Pigs Can't Swim: A Memoir (Merloyd Lawrence Book) - Softcover

Peppe, Helen

Softcover

ISBN 10: 030682423X ISBN 13: 9780306824234

Publisher: Da Capo Press, 2016

Synopsis

An outrageous, hilarious, and touching memoir by the youngest of nine children in a hardscrabble, beyond-eccentric Maine family. With everything happening on Helen Peppe's backwoods Maine farm, life was wild--and not just for the animals. Sibling rivalry, rock-bottom poverty, feral male chauvinism, sex in the hayloft: everything seemed--and was--out of control. In telling her wayward family tale, Peppe manages deadpan humor, an unerring eye for the absurd, and poignant compassion for her utterly overwhelmed parents. While her feisty resilience and candor will inevitably remind readers of Jeannette Walls or Mary Karr, Peppe's wry insight and moments of tenderness with family and animals are entirely her own. As Richard Hoffman, the author of Half the House: A Memoir puts it: "Pigs Can't Swim is an unruly, joyous troublemaker of a book."

About this title

Review:

"Kirkus Reviews", 12/15/13
"A writer and photographer's wry but poignant account of her hardscrabble childhood and adolescence in rural New England...Unsentimental in its character portrayals and forthright yet humorous in its depiction of devastated innocence and family dysfunction, Peppe's book is a celebration of difference, resilience and the healing power of love."

"Kirkus Reviews", 12/15/13

"A writer and photographer's wry but poignant account of her hardscrabble childhood and adolescence in rural New England...Unsentimental in its character portrayals and forthright yet humorous in its depiction of devastated innocence and family dysfunction, Peppe's book is a celebration of difference, resilience and the healing power of love."
"Booklist", 1/1/2014

"[Peppe's] recollections make for vivid, powerful stories"
"Portland Press Herald"1/26/14

"Much of this book is laugh-out-loud funny, but there are poignant, sad moments as well...Peppe takes the reader on an up-close tour of what life was like in rural parts of Maine a few decades ago."
Bookreporter, 2/4/14

"In telling her family's story, Peppe manages deadpan humor, an unerring eye for the absurd, and a touching compassion for her utterly overwhelmed parents. While her feisty resilience and candor will inevitably remind readers of Jeanette Wall or Mary Karr, Peppe's wry insight and moments of tenderness with family and animals are entirely her own."
The HIPPO, 2/20/2014

"The book tells with exquisite and excruciating detail of her life growing up on a rural Maine farm as the youngest of nine siblings."
"Down East Magazine", March 2014

"An elegant, honest collection of anecdotes about growing up...Rich sensory details and deadpan humor complement Peppe's head-on dive into her childhood dreams and realities...Peppe captures the wonderment and confusion of childhood, weaving an image of Maine that is dark, magical, and unquestionably memorable."
"Kirkus Reviews," 12/15/13
"A writer and photographer's wry but poignant account of her hardscrabble childhood and adolescence in rural New England...Unsentimental in its character portrayals and forthright yet humorous in its depiction of devastated innocence and family dysfunction, Peppe's book is a celebration of difference, resilience and the healing power of love."

"Booklist," 1/1/2014
"[Peppe's] recollections make for vivid, powerful stories"

"Portland Press Herald"1/26/14
"Much of this book is laugh-out-loud funny, but there are poignant, sad moments as well...Peppe takes the reader on an up-close tour of what life was like in rural parts of Maine a few decades ago."

Bookreporter, 2/4/14
"In telling her family's story, Peppe manages deadpan humor, an unerring eye for the absurd, and a touching compassion for her utterly overwhelmed parents. While her feisty resilience and candor will inevitably remind readers of Jeanette Wall or Mary Karr, Peppe's wry insight and moments of tenderness with family and animals are entirely her own."

The HIPPO, 2/20/2014
"The book tells with exquisite and excruciating detail of her life growing up on a rural Maine farm as the youngest of nine siblings."

"Down East Magazine," March 2014
"An elegant, honest collection of anecdotes about growing up...Rich sensory details and deadpan humor complement Peppe's head-on dive into her childhood dreams and realities...Peppe captures the wonderment and confusion of childhood, weaving an image of Maine that is dark, magical, and unquestionably memorable."
DailyCandy Boston, 3/4/14
""Pigs Can't Swim" pulled us in. Not that Helen Peppe's memoir didn't already have us in its grip, with its pity-free mix of pathos, humor, and four-legged obsession...the author's greatest trick is threading the needle of pain and laughter as she relays difficult tales...wrenching, funny, and uplifting memoir."
"Times Record," 3/30/14
"Alternately funny, poignant, and painful, "Pigs Can't Swim" is a snapshot of life in Maine, the way no one believes it should ever be, and the true story of a young girl's coming of age, despite all odds."
"Maine Living," 4/10/2014
"Helen Peppe's story dives into the deep end of the pool and paints with startling clarity, a picture of a family ... Rooting for her at the turn of every page, I laughed and cried... I was left craving more...I recommend this tale to those who feast on well-written literature, rich descriptions, and wry humor found in the most unlikely places. Many times I was reminded of the memoirs of Mary Karr as I read about a gritty life that is portrayed as sad, hilarious, and insane, all at the same time. Pigs Can't Swim does more than entertain. It gives hope; hope that anyone can rise above her circumstances in life; and that indeed, pigs can swim after all."
"Maine Sunday Telegram," Bestseller 4/27/14
"Maine Sunday Telegram" Bestseller, 5/18/14
Shortlisted for the New England Book Award

"Kirkus Reviews," 12/15/13
A writer and photographer s wry but poignant account of her hardscrabble childhood and adolescence in rural New EnglandUnsentimental in its character portrayals and forthright yet humorous in its depiction of devastated innocence and family dysfunction, Peppe s book is a celebration of difference, resilience and the healing power of love.

"Booklist," 1/1/2014
[Peppe s] recollections make for vivid, powerful stories

"Portland Press Herald"1/26/14
Much of this book is laugh-out-loud funny, but there are poignant, sad moments as wellPeppe takes the reader on an up-close tour of what life was like in rural parts of Maine a few decades ago.

Bookreporter, 2/4/14
In telling her family s story, Peppe manages deadpan humor, an unerring eye for the absurd, and a touching compassion for her utterly overwhelmed parents. While her feisty resilience and candor will inevitably remind readers of Jeanette Wall or Mary Karr, Peppe s wry insight and moments of tenderness with family and animals are entirely her own.

The HIPPO, 2/20/2014
The book tells with exquisite and excruciating detail of her life growing up on a rural Maine farm as the youngest of nine siblings.

"Down East Magazine," March 2014
An elegant, honest collection of anecdotes about growing upRich sensory details and deadpan humor complement Peppe s head-on dive into her childhood dreams and realitiesPeppe captures the wonderment and confusion of childhood, weaving an image of Maine that is dark, magical, and unquestionably memorable.
DailyCandy Boston, 3/4/14
"Pigs Can t Swim" pulled us in. Not that Helen Peppe s memoir didn t already have us in its grip, with its pity-free mix of pathos, humor, and four-legged obsessionthe author s greatest trick is threading the needle of pain and laughter as she relays difficult taleswrenching, funny, and uplifting memoir.
"Times Record," 3/30/14
Alternately funny, poignant, and painful, "Pigs Can t Swim" is a snapshot of life in Maine, the way no one believes it should ever be, and the true story of a young girl s coming of age, despite all odds.
"Maine Living," 4/10/2014
Helen Peppe s story dives into the deep end of the pool and paints with startling clarity, a picture of a family Rooting for her at the turn of every page, I laughed and cried I was left craving moreI recommend this tale to those who feast on well-written literature, rich descriptions, and wry humor found in the most unlikely places. Many times I was reminded of the memoirs of Mary Karr as I read about a gritty life that is portrayed as sad, hilarious, and insane, all at the same time. Pigs Can t Swim does more than entertain. It gives hope; hope that anyone can rise above her circumstances in life; and that indeed, pigs can swim after all.
"Maine Sunday Telegram," Bestseller 4/27/14
"Maine Sunday Telegram" Bestseller, 5/18/14
Shortlisted for the New England Book Award"

Kirkus Reviews, 12/15/13
A writer and photographer's wry but poignant account of her hardscrabble childhood and adolescence in rural New EnglandUnsentimental in its character portrayals and forthright yet humorous in its depiction of devastated innocence and family dysfunction, Peppe's book is a celebration of difference, resilience and the healing power of love.
Booklist, 1/1/2014
[Peppe's] recollections make for vivid, powerful stories
Portland Press Herald1/26/14
Much of this book is laugh-out-loud funny, but there are poignant, sad moments as wellPeppe takes the reader on an up-close tour of what life was like in rural parts of Maine a few decades ago.
Bookreporter, 2/4/14
In telling her family's story, Peppe manages deadpan humor, an unerring eye for the absurd, and a touching compassion for her utterly overwhelmed parents. While her feisty resilience and candor will inevitably remind readers of Jeanette Wall or Mary Karr, Peppe's wry insight and moments of tenderness with family and animals are entirely her own.
The HIPPO, 2/20/2014
The book tells with exquisite and excruciating detail of her life growing up on a rural Maine farm as the youngest of nine siblings.
Down East Magazine, March 2014"

An elegant, honest collection of anecdotes about growing upRich sensory details and deadpan humor complement Peppe's head-on dive into her childhood dreams and realitiesPeppe captures the wonderment and confusion of childhood, weaving an image of Maine that is dark, magical, and unquestionably memorable.
DailyCandy Boston, 3/4/14
Pigs Can't Swim pulled us in. Not that Helen Peppe's memoir didn't already have us in its grip, with its pity-free mix of pathos, humor, and four-legged obsessionthe author's greatest trick is threading the needle of pain and laughter as she relays difficult taleswrenching, funny, and uplifting memoir.
Times Record, 3/30/14
Alternately funny, poignant, and painful, Pigs Can't Swim is a snapshot of life in Maine, the way no one believes it should ever be, and the true story of a young girl's coming of age, despite all odds. "

Kirkus Reviews, 12/15/13
"A writer and photographer's wry but poignant account of her hardscrabble childhood and adolescence in rural New England...Unsentimental in its character portrayals and forthright yet humorous in its depiction of devastated innocence and family dysfunction, Peppe's book is a celebration of difference, resilience and the healing power of love."
Booklist, 1/1/2014
"[Peppe's] recollections make for vivid, powerful stories"
Portland Press Herald1/26/14
"Much of this book is laugh-out-loud funny, but there are poignant, sad moments as well...Peppe takes the reader on an up-close tour of what life was like in rural parts of Maine a few decades ago."
Bookreporter, 2/4/14
"In telling her family's story, Peppe manages deadpan humor, an unerring eye for the absurd, and a touching compassion for her utterly overwhelmed parents. While her feisty resilience and candor will inevitably remind readers of Jeanette Wall or Mary Karr, Peppe's wry insight and moments of tenderness with family and animals are entirely her own."
The HIPPO, 2/20/2014
"The book tells with exquisite and excruciating detail of her life growing up on a rural Maine farm as the youngest of nine siblings."
Down East Magazine, March 2014

"An elegant, honest collection of anecdotes about growing up...Rich sensory details and deadpan humor complement Peppe's head-on dive into her childhood dreams and realities...Peppe captures the wonderment and confusion of childhood, weaving an image of Maine that is dark, magical, and unquestionably memorable."
DailyCandy Boston, 3/4/14
"Pigs Can't Swim pulled us in. Not that Helen Peppe's memoir didn't already have us in its grip, with its pity-free mix of pathos, humor, and four-legged obsession...the author's greatest trick is threading the needle of pain and laughter as she relays difficult tales...wrenching, funny, and uplifting memoir."
Times Record, 3/30/14
"Alternately funny, poignant, and painful, Pigs Can't Swim is a snapshot of life in Maine, the way no one believes it should ever be, and the true story of a young girl's coming of age, despite all odds."

Book Description:

An outrageous, hilarious, and touching memoir of childhood as the youngest of nine children in a hardscrabble, beyond-eccentric Maine family

About this edition

• Publisher: Da Capo Press
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 030682423X
• ISBN 13: 9780306824234
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 274