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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting Life, September 2, 2009
This review is from: One in a Hundred Million (Paperback)
In writing classes I have taken, my teachers and professors made a point of expressing that everyone has some great stories to tell. Most people just have no idea how to go about telling those stories.
In reading Marion Urichich's ONE IN A HUNDRED MILLION, it becomes evident that even though it might seem that Urichich has led a plain and normal life, his life has also been an interesting one. ONE IN A HUNDRED MILLION is an autobiography about a simple boy raised by a Croatian immigrant family and a member of the Greatest Generation who faced incredible challenges and obstacles, but overcame those difficulties to build a life for himself. Though the book is divided into ten different chapters, the book reads with four distinctive movements: the authors childhood until he graduated high school and joined the Marines; his life in the Marines and the years following; married life and the golden years; and his legal battles and philosophical musings.
Personally, the earlier sections of the book when the author relates some of this memories growing up and his time in the military were the sections of the book I found most interesting. They are told in a homespun manner that reminded me of a newspaper column I used to read written by a woman who told stories about growing up during the Great Depression. I also enjoyed some of the stories about the later years of the author's life and found some of his feats quite admirable, such as the day he won twelve medals in one Senior Olympics. However, I felt that many of these stories were bogged down in details and didn't have the same flavor of writing as the earlier part of the book. Though the last section of the book, where Urichich describes some of his personal legal battles and provides some of his philosophy of life and ideas of how to make our country better, is probably the most passionate part of the book it is also the one section of the book that seems out of place. It's juxtaposition at the end of the author's life tale makes it seem like a footnote that probably should have been worked into a completely different work altogether.
Overall, I enjoyed reading ONE IN A HUNDRED MILLION. Unlike part of the disclaimer at the beginning of the book, I feel that the author's story is quite believable and worthy of reading or listening about. Though some of his life's events are extraordinary, they are not really that far-fetched or uncanny. Many of them are interesting and some are inspirational.
However, there is one major overarching flaw in ONE IN A HUNDRED MILLION. In the disclaimer at the beginning of the book, the author makes it a point of saying that, "This is a book in my own words and not the words of some professional writer looking to candy coat or embellish on the truth I have to tell." I usually don't have a problem with the typographical and grammatical errors of first time authors and self-published authors and though there are some of those in this book they are easily overlooked. What really can't be overlooked is the overall structure of the book. The first third of the piece flows easily enough, but afterward it begins to jump around and by the end things are all over the place. I understand an author wanting to stay true to their voice, but even the best of writers need an editor from time to time and ONE IN A HUNDRED MILLION needs major editing. Though the author's voice is completely in tact, the overall flow and structure of the book is terrible which makes the book increasingly difficult to read as one progresses from each chapter. Therefore, readers beware. Though ONE IN A HUNDRED MILLION is full of interesting stories that can give people hope and encouragement, the manner in which it is told makes the actual reading of the book a major obstacle in and of itself.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
One in a Hundred Billion!!!, October 31, 2009
This review is from: One in a Hundred Million (Paperback)
Well, I must admit that when I saw the cover of One in a Hundred Million, I didn't know what to think at all. Now, having read it, I can honestly say that the description on the back cover is quite accurate and that those incidents and stories illustrated on the cover aren't even the best of the bunch. It really doesn't do the book justice and completely overlooks all of the childhood stories which are truly delightful.
This autobiography is composed mostly of stories about events in Mr. Urichich's life and they are some of the funniest stories I have ever read or heard, and by far. I laughed so hard I had to stop reading every few pages because my eyes filled up with tears and I simply couldn't see. The interspersed illustrations really help you picture the people in the book and some of them are downright funny on their own, such as "Tata Help, Tata Help". Yes, there are all kinds of accidents and tragedies and mishaps--and the x-rays to prove they really happened--but there are also the triumphs and successes, and most of all, the humor and wonderfully optimistic and inspiring spirit throughout.
One in a Hundred Million is also the chronicle of a Croatian immigrant family's experiences as well as a very personal account of much of the twentieth century in the United States.
The author cautions at the beginning that he is not a professional writer and that is certainly true but the lack of professional technique is part of the art here and makes this book the truest expression of his personality that one could imagine. It is a very honest and earnest work and I wouldn't change it one bit with the caution that some of the language and stories might not be appropriate for young children--although some of those are the best ones!
This book would be great for interrupted reading (waiting in line, at bedtime, etc.) because of the mostly short and relatively self-contained chapters.
I can't imagine that someone could read this book and not thoroughly enjoy it or think that they had not put their time to good use. My only regret is that I never had the opportunity to meet Mr. Urichich except through this book. I highly recommend it as a great pleasure to read.
The Kindle version doesn't seem to be linked to on this page but it can be found here: Autobiography One In A Hundred Million
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
enjoying himself, August 20, 2009
This review is from: One in a Hundred Million (Paperback)
Having a sense of humor adds a dimension to life that can help explain why Nietzsche on opium, Freud on cocaine, and John Lennon on heroin felt themselves to be great. I love the feeling myself, but when I read, I can be savage about finding so much in other people that humor standing alone, like Al Franken trying to get respect from Republicans in the US Senate, tends to fall flat on its face. Among the many words on the cover of the paperback copy of ONE IN A HUNDRED MILLION by Marion Urichich, a doctor administers the wrong serum for stingray wound, and a corrupt legal system prosecutes a man for not lying. Being lucky enough to brag about how awful things are is another pleasure I frequently indulge in, but trying to study this kind of life makes me feel like literary life is a high horse eating its way through a lot of hair with the hope that a thoroughly digested hairball will be good fertilizer for the future.
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