Community Corner
Temple Beth Abraham Book Club
FREE SPIRIT by Joshua Safran
An Unforgettable Journey Through an Unconventional Childhood
When Joshua Safran was
four years old, his mother--determined to protect him from the threats of
nuclear war and Ronald Reagan--took to the open road with her young son,
leaving the San Francisco countercultural scene behind. Together they embarked
on a journey to find a utopia they could call home. In Free Spirit, Safran tells the harrowing, yet wryly
funny story of his childhood chasing this perfect life off the grid--and how
they survived the imperfect one they found instead.
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Encountering a cast of
strange and humorous characters along the way, Joshua spends his early years
living in a series of makeshift homes, including shacks, teepees, buses, and a
lean-to on a stump. His colorful youth darkens, however, when his mother
marries an alcoholic and abusive guerrilla/poet.
Throughout it all,
Joshua yearns for a "normal" life, but when he finally reenters
society through school, he finds "America" a difficult and confusing
place. Years spent living in the wilderness and discussing Marxism have not
prepared him for the Darwinian world of teenagers, and he finds himself bullied
and beaten by classmates who don't share his mother's belief about reveling in
one's differences.
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Eventually, Joshua
finds the strength to fight back against his tormentors, both in school and at
home, and helps his mother find peace. But Free Spirit is more than just a coming-of age story. It is also a journey of the
spirit, as he reconnects with his Jewish roots; a tale of overcoming adversity;
and a captivating read about a childhood unlike any other.
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refreshments.