Riding in Cars with Boys

Riding in Cars with Boys by Beverly Donofrio is an memoir originally published in 1990. My paperback copy has 204 pages. I picked this book up in a used books clearance area rather than because I had some great desire to read it. It was ok. The subject matter made it a little less appealing for me, but what really made it not live up to the wonderful reviews found other places was that Donofrio keeps it light and breezy. She never goes deeper than the surface actions of her outward rebellion. We don't see any personal growth or insight. In her story she presents all of her family and friends as merely surface characterizations without any real depth. Also, while she is bemoaning the fact that she was a teenage mother, she was 18. Many young people at 18 are mature and taking on adult responsibilities. Finally, this is an easy read and not even particularly well written, considering Donofrio's education. There were some humorous sections. I'd give it a so-so recommendation. Rating: 2.5

At Amazon from Publishers Weekly:

Donofrio, a rebellious policeman's daughter, details her promiscuity and drug abuse, early pregnancy and brief marriage, and eventual success as a freelance journalist. "In this humor-flecked, street-side view of her unconventional life, Donofrio . . . writes about a mother and her son coming of age together," said PW.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Quotes:

"Trouble began in 1963....The trouble I'm talking about was my first real trouble, the age-old trouble. The getting in trouble an in 'Is she in Trouble?' trouble. As in pregnant." pg. 13

"I just figured, naively, that anybody who was smart enough could go to college." pg. 21

"...'I hear your pains have stopped.'

'Yes.'

'We're going to give you a little something to get them started again, speed things up.'

...'Okay...we're moving right along. Now I'm going to give you some Demerol to ease it up a bit.' " pg. 66

"If everybody picked their nose when they felt like it, everybody would be a lot happier. You pick your nose, I pick my nose, everybody picks their nose, so why hide it? We got ruined from socialization." pg. 78

"The only thing I thought about marriage after that was, Never in a million years, not for a billion dollars, and never again if it kills me." pg. 102

"Why did my parents decide to name their first daughter Beverly Ann Donofrio and forever brand me with the initials B.A.D.?" pg. 124