Donna W. (stringpluckers) reviewed Balsamic Dreams: A Short But Self-important History of the Baby Boomer Generation on + 16 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 4
This is a light and easy satirical read, but without many laughs. Queenan seems to be a little too cynical toward a whole generation and about the wrong things... clothes, lifestyles, jargon, etc. From his introduction, you'd think he'd have a valid point in mind for arguing that the boomers dropped the ball, but I was rather left hanging after a lot of awful lot of acidity without the humor. Every generation in its youth has great expectations, that's nothing new, and I don't see that the hypocrisy charges leveled at the Boomers are really all that justifiable. Being a Boomer, and growing up among them, I was hard-pressed to think of anyone I know that fits into his balsamic vinegar, monotonous monetary mold. Slightly off the mark with the funnies and relevant societal issues - a fast read but "for what it's worth" as the Buffalo Springfield sang, not worthy of your time.
