Suspiciously like my Thoughts

“Suspiciously like Real Life” from the New York Times, the editorial review I chose, was written in 1982 by Richard Lingeman. Lingeman states that going into read Growing Up, he thought that it was one of those “books one can put down with a content sign” and feel bad for the person. I didn’t have

Richard Lingeman
Credit: Anthea Lingeman 

this feeling going into the book. I believe this is because, prior to reading the book off the list we were given, I had never heard of Mr. Baker. However, I do agree with Lingeman, now having read Growing Up. What is represented in Growing Up is not something you put down and say, “Oh, you have it worse than me.” It’s something you can laugh and cry with and relate to because, as Lingeman put it ever so simply, it “bares a suspicious resemblance to real life.” Even in bad times, we can learn that “well,” to quote Olaf the Danish salesman, Mr. Baker’s mother’s former boyfriend, “it will all come out O.K," something will turn up. Lingeman goes on to say that “that is more or less the moral of Growing Up.” That something will turn up.