Rags to Rags
Cas Amato
Hardcover: 470 pages
Genre: Autobiography
Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd.
(31 Jan. 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 178629284X
ISBN-13: 978-1786292841
Synopsis
Cas Amato is a first-time author. He is not a celebrity, not rich nor otherwise extraordinary. He is just an ordinary guy, living an ordinary life, and yet, he decides to write his autobiography. Initially, he wonders why he is doing it, and who could possibly be interested in reading such a work. Nevertheless, he sits down and completes his story, concluding that it is there to be written, so why not just do it anyway. His family may think he's nuts, but that has never stopped him in the past. The end result is a rather quirky and tongue in cheek account of his life, his Italian culture, his successes and failures, and his travels, which have taken him to the far ends of the earth and back.
May contain spoilers
My Thoughts
How do you frame your life?
I believe writing down personal details can be a highly emotional experience.
In truth, I seldom read autobiographies because they are typically written by celebrities and I find it more refreshing to learn real-life tales about someone whose origins are a mystery. So, I was pleased to be presented with the opportunity to read this autobiography by Cas Amato.
Yes. I had never heard of him before. He was a mystery.
If anyone of us were to recollect our past we must first begin with observing the means by which it may be acquired. And this brings about one of my favorite words REMINISCENCE. (Yes. I am fully aware that I am captive to the influence of words.)
This autobiography affords us the opportunity to travel on a journey with Cas Amato as he walks us through a series of natural and spontaneous changes in his life.
The journey is not chronological. Instead, it relays different stories in frames of education, work and family. Images are also included with the text.
Cas tells about school and work, his Sunday masses, Mr. Grimm, passport difficulties, among countless other stories. You'll have the opportunity to read his poetry, learn about his band and his love of rugby football and injuries sustained. All of this moves towards the present day, where he is a son, husband, and father who's traveled the world as an Export Manager, all the while musing about his Italian heritage.
In finishing this book one might wonder about the title Rags to Rags. Surely we are aware that if it would be Rag to Riches it would refer to an obscurity that heightens to fame. But this read, to me, is anything but obscure. I feel this way because I am attracted to how things change over time and this read is indeed rich in REMINISCENCES.
In closing, I found this to be an impressive and amusing autobiography which conjures up images of the places and time it relates to. And all of this comes from someone who coins himself an ordinary bloke.
I received this book through the generosity of the author for an honest review