Reviews for I Remember Bob Collins

The average rating for I Remember Bob Collins based on 2 reviews is 4 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2014-06-13 00:00:00 James Tubb I have been wanting to read this book for a long time, and just never remembered it when I got the library or bookstore. Last week, upon perusing books on CD at my local library, I stumbled onto "Big Russ & Me." Having an hour-long round trip commute every day, I thought it would give me something to listen to in the car. Something to keep my mind off the traffic. Most of you know Tim Russert for his role as moderator on "Meet the Press." I now feel like I know him and his father as two wonderful men. Mr. Russert's memories of things his father taught him is very vivid. I loved that the entire book was actually read by Tim, also. He has a great knack for sharing his life, humorous or poignant. He graciously allowed us into his life as he shared his thoughts, experiences and even first-hand account of everything from the Buffalo Bills string of Super Bowl losses to meeting the Pope, to meeting his wife for the first time. I would definitely recommend this book. I found myself tearing up during his recollection of his visits with the Pope or hearing him discuss the death of some people close to him. I also laughed out loud during the stressful ride to work listening to his antics as a child, and the antics that later continued through his life. Tim Russert and "Big Russ" as his dad is affectionately named, are two people you need to get to know. Check out the book. It's a must read.

Review # 2 was written on 2012-07-15 00:00:00 Hamilton David I don't know who the heck this Tim Russert guy is but apparently he's a pretty famous figure in tv news land. I try to avoid the news for the most part because it either makes me sad or irritates me. I picked this book up because I saw it on the "new audiobook" shelf at my library. I have a long drive and will grab anything new they have up for offer. Sometimes it works out, sometimes not so much. This book is a love letter of sorts written to the author's dad "Big Russ". But it's more than that. It tells the story of Tim's childhood in the 50's which seems pretty darn ideal and gives a clear picture of what growing up during that time frame was all about. Men worked two jobs to bring home the bacon and wouldn't be caught dead living on welfare, they taught their kids responsibility and manners while a loving mom stayed home to cook and pretty up the house. Their kids didn't complain and whine because dad was working too much or they didn't have the latest new kicks. Our world has changed so much, some of it for the better, I could never stay home and cook bacon all day (though I wouldn't mind staying home and reading all day), but some of the changes I could do without. It was nice to spend some time in a world so very different from my own. As a youngster Tim seems to have been untouched by the ugliness that too many of us grow up with as wee children be it abusive parents, divorce, suicide, alcohol, poverty and has a nice thing to say about everyone. I wish I could be half as kind on any given day. There were some darker moments when he describes Big Russ's time in the military but he doesn't dwell on the darkness. Instead he uses those experiences to explain how Big Russ became the strong, loving, father figure that he later became. Tim was a good boy who seems to have grown up to be a very nice man. This book was very sweet and down to earth and I did enjoy listening to most of it. I can't say I exactly identified with any of it all that much having grown up in the 70's with a very different set of parents, and being a girl, but it was nice to read about a family who was always decent to their kids and taught them to work hard and take responsibility for their actions. Tim seems like a very lucky guy who lived an almost charmed life and was blessed to have met several influential and inspirational people in his life who nudged him in the right direction. I can't say this was a gripping read, and many of the later bits focusing on sports and politics just didn't interest me at all, but for the most part it was pleasant enough to district me from glaring at other drivers jabbering away on their cell phones.