I Will Be Complete: A Memoir

I Will Be Complete is a powerful memoir by Glen David Gold that explores his bizarre upbringing in California in the 1970s, including his mother's wild attempts to reinvent herself. The book is filled with stunning insight and unsparing candor, and the prose is crystalline and hard as real diamonds. The story is simple but the journey is darkly complicated and heartbreaking, and the book is ultimately a celebration of the human spirit's resilience.

Format: Hardback
Length: 496 pages
Publication date: 26 June 2018
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

I Will Be Complete is undoubtedly one of the finest memoirs I have encountered in recent years. It stands out as a remarkable work among the memoirs published in the past few years.


The author of Half a Life and Chang and Eng, Darin Strauss, has crafted a captivating and deeply personal memoir that delves into his unconventional upbringing in California during the 1970s. This memoir is a testament to Strauss's resilience and determination in the face of adversity.


Glen David Gold grew up in a privileged environment on the beaches of 1970s California, until his father's financial misfortune and the subsequent divorce of his parents when he was just ten years old. Faced with this sudden change in circumstances, Glen and his English mother relocated to San Francisco, where they were subjected to a series of deceitful con men, leading to a gradual decline in their financial stability.


At the tender age of twelve, Glen's mother abandoned him without any warning, leaving him to navigate the perilous streets and attend drug-fueled parties on his own. In this challenging environment, he developed a sharp wit and a resilient spirit, using his intelligence to survive and thrive. Throughout his teenage years, Glen witnessed his mother's countless attempts to reinvent herself, as she sought solace and fulfillment in a world that often seemed chaotic and unpredictable.


In I Will Be Complete, Glen David Gold masterfully captures his bizarre and lonely upbringing, providing a profound insight into how it shaped him as an adult. The memoir is a blend of shocking, humorously poignant, and emotionally resonant moments, as Gold candidly shares his experiences and struggles. The prose is crystalline, akin to the brilliance of real diamonds, flashing and revealing with each turn of the page. While the story itself may be straightforward, the journey that Glen and his mother embark upon is darkly complicated, filled with heartache and beauty.


Mark Childress, the author of Crazy in Alabama, aptly describes the memoir as "heartbreaking, beautiful as hell." Strauss's writing style is exceptional, with his words painting vivid images and evoking a range of emotions in the reader. The memoir is a testament to the power of storytelling, as it takes the reader on a journey through the complexities of human relationships and the search for self-discovery.


I Will Be Complete is a must-read for anyone who appreciates exceptional memoirs that delve into the depths of the human experience. It is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of storytelling to heal and transform. Through his poignant and honest portrayal of his upbringing, Glen David Gold has created a memoir that will resonate with readers for years to come.

Weight: 778g
Dimension: 237 x 159 x 41 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781473620162