Small Fry

By: Lisa Brennan-Jobs

Narrated by: Eileen Stevens

Length: 12 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's Summary

A frank, smart, and captivating memoir by the daughter of Apple founder Steve Jobs

Born on a farm and named in a field by her parents - artist Chrisann Brennan and Steve Jobs - Lisa Brennan-Jobs' childhood unfolded in a rapidly changing Silicon Valley. When she was young, Lisa's father was a mythical figure who was rarely present in her life. As she grew older, her father took an interest in her, ushering her into a new world of mansions, vacations, and private schools. His attention was thrilling, but he could also be cold, critical, and unpredictable. When her relationship with her mother grew strained in high school, Lisa decided to move in with her father, hoping he'd become the parent she'd always wanted him to be.

Small Fry is Lisa Brennan-Jobs' poignant story of a childhood spent between two imperfect but extraordinary homes. Scrappy, wise, and funny, young Lisa is an unforgettable guide through her parents' fascinating and disparate worlds. Part portrait of a complex family, part love letter to California in the '70s and '80s, Small Fry is an enthralling audiobook by an insightful new literary voice.

©2018 Lisa Brennan-Jobs (P)2018 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

You feel as though you are there.

The author has a beautiful way of describing her memories. She crafts her words in such a way that you feel you are there.

She comes across very authentic. Not only does she share her perspective of her father, but all of the adults in her life. She doesn’t shy away from her own embarrassing moments either.

This book is very much about every child brought up during this same time period with a single mother. There are many parallels to my own childhood. Brilliantly written!

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

I never need to write my life story

Lisa Brennan Jobs has written it for me. It was like listening to my life.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Experience someone’s dysfunctional relations

Read the book to experience the other more dysfunctional side of the story. And I would recommend this book for that purpose: see it as home studies in psychology. But don’t read this book for the narrative, the writing, or the story.
While the book sounds like so many other’s dysfunctional family relationships, the fact that Steve Jobs is in it makes it readable. There is value in hearing of other’s hardships, and that is the value of this book.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Beautifully Lyrical Prose...Albeit a Bit Entitled

Lisa Brennan-Jobs’s memoir is accomplished in its prose, symbolism, and sentiment. Consequently, while I thoroughly believe she had an emotionally tumultuous childhood - her story is often difficult to connect to the reader’s experience. The narrator comes off as often spoiled, completely entitled, and out-of-touch, much like the father she often maligns.

2 of 3 people found this review helpful

Great book

This is an amazing book. The true story of Steve Jobs unwanted daughter. The book and narration are excellent and inspirational.
I highly recommend this book.

Great story line...

...but I'm not sure why I was under the impression that the book would be more in depth about Steve Jobs personal side and it was up to a certain extent. The story line was great yet I'm not sure why Lisa Brennan-Jobs couldn't narrate her own book which is why I paid for the audio version but instead Eileen Stevens narrated it. She did an amazing job at it, kept me entertained n intuned to the story line even when I wasn't too interested in the life of Lisa. Her tone and enthusiasm helps throughout the entire book. If you're really interested in knowing more about Steve Jobs last moments just listen after chp.74. Overall, I would recommend to an avid reader.

Beautiful

Clearly the author has incredible talent for language and an economy of words and feeling that comes after much reflection. The book is very spare. Scenes are described with precision, almost objectively. Words said, things done. Only after that, a sentence or two about how it made her feel.

This would be an incredibly beautiful book even if it weren't biographical. It would be an amazing book of fiction. That all this happened is devastating, and the book, as a result of the author's transcendence, is incredibly inspiring.

No no no

Lost me early on at the description of her father passing gas. I only finished it for my adored book club. Not good writing. Not redeemable in any way that I can fathom.

Most interesting perspective of Steve Jobs’ personal life yet

Of all the Steve Jobs-related books and articles I’ve read, this is the most interesting, compelling, and personal.

Lisa Brennan-Jobs is a terrific writer with a gift for remembering and describing details of distant memories. Her style is poetic and all-around delightful.

A beautiful, poignant, thoughtful and devastating memoir

I listened to this much of the time with my mouth wide open. Agape at Lisa's telling of brutal, heartbreaking tales of her upbringing, filled with beautiful prose. She has uncannily observed her own life and put it in a story that will teach you about growth, love and all of its complexity. The perspective of a child thirsting for attention and love and her observations of the adults are both beautifully written and thought provoking. I was moved by this book very deeply.