Breakfast with Tiffany : An Uncle's Memoir

Breakfast with Tiffany : An Uncle's Memoir Wintle, Edwin John Date: 15 June, 2005   —   $16.47   —   Book product page Rating:

Eddy is 40, single, gay and hoping he didn’t just make an
enormous mistake when he agrees to let his 13 year old troubled niece, Tiffany,
live with him, in New York City. Eddy
has always shared a special relationship with Tiffany, who’s stayed with her
uncle for summers in the past. Eddy
learns that being a full time parent and playing summer host are vastly
different as he deals with Tiffany’s mood swings, drug use, and lack of effort
in school. The first year of the living
arrangement, however, brings understanding to both parties, and although life
is not perfect at the end, it’s certainly better.

Wintle’s memoir about being thrust into instant parenthood
is both a quick and interesting read. It is clear that he adores Tiffany (not
her real name), and often struggles with the right way of handling her
issues. Despite the fact that Tiffany’s
behavior sometimes makes her unlikable, Wintle draws her as a sympathetic
character. He is also not afraid to
comment on his own flaws, a device not often used in first person
narratives. (Tiffany, by the way, often
comments on Wintle’s flaws, as well). Anecdotes involving other family members and friends round out the
story, nicely. There are also quite a
few humorous moments, despite some of the sadness involving Tiffany’s
situation. I laughed at Wintle’s lament
at giving up his porn collection, in anticipation of his niece’s arrival, for
example. 

I would recommend this A/YA book to older teenagers who
especially like to read true stories involving other teens. They also may be drawn to the book’s
charming cover, involving faceless teenage girl and an adult male at the
breakfast table reading a fashion magazine and The New York Times,
respectively.

Laura B.

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