Implosion

Memoir of an Architect's Daughter

By: Elizabeth W. Garber

Narrated by: Jane Oppenheimer

What could be cooler, thinks teen Elizabeth Garber in 1965, than to live in a glass house designed by her architect dad? Ever since childhood, she’s adored everything he loves - his XKE Jaguar, modern art, and his Eames black leather chair - and she’s been inspired by his passionate intensity as he teaches her about modern architecture. When Woodie receives a commission to design a high-rise dormitory - a tower of glass - for the University of Cincinnati, Elizabeth, her mother, and brothers celebrate with him. But less than 20 years later, Sander Hall, the mirror-glass dormitory, will be dynamited into rubble.

Implosion: Memoir of an Architect’s Daughter delves into the life of visionary architect Woodie Garber and the collision of forces in the turbulent 1970s that caused his family to collapse. Soon after the family’s move into Woodie’s glass house, his need to control begins to strain normal bonds; and Elizabeth’s first love, a young Black man, triggers his until-then hidden racism. This haunting memoir describes his descent into madness and follows Elizabeth’s inspiring journey to emerge from her abuse, gain understanding and freedom from her father’s control, and go on to become a loving mother and a healer who helps others.

©2018 Elizabeth Garber (P)2018 Elizabeth Garber

Nostalgic and chilling

I actually knew many of the people and places in this memoir, though I only recently discovered it. The author brought it all to life in this beautifully written book. I found it fascinating to see a world I thought I knew from her brave and honest perspective.

Powerful, worth a “listen”

A compelling story of a daughter’s devotion to her father. Some stories should be listened too. The narrator was amazing. Elizabeth Garber weaves the details of her father’s genius as an architect and his abusive personality from her childhood and into adulthood. As the eldest in a large family you learn that you had different parents then your siblings. Family dynamics are revealed and details of architecture are explained. The last chapter leads you back to understand the title.

about incest

book is about incest which took me by surprise and caused me to exchange it