Member Reviews
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers Copy of 1974 by Francine Prose!
1974 is Francine Prose’s memoir of a year in her life, an eventful one for her and a momentous one for the country as well. In her 20s, escaping a marriage she just doesn’t want, nothing bad, just mutual disinterest, she winds up at the home of friends in San Francisco, still a Mecca of sorts for youth even after the hay days have ended. She has written two books that are in the process of being published and a bit scattered about her next move.
One evening she is playing cards with her roommates and their friend, Tony Russo, who proves to be an interesting guy. Although I believe I’m only a few years younger than Prose, I think I likely fall into a large group of Americans who aren’t familiar with his name. Anthony “Tony” Russo leaked the Pentagon Papers along with Daniel Ellsberg. According to some sources, it was initially his idea. This memoir recreates Prose’s time with Russo as she learns his stories from Vietnam, Rand Corp, jail, coping with the FBI, etc. We follow as Prose comes to terms with who she is when she is with this older man (who is in his 30s) trying to come to grips with what has happened in and to his life.
I found this a very interesting read, a memoir set at the time of change from the tumultuous 60s to the more controlled 70s. Prose is a keen observer of her younger self as part of both worlds. It is not written in a strictly linear fashion at times, but as memory intrudes. That didn’t interfere with my enjoyment or understanding. Recommended as memoir and also for its political/ historical content.
Thanks to Harper Collins Publishers and NetGalley for an eARC of this book. This review is my own.
I fall so deeply into Francine Prose's writing that her last name always feels like a gift bestowed upon her for her talents. 5/5 stars, will recommend this book, and all of her writing!
Fascinating look at not just one person's life but a specific period of time in our country that is at once not that long ago but also seems so far away from the present time. Definitely recommended.
I've never read a book by Prose so I'm not quite sure why I decided to read this memoir. I found the framing of the book around the year 1974 to be intriguing. Fortunately I had background and interest in the Pentagon Papers because that history plays a large role in this book. Now that I've read this, I will seek out some of her fiction. Probably not the right book for me but for those who have read Prose, this should be good
This is Francince Prose’s memoir about her time in San Francisco with Tony Russo, one of the activists charged with leaking the Pentagon Papers. I was interested to read about this time and I normally love Prose’s nonfiction works, but this book was kind of boring. Both Prose and Russo come off as self-involved and I found myself not really caring about their relationship. I received a digital ARC of this book through NetGalley.
1974... A PERSONAL HISTORY by Francine Prose (Reading like a Writer) is a bit of a disappointment. The memoir begins abruptly and then meanders. She writes about being 26 years old and floating between the East Coast and San Francisco, but was there a point? I was in France that summer when Nixon resigned – what a coming-of-age experience and an eye-opening look at America. I had expected Prose to offer more reflection on culture and that historical pivot point. I was looking forward to a trip into history (see Goodwin's An Unfinished Love Story about the 1960s), but that was my 1974 and this book is Prose's as it is primarily about her relationship with Pentagon Papers co-conspirator Tony Russo. Clearly, I missed something in this recounting since 1974... A PERSONAL HISTORY received starred reviews from Booklist, Library Journal, and Publishers Weekly.
I completely understand why Francine Prose needed to write this memoir about her relationship with Pentagon Papers co-conspirator Tony Russo. I'm a little less clear about why I needed to read it. I can't entirely articulate why this book didn't fire me up, but it could have something to do with the over-worn theme of boomer idealism gone sour, and I may also have trouble with protagonists (in this case the author) who take tarot cards and I Ching seriously. But I can also tell that many others will like this memoir more than I did.
Francine Prose does, however, deserve considerable credit for portraying her younger self as somewhat unlikeable. And the off-kilter charm and strangeness of Tony Russo is portrayed evocatively.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collin's for providing an early copy for review.
1974 A Personal History by Francine Prose. This is not a telling of history but feels more like a light conversation. She says it herself, she comes from privilege but she attempts to share her account of the atrocities occurring during the Vietnam War. I ultimately wanted more from this story. I enjoy historical fiction and her writing just didn’t help me capture the 1974 period I was hoping to learn more about. If you are familiar with her writing this may be a good read for you.
I received an ARC from Net Galley and Harper in exchange for an honest review.
I was expecting a broader memoir about the mid-seventies, but this book focuses fairly tightly on a short period of time where the author had a fast, intense relationship with Tony Russo, who was involved with leaking the Pentagon Papers. The two mostly cruise around in his car, driving all over San Francisco, as he figures out life post-prison and she figures out life post-marriage. Although Russo lived until 2008, his story is pretty tragic, as he was shoved aside by Ellsberg and struggled with mental illness, and Prose details her own issues as she handled their relationship. A well-written and fascinating book, and look back at a grim year.