Greetings from Bury Park (Blinded by the Light Movie Tie-In)

January 28, 2008
In this uneven memoir, British TV and radio journalist Manzoor describes growing up in Britain in the '70s and '80s by way of his love affair with the music of Bruce Springsteen. Only two years old when he emigrated from Pakistan, Manzoor was torn between the demands of his traditional family and the seductions of mainstream culture. His discovery of Springsteen at age 16 gave Manzoor a personal muse who allowed him to bridge the gulf separating the two worlds. For Manzoor, Springsteen's lyrics about alienation, isolation and generational misunderstandings addressed perfectly his inchoate feelings of rebellion and guilt. In Springsteen Nation, Manzoor found a culture that transcended his own divided loyalties and accepted him as just another fan. It's an intriguing hook, but one Manzoor handles awkwardly. Springsteen barely appears in the first 90 pages or so, which cover the family leaving Pakistan, Manzoor's father's death and his siblings' marriages. The early material seems rushed and is standard immigrant memoir fare—tales of suffering in the old country and shame in the new; antipathy toward the stern, workaholic father and the too-late realization of all they had in common. Some of the later episodes such as Manzoor's first trip to America—where he sells encyclopedias door-to-door—show real energy, but they're a long time coming. The division of the book into semi-discrete essays also tends to rob the narrative of unity and impact, and the 9/11 coda feels tacked on.

February 15, 2008
Part fan's notes to "The Boss" but mostly coming-of-age stories, broadcast journalist Manzoor's memoir chronicles the ways that Bruce Springsteen changed his life. Born in Pakistan, Manzoor emigrates with his family to Britain at the age of two. While his father and mother struggle to make ends meet in their new home, Manzoor struggles to fit in and to grasp his Pakistani and Muslim heritage. Manzoor strives to make sense of his father's demands regarding money, time, schooling, and a future profession. When a friend introduces him to Springsteen's music at 16, Manzoor begins to read the events of his life through the lenses of Springsteen's lyrics and music. To escape the confines of British society, he follows Springsteen on tour in Europe and America, identifying with him as a man born to a working-class immigrant family and hearing the promise of self-improvement in Springsteen's music. Although quotations from Springsteen's songs begin each chapter, the singer becomes a shadowy figure in this memoir. Although rambunctious and at times humorous, this is also a rambling and repetitive read. For Springsteen fans primarily.Henry L. Carrigan Jr., Evanston, IL

Copyright 2008 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 1, 2008
At age two, Manzoor emigrates from Pakistan with his mother and siblings to join his father in Luton, England. While his mother and older sister stay up late sewing for a local dressmaker and his father labors in a factory, Manzoor, the youngest son, goes to school and falls in love with American music. His discovery of the music of Bruce Springsteen through his friend Amolak at the age of 16 is an awakening for Manzoor; finally, he has found a musician who speaks to him and his experience. Springsteens songs about being true to oneself and clashing with a father who doesnt understand him speak to Manzoor and set off a lifelong love of the Boss and his music, leading Manzoor to travel just to see Springsteen in concert as well as to come to terms with his father and his own identity. With crisp, fresh writing and an appealing voice, Manzoor invites readers along with him on his journey from a dutiful but somewhat rebellious boy to a thoughtful, wise adult.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2008, American Library Association.)