OH, THE GLORY OF IT ALL

Sean Wilsey's memoir of growing up in 1980s' San Francisco reads like over-the-top fiction. Despite his privileged background, family neglect supplies Wilsey with more than his share of neuroses, narcissism, and self-destructive behavior, which lead him ultimately to a boarding school in Italy, where he turns his life around. Scott Brick starts off slowly with a bit too much melodrama but quickly finds his groove. Brick brings a grounded sensibility to Wilsey's character, honestly portraying the anger, fear, and loneliness of his adolescent years. Thanks to Brick's solid reading and Wilsey's no-holds-barred reporting, this exposé is an entertaining look at an unbelievable world. H.L.S. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine [Published: OCT/NOV 05]