Half the House

Half the House by Richard Hoffman is a memoir, capturing unwelcome interferences of boyhood from one who should be trusted: a coach. But what do you do with experiences that you could never speak of to anyone? Were others going through the same thing? Where are the parents? Where is society/community?

One of my current professors says that memoir is making sense of memory, and I think Half the House does this well. While the book touches on pain, loss, abuse, it is surprisingly an uncomplicated read.

The book lets us into the childhood of Richard Hoffman, his family, his siblings, illness in the family, loss so complex yet so real, and redemption.  

A fascinating detail about this memoir is that it took the writer nineteen years to complete. As an aspiring writer, it made me realise however long something takes, patience and resilience are assets to keep on this writing journey. A story that is meant to be told, wants to be told, cannot be rushed, or deterred.

This book led to the arrest of a molester, who by the time of the book's release had abused hundreds of boys.

I have many mixed emotions even as I write about this book – I have space for it. Would I recommend this read? My answer: over and over. When we read other people’s stories, specifically, memoir, we have a front row seat to a part of their lives. We are witnesses, maybe co-witnesses with them. A privilege not to be taken for granted.