Lark F. (anncgrl) reviewed Breakfast at Sally's: One Homeless Man's Inspirational Journey on + 19 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
This book is not a literary giant. It is a true account of one man's experience of being homeless for a year and a half. I love it.
In most ways this book is very simple. The author's writing style is unsophisticated and natural. I anticipated that I would be drawn into the story by the use of clever literary skills. Instead I was drawn into the story by the reality, honesty and lack of drama. It is an account and, in the end, a clarion call rather than a novel written to entice and provide fodder for the voyeur.
I am not going to post this book in the near future because I believe I will read it again and maybe again. I loved it. I now understand that any one of us could be eating breakfast at sally's (the Salvation Army). Mr. LeMieux is self-effacing and does not attempt to draw pity from the reader. He does present a few moments where we are provided a painful glimpse into the reactions of strangers to the homeless. At some points Mr. LeMieux becomes "preachy". Who can blame him? He writes from the perspective of a homeless man who once had everything and lost it all. When he does preach it is to draw the reader's attention to the invisibility of the homeless in America.
If you are looking for an amazing piece of literature, this is not the book for you. If you need to be fed juicy tidbits of the personal lives of the homeless beyond their daily struggles, this is not the book for you. If you love authenticity and simplicity in the telling of a story this is the book for you. Awesome, Mr. LeMieux, awesome!
In most ways this book is very simple. The author's writing style is unsophisticated and natural. I anticipated that I would be drawn into the story by the use of clever literary skills. Instead I was drawn into the story by the reality, honesty and lack of drama. It is an account and, in the end, a clarion call rather than a novel written to entice and provide fodder for the voyeur.
I am not going to post this book in the near future because I believe I will read it again and maybe again. I loved it. I now understand that any one of us could be eating breakfast at sally's (the Salvation Army). Mr. LeMieux is self-effacing and does not attempt to draw pity from the reader. He does present a few moments where we are provided a painful glimpse into the reactions of strangers to the homeless. At some points Mr. LeMieux becomes "preachy". Who can blame him? He writes from the perspective of a homeless man who once had everything and lost it all. When he does preach it is to draw the reader's attention to the invisibility of the homeless in America.
If you are looking for an amazing piece of literature, this is not the book for you. If you need to be fed juicy tidbits of the personal lives of the homeless beyond their daily struggles, this is not the book for you. If you love authenticity and simplicity in the telling of a story this is the book for you. Awesome, Mr. LeMieux, awesome!
