Another "Broadcast Live" review

I'm pleased to report my new "memoir-plus"...

…was a quarter-finalist in Publishers Weekly’s BookLife Prize memoir competition.

Did it advance any further? No, but the “Elite Eight” is pretty top tier, I’m thinking. Judges can award a maximum of 10 points. Here’s the BookLife assessment (or feel free to read the full review here):

Broadcast Liv

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by Steve Vogel

Rating: 9.75

Plot/Idea: A true “dip into nostalgic waters,” this striking collection by baby boomer Vogel regales readers with entertaining stories of growing up in mid-20th century America, punctuated by wily door-to-door salesmen, awkward 6th grade romance attempts at the roller-skating rink, and rat hunting on his family’s Illinois farm. Those memories give way to more serious fare when Vogel contemplates his young adult path to journalism amid the unrest of the Civil Rights Movement and Vietnam War, as well as his later years of marriage, parenthood, and a booming career in broadcasting.

Prose: Vogel writes with a practiced hand, delivering smooth, concise prose that trims a lifetime of memories into dynamic vignettes.

Originality: Broadcast Live balances the lighthearted with the profound, springing from prosaic childhood experiences to perceptive adult reflections that touch on social justice, cultural constructs, and a deep contemplation of what the future holds.

Character/Execution: Vogel invites readers into an intimate gathering of retrospections, carefree remembrances, and revelations that prompt a delicate soul-searching. Comparing his generation to the ones before and after, he emerges with intuitive thoughts on both his triumphs and regrets, as in his reflections on how his parents’ upbringing impacted their expression of love or his innocent hope that humanity’s future could be brighter than its past.

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As always, thanks for reading!