa. Robin not only wanted to sit at the kids table... but he also wanted to go back to Kindergarten... perform in a school play... go back to summer camp... go back to sixth grade... join a fraternity... go back to eighth grade... go to the high school prom with the girl he didn't get to go with... take the SAT test... go back to his childhood home (which is inhabited by strangers)... and "do-over" his truncated participation in the Japanese exchange student program.

With a full "do-over" wish list of this magnitude there is a lot of detail to cover... so I'll hit just a few of the highlights. When "doing-over" Kindergarten Robin marvels at how nice the new teacher is. I guess... based on the fact that Robin's original kindergarten teacher used to step on his back as a means of punishment... and eventually was put in a mental institution... it's pretty easy for his new teacher Mrs. Statler to impress him with kindness. The author quickly sees the traits in these Kindergarteners' that will morph them into specific adult demographics. In the sixth grade redux there are future prom queens and bullies. In both classes the students are curious about how he gets to school. The conversations between the forty-eight-year-old student and the kids definitely define "attention-spans". "EXCUSE ME, SIR. HAS ANYONE EVER FIGURED OUT HOW TO READ HIEROGLYPHICS? WHY YES, THEY HAVE, I SAY AND TELL HIM BRIEFLY ABOUT THE ROSETTA STONE. THIS INNOCENT BOY IS BRET, A FIFTH GRADER WHO WILL ATTACH HIMSELF TO ME FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK THE WAY STEFAN DID IN KINDERGARTEN AND THE WAY MARCY DID TO PEPPERMINT PATTY IN "PEANUTS". DOES ANYONE IN AMERICA KNOW HOW? HE ASKS. I BELIEVE THE INFORMATION ON HOW TO DECIPHER HIEROGLYPHICS HAS FILTERED TO AMERICA, I TELL HIM. BY NOW."... "HE NODS, DO YOU KNOW HOW TO PLAY HARMONICA? HE ASKS WITH THE SAME DEGREE OF SERIOUSNESS."

When Robin is back in his private religious high school... there is a sign on the wall that reads "AS LONG AS THERE ARE FINAL EXAMS, THERE WILL BE PRAYER IN THE SCHOOLS." What is just as interesting as the interplay between an adult... that is supposedly on equal footing... with kids... ranging from Kindergarten to high school... is the effort put in... and the obstacles overcome... to allow a forty-eight-year-old man... to be part of these classes and plays in the first place. With all the perversion being divulged in today's world on a daily basis... the scenario's themselves... are as unique as the humorous interactions.