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Dirtbag, Massachusetts
Dirtbag, Massachusetts: A Confessional | Isaac Fitzgerald
15 posts | 14 read | 12 to read
The beloved founding editor of BuzzFeed Books searches for a more expansive vision of masculinity in these remarkable personal essays--with "life mistakes are my co-pilot" as his motto. This striking memoir, told through a series of personal essays, recounts an extraordinary story of childhood trauma and self-acceptance, and the struggle to be, well, a better man. From growing up in a homeless shelter in Boston to bartending in San Francisco, from smuggling medical supplies into Burma to embracing the literary world in New York, Fitzgerald strives for a different view of masculinity, one that aims to put aside anger, isolation, and entitlement and embraces the idea that one can be generous and kind to ourselves by being generous and kind to others. Gritty, clear-eyed, at times even beautiful, the essays in Dirtbag, Massachusetts explore poverty, drinking, ambition, abuse, the Church, body image, attempts at forgiveness--all while showing that adventure and exploration and curiosity are wonderful things, so long as you aren't hurting others and learn from your mistakes. This is a book readers will want to share, a book deeply rooted in the personal that is also an education--perhaps even a lifeline, a rollicking great read that contributes to the cultural conversation and maybe even nudges us a little outside our complacency while keeping us enthralled.
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MsLeah8417
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Mehso-so

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rebbyj
Pickpick

Really interesting autobiography.

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Rhondareads
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A raw intimate group of essays by Isaac Fitzgerald award winning moving read.Thanks @Bloomsbury_Publishing for my copy.Perfect cover.

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Matilda
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“On the day I can‘t forget because I can‘t redo it…”

12 likes1 stack add
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JackOBotts
Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

My #doublespin was a Mood Pick, and I grabbed this on a whim at the library earlier this week.

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 11mo
26 likes1 comment
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Chelsea.Poole
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Pickpick

Isaac Fitzgerald has seen some things! His life begins in the poorest part of Massachusetts, a relatively wealthy state. His parents got together while each were married to other people. They had a tumultuous relationship until they split and Isaac moved around with his mother and landed in homeless shelters. He recounts scenes during his adolescence, through bar life in his early adulthood then serving with missionaries overseas in Burma.

monalyisha Oh, wow! I absolutely need to read this! Stacked. I‘m also just barely holding back from researching where “the poorest part of Massachusetts” is before I read. I grew up in Worcester…but my guess is, maybe, somewhere in Western Mass? I guess I‘ll find out! 11mo
83 likes5 stack adds1 comment
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britt_brooke
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While reading Dirtbag, Massachusetts, I kept thinking of its cover similarities with Johnny Got His Gun, so I dug out my copy …

Who did it best?? 🤩 I love them both. Very striking.

UwannaPublishme I still have my copy of Johnny Got His Gun. Haunting story…and cool cover! 1y
britt_brooke @UwannaPublishme It‘s such an incredible read! Haunting is a good word for it. 1y
74 likes1 stack add2 comments
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britt_brooke
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I‘ve been sitting with this one for a while, and after seeing Fitzgerald speak recently in Nashville, it‘s really grown on me. His audio narration is very in-your-face, think Guy Fieri. 😂 It really took some getting used to, but once you accept it, this memoir in essays depicting Fitzgerald‘s life and experiences is very well done. It‘s dark, smart, funny, and at times, incredibly sad. A solid read.

Cinfhen I found this book solid too, but I didn‘t always “enjoy” it. I bet hearing him in person would have changed my feelings as well. 1y
76 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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Augustdana
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Evening plans

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JenReadsAlot
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Pickpick

Picked this up because of the title! Decent overall I guess.

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Christine
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Pickpick

Had never read Fitzgerald‘s work before, though I‘d been intrigued by his books about tattoos. But he kept showing up in posts from other authors I admire, and, having lived in MA for a few years, I was hooked by the title of this one! I ended up liking it a lot. Speaking of “a lot”…his accounts of his often intense life experiences can certainly be that at times. But I liked his writing style, humor, and candor throughout.

JamieArc Ha! Just yesterday I heard an interview with this author on NPR, though I can‘t remember what program. 2y
JenReadsAlot Reading this right now! 2y
Christine @JamieArc Haha, haven't heard that one! I think we could make our TBRs out of only as-heard-on-NPR books and still never get to everything! 😄 2y
Christine @JenReadsAlot Yay - hope you're enjoying! 2y
36 likes1 stack add4 comments
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kbuggle
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Pickpick

Maybe I‘m biased being from Massachusetts, and the title is what captured my attention, but I‘m so glad I preordered this - a really lovely albeit somewhat chaotic memoir in essays. Life is messy, and Fitzgerald proves that with his stories, which were sad, funny, interesting. All good writing here.

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Cinfhen
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Pickpick

Five stars from Roxane Gay but only 3.5 from me. It‘s not that I didn‘t enjoy my time listening to this “confessional” - it was riveting, arousing, entertaining and compelling but…it was also chaotic and overwhelming. Issac Fitzgerald has lived a life difficult to imagine. I appreciated his willingness to share his journey in hopes that others can benefit from his experiences. 👇🏼

Cinfhen Hearing him tell his tales definitely added humor to the rougher elements of the prose. 2y
britt_brooke Nice review! Thanks for the tag. 💚 I‘ll give it a try at some point. 2y
Megabooks I haven‘t been agreeing with a lot of Gay‘s ratings this year. 🤷🏻‍♀️ I‘m not sold on this but great review!! 2y
70 likes1 stack add4 comments
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Cinfhen
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Just got this #AudioARC #PublishesJuly19 #NetGalley - the male version of Priest Daddy 🫶🏼

Oryx Good title! 2y
britt_brooke Let me know how this is! 2y
Cinfhen Agreed @Oryx tittle totally grabbed my attention!! So far it‘s good @britt_brooke Roxanne Gay gave it 5 stars on GoodReads so my expectations are high 🙏🏼 2y
britt_brooke @Cinfhen That‘s usually a good sign! I enjoy her reviews. 2y
64 likes4 comments