Animals I Want to See, Tom Seeman
Animals I Want to See, Tom Seeman
List: $19.99 | Sale: $13.99
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Animals I Want to See
A Memoir of Growing Up in the Projects and Defying the Odds

Author: Tom Seeman

Narrator: Brian Hutchison

Unabridged: 8 hr 29 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Recorded Books

Published: 06/18/2024


Synopsis

A lyrical coming-of-age story set in the projects of Toledo, Ohio, Animals I Want To See explores themes of identity, ambition, religion, and friendship—often across racial and social lines—as it spotlights a family of fourteen and tracks a boy’s journey from a child janitor with big dreams to a teenage petty criminal to a student at Yale and Harvard.

On Bronson Street, in the projects of Toledo, Ohio, in a crowded house occupied by a family of fourteen, Tom Seeman starts a very important list. Just as the trashstrewn field in his backyard is home to a treasure-trove of wild animals, Tom’s list, “Animals I Want To See One Day,” is home to dreams of adventure in places far away from the downtrodden neighborhood where he lives. But for all its hardship and crime, Bronson Street is also something of a mythical street, populated by unforgettable people who share food, protect each other, and give surprising gifts of beauty and merriment, proving that the bonds of community and friendship (often across racial and social lines) can bridge any divide and transcend what many of us are taught to believe about each other.

A luminous coming-of-age memoir that shimmers with countless marvels, Animals I Want To See tracks Tom Seeman’s journey from a child janitor with big ambitions to a teenage petty criminal to a student at Yale and Harvard. At once a meditation on finding wonder in unlikely places, an ode to a heroic mother who makes the seemingly impossible possible, and an exploration of what it means to create ourown identities, this is a heartwarming, thought-provoking, ultimately uplifting book for all readers.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Jill

ANIMALS I WANT TO SEE: A Memoir of Growing Up in the Projects and Defying the Odds by Tom Seeman The narration by Brian Hutchison was very well done in this well written inspirational rags-to-riches memoir. I enjoy memoirs and this was engaging from beginning to end. Exploring themes of identity, rel......more

Goodreads review by Megan

I borrowed this book from a coworker at work. As we live and work in Toledo, where the author grew up. This book is not generally my cup of tea. But I enjoyed seeing Toledo through the author's eyes, and learning about his life. It also made me appreciate all the things I've got and have had in life......more

Goodreads review by Terry

Great book. This is a coming of age memoir about a young boy who grew up in the projects of Toledo, Ohio. He had a difficult childhood with a mean alcoholic father and 11 siblings. Tom was #5. He had a drive to make it out of the projects. The kids in his family went to Catholic school by doing work......more

Such an engaging story of growing up in a large poor family in the Midwest. With a superhero mom, a selfish and mean father, and 11 siblings, Tom strives to get out of the projects he grew up in. His stories of the little acts of kindness shown to him that allowed him to succeed is really touching.......more