The Year We Danced: A Memoir by Stephen E. Smith will send you back to the swinging (?) sixties in his nostalgic recollection of his first year as a college student. I enjoyed some of the specific details- the clothes he wore, the music he listened to, and some events of that first year. I had trouble finding the purpose of explaining how his father chose the college for him, FORGED his application, and only told the author that would be his destination— shortly before he went. Or maybe that was the satire part?

The Year We Danced
A Memoir
Stephen E. Smith
Apprentice House Press


Two Step? Jive? Tango? Foxtrot? I wanted to know what kind of dance was danced in this year of dance so I picked the memoir off Netgalley’s shelf. I appreciate real photos of real people in real stories and the cover successfully communicated that.
I opened the page and went to college.
Stephan communicated his story well and even as I type this review I feel like he may read it and rip apart my grammar and punctuation. He learned from the best. His story was a white dress shirt starched stiff, tucked into khaki pants, and ironed into a perfect crease. Impeccable.
I had difficulty with the phlegm. I longed for Blondie to grab hold of the author, kiss him long and hard and deep until his toes curled and his khakis split their seems in sensation. The energy of emotion was missing and I felt a little like Sheldon was knocking on the door calling Penny forth.
While the story would have exploded with some chi, it was good despite its absence.
I enjoyed learning about the Shag, Elon College, and the music that inspired the author through his freshman year. I would rate this book a solid 3 out of 5 because it was good and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys memoirs.
The Year We Danced was an insightful glimpse into a moment in time that I wouldn’t know existed if the author hadn’t penned his memoir.
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC.