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Take This Man  By  cover art

Take This Man

By: Brando Skyhorse
Narrated by: Bronson Pinchot
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Editorial reviews

Editors Select, June 2014 - Brando Skyhorse’s astonishing first novel, The Madonna’s of Echo Park made the kind of waves very few debut authors can dream of, winning multiple awards including the PEN/Hemingway. Following up on this excellent first offering is his memoir — a richly atmospheric work that paints a true story portrait as foil to his fictionalized version of Echo Park. Skyhorse (spoiler alert- that wasn’t his given name) had the quintessential upbringing of a novelist because it was a childhood steeped in fiction. His mother had a knack for lies and legend making, and that gave rise to the five relationships that are the heart of this book- the five “fathers” who all contributed to the story that his mother wanted her life – and her son’s life – to tell. This already excellent memoir is set to be made more so courtesy of Bronson Pinchot – whose gift for performing narrative nonfiction is second to none. Emily, Audible Editor

Publisher's summary

From PEN/Hemingway award winner Brando Skyhorse comes this stunning, heartfelt memoir in the vein of The Glass Castle or TheTender Bar, the true story of a boy's turbulent childhood growing up with five stepfathers and the mother who was determined to give her son everything but the truth.

When he was three years old, Brando Kelly Ulloa was abandoned by his Mexican father. His mother, Maria, dreaming of a more exciting life, saw no reason for her son to live his life as a Mexican just because he started out as one. The life of "Brando Skyhorse", the American Indian son of an incarcerated political activist, was about to begin.

Through a series of letters to Paul Skyhorse Johnson, a stranger in prison for armed robbery, Maria reinvents herself and her young son as American Indians in the colorful Mexican American neighborhood of Echo Park,California. There Brando and his mother live with his acerbic grandmother and a rotating cast of surrogate fathers. It will be over 30 years before Brando begins to untangle the truth of his own past, when a surprise discovery onlineleads him to his biological father at last.

From an acclaimed, prize-winning novelist celebrated for his"indelible storytelling" (O, The Oprah Magazine), this extraordinary literary memoir captures a son's single-minded search for a father wherever he can find one and is destined to become a classic.

©2014 Brando Skyhorse (P)2014 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

What listeners say about Take This Man

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Interesting case study of dysfunction and coping

Actually turned out to be quite a good book. Many of us can relate to different degrees of what the story of this boy turned man went thru and the conflicting feelings and edge of sanity dealing with family members like his…along with the needing to be needed and insufficient/lacking role models we are given. It’s nice to see people turn something good or positive after being in such a situation for so long.

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Brutally honest

A look into the life of a man who experienced hardship and a difficult journey growing up. The story is honest and Brando does an excellent job of writing and having the reader understand the chaos yet recognize that the child experiencing the chaos sees only a family living day to day life. The narration is excellent.

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What a great memoir

Rarer do I take the time to comment on an audiobook but this was such an interesting, heartfelt, funny and well written book that I had to take the time… you will enjoy and I even cried at the end.

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Sad yet gripping

This book was well written (and well read) as well as engaging.
I love stories of perseverance and this man surely persevered. I also love stories about reconciliation. The last sentence of this story says it all.

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I will Take This Man

This more then engaging biography of half of a mans life is moving in a way only a true story teller can make you feel. His crazed upbringing by the two woman and many stepfathers, boyfriends and his real father are at times some of the most horrific and some of the most touching stories I have ever read in a biography.

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An amazing story

I absolutely loved this book! What an amazing story and the narration was great! I highly recommend.

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Good Book

I love to read memoirs, I enjoyed this book and Brandon Skyhorse’s story. This was an enjoyable and interesting read. The narrators voice was great.

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I enjoyed the story telling

This was a great narration. I enjoyed the story and the way it was written.

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The focus seemed off to me.

Any additional comments?

Look, it is a memoir. The story of the guy’s life. If I am disappointed, is it with the story or the life? His life is memoir worthy – no question! But they focus of the story seemed off to me. I had many questions about things he breezed right past and was bored to tears by the detail given about some situations. I guess I am disappointed with the editor.

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3 people found this helpful