Customer Reviews

Finding Fish: A Memoir

5 star:		(83)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I haven't finished "Finding Fish" yet (I'm about three-quarters of the way through), but I was compelled to write this review anyway. I am an avid fan of memoirs, and "Finding Fish" is the most indescribably sad books I've ever read. Antwone Fisher's hardscrabble life, so lacking in the simple pleasures and creature comforts such as love and affection, is almost painful to read; as you turn the page you'll find yourself hoping that this will be the paragraph where his life begins to take a turn for the better. What you get instead is continuous accounts of cruel, heartless treatment which starts from the time Antwone is a toddler and last into his young adulthood.

Fisher recounts his life story with the same emotional detachment that must have been necessary for him to survive his childhood surroundings, but as you get further into the story you realize that he doesn't need to "dress up" is words. The power of his pain does not need embellishment. Be prepared to cry as you read this book, but also be prepared to feel joy for and pride in Fisher for struggling through, perserving, and ultimately finding success. This story will make you take stock of your own life and feel grateful.

This memoir took me through a lot of emotions as I read it over the course of three days. I appreciated my upbringing much more at the end of the book and I was hardly given a bed of roses. I am disheartened at the reviewers who didnt like this book because they felt as if Fisher didnt endure as much as many other children in the foster care system. That's exactly what made the book so compelling. Mental abuse over a long period of time can be just as devastating as physical abuse. Yes, there are kids who turn out worse or who may have had it harder bouncing from place to place but Antwone's story is incredible. He was broken down mentally and spiritually but he still endured. His story is simple but it's so powerful at the same time. Immediately after finishing his memoir I knew right away that it is a book that I would recommend to the young men in my mentor program. This insightful book is a great read, especially for young black men living in 2002 who think that the world owes them something. I am truly inspired by Antwone Fisher's work.

Mister Mann Frisby
Author of "Blinking Red Light"

I came upon this book by chance while browsing through an airport book store. From the first page, I was hooked, as the writer opens with a narrative about his father; a father he never knew because he was shot by his mother before he was born. Fisher eloquently allows the reader to share in the horrors he experienced as a ward of the state of Ohio. With each page, one can feel the disappointments, the physical and emotional pain this child endured every day of his life. The story tells of his life in an orphange, followed by what one would believe, his salvation, in the home of his foster parents. Unfortunately, life with his foster parents resulted in a slow demise of his spirit. He endured physical, sexual, and emotional abuse on a daily basis, and grew into adulthood with an extremely low self-esteem and no self-worth. How he survived is truly miraculous.

This book not only gives you insight into the child welfare system, but it carries you into the hearts of the orphaned children that the system often fails.

This book will make you laugh, make you cry, make you thank God for your blessings. and make you realize just how powerful determination can be.

A few weeks ago, the wonderful woman who keeps our library clean told me that she had watched the TV show "Montel" as he interviewed Antwone Quenton Fisher, a screenwriter and producer. Fisher had written a memoir called "Finding Fish" about his life as a foster child, and she was so impressed and overcome by the story that she asked if we could get the book for her.

I did. She read it and gave it to me to read on Thursday. She asked that I talk to her after I read it to see what I thought. Friday was our first day of summer vacation so I began to read. I couldn't put it down, except for a few hours of sleep last night, finishing it this morning.

What a heartbreaking story of abuse, emotional, physical, sexual. The story of a boy who was not "invited" as he puts it, into this world. The story has a positive ending, but the vivid descriptions of being unwanted, and the cruelty that human beings can inflict on a child, are guaranteed to bring tears to your eyes.

For me, one of the most powerful scenes involves three of four foster children being told not to expect any presents at Christmas because they are bad. Presents appear under the tree, but, sure enough, when they come down hopefully and expectantly Christmas morning, the presents that have appeared are for one child only, not anything for the others.

When Fisher describes being "sent back" (to Social Services--he had no one else to go back to) I could barely deal with it. I will let you experience it on your own if you choose to read this book. I highly recommend it!

I read a small ad for this book in a library journal and decided to attempt to locate it through my local library. The public library in Fayetteville, NC is a wonderful resource. They had the book. I just completed it. I say "whoosh" because this book has the effect of inflating a balloon, and slowly letting all of the air out. That's what happened to this young man's life. His testimony is a "must read". There were times during my reading when I had to put it down. It was such a powerful narrative, and a demonstration of "what's wrong" with the child welfare system. I pray that the foster mother, Mrs. Pickett, is alive and in full control of her faculties at this time. She is clearly identified as a vicious, sick human being, who should have never been licensed as a foster parent. The child welfare agencies, also, are glaringly neglectful in their care of this child, Antwone. My heart went out top this young man. As a social worker, who has worked with foster children for many years, Antwone's story is another clear indictment of the "system" and its flaws. I never thought I would say this, but I almost feel that orphanages are superior to "foster" care. At least in an orphanage, a child knows where he or she is, and can grow to accept it. This was a beautifully written narrative, portrayed with angst and soul. God bless this man and his family. I have told many people about this book, and will continue to laud it's worth and magnificence.

I bought the book because, like Antwone, I'm a Clevelander and a rough contemporary of his. However, I'm white, grew up in another (also working class) part of town and worked in Cleveland on the other side of the human service system. The times, places and even some of the people in the book were familiar to me. So were the circumstances. More importantly, this was a perspective I needed to see and think about once again. Antwone's story was riveting. It's also cautionary because he probably experienced more stability and attention in the "system" than it usually doles it. Antwone had gifts and talents and was fortunate enough to find them and still it was not "a wonderful life" ---- and those who wish to place greater limits on what we do for children cannot back away from that. People interested in the wellbeing of children and youth and should read this book.

After I saw Antwone Fisher on Montel Williams, I immediately ran out and bought the book titled "Finding Fish". The title of this book describes accurately what Mr. Fisher's intentions are for his biography. In it he endures numerous encounters of abuse from a woman he calls "Mizz Pickett". In the end he triumphs however, and makes you feel that his success is as much yours. This book is extremely captivating and heartfelt. I found myself laughing out loud. Mr. Fisher's writing style is casual and colorful at the same time. His poems reflect the undertone of sadness, as does his repeated descriptions of rain and clouds in Cleveland. This book is excellent to put it mildly. Not only did I laugh, but also cried. This book doesn't leave you hanging in the least, nor does it drag out any part of his life. This is Antwone Quenton Fisher's story of starting out as an helpless, abused, innocent little boy who becomes a responsible, extraordinary, self proclaimed adult who masters the english language in a way that is reflected in his book. His descriptions of the sea at night is nothing short of "magical". I give Antwone Quenton Fisher my commendations and respect for it is he who with a lot of patience and hard work, made his garden bloom. Thank you, Melissa Lambert

I would like to commend WHUR 96.3 in Washington, DC, for having Antwone Fisher as their studio guest. Like the host asked, "How could a young man have a memoir?". I wanted to know the answer to this question as well, so I took it upon myself to order this book the same day of the interview.

"Finding Fish" had me so entranced that I could not put this book down or go about my daily routine without thinking about "Finding Fish". This book had me laughing, smiling, crying and aching for the things Mr. Fisher went through to accomplish things in life. After reading "Finding Fish", Mr. Fisher made me appreciate many things that I was subconsciously taking for granted.

Good luck in your endeavors and may God continue to bless and keep you always!

This emotional odyssey kept me in tears from start to finish. As a teacher, it was especially meaningful to read a story of an orphan alone in the world whose life was so positively impacted by the public school teachers and child welfare case workers who took the time to send him a message of worthiness. The great success he has achieved should remind all parents that the self-esteem we nurture in all children can last them throughout their lives.

I kept seeing this book every time I went into a bookstore and the cover always caught my eye, but I would repeatedly walk away from it since I usually don't read any non-fiction books. Well, after hearing from some of my trusted book-reading friends about how great this book was, I decided to finally go ahead and give it a try. Well, the first thing that I noticed is how the book read like fiction. After reading about 20 pages, I was pretty much hooked! This book was so good that I would forget at times that this was a TRUE STORY! I found myself so upset and disturbed by the way he was treated at the Picketts' house that I didn't know if I could last through that section without wanting to put the book down. But, I persevered and I made it to the very happy and satisfying conclusion. For Antwone Fisher to literally survive against the odds by making something of his life was amazing, inspiring, and absolutely unforgettable. I would love to meet him one day and I definitely look forward to the day that his story hits the big screen!!!