Nick Flynn’s The Ticking is the Bomb tells the story of his life prior to his daughter’s existence, a time when he is lost in the sense that he doesn’t know what he is doing rather than where he is. The book is set in a variety of places (to which Flynn travels) over a large time span, which ranges from his childhood with his suicidal mother to the recent with his father. Wanting to reflect on his life in order to be prepared for his daughter’s birth and role as a father, Flynn writes on his past experiences that have shaped him into the broken individual he is today in hopes of being able to love once again. Flynn dissects and analyzes influencing memories, a true reflection on his life which only reveals even more misdirection. The book thoroughly examines Flynn’s life, which makes the rest of our lives look like a walk in the park. In one particularly memorable scene, Flynn addresses the underlying source of his commitment issues. At the time, he is in love with two women, Inez and Anna, but cannot decide whom to stay with. He makes the decision that whomever he gets pregnant first will be the one he commits to. This may seem irrational, but because he is lost and doesn’t know what he is doing, this is the best that he can do. Flynn acknowledges this and adds on that he is terrified of committing because everyone (especially his mother) who he has ever loved has died, leaving him as lost as ever. This has formed an imaginary barrier around Flynn over the years that causes his misdirection and inability to truly love one woman. He ends this period of realization by rhetorically asking how Proteus, a mythical creature that transforms into your greatest fear, can turn into something as abstract as being afraid to love someone because they will be forever gone in the blink of an eye. Ultimately, this story of a lost soul gradually finding his purpose in life is the story of Nick Flynn wandering without direction prior to his daughter’s birth, grieving over his mother’s suicide, dealing with his delusional and drunken father, and never being able to settle down with a single woman. It all adds up to a tale of enlightenment, an example of the impact of raising a child that shows us how parenthood can provide us with a newfound sense of direction and a purpose to live. The Ticking is the Bomb tells that story very powerfully, reminding us that at one point in our lives, we will be lost and we will eventually find our way, but what occurs between those two points in time can change us for better or worse. What I took away from this memoir is that every single one of us struggles on a different plane. It is that struggle that changes who we are as people and in depicting our own endeavors, we can influence and change others as well as ourselves. If I were to meet Nick Flynn on the streets of San Jose prior to reading his book, I would classify him as just another normal individual. There are no blaring indications that he was a lost soul looking for some direction. I would have never inferred that his mother committed suicide or his father was a homeless drunk. Without this book, I would never know how his life experiences have influenced his temperament, outlooks, and aspirations. I especially would have never known that this individual had the capacity to tell such an impactful story that directly relates to me. The Ticking is the Bomb portrays the strength of the medium of the paper and pen very well because it has taught me that my current situation is not entirely unique. Others, like Flynn, have gone through times similar to my own and made it to the other side. Therefore, maybe I can too. This book gave me a feeling of companionship, faith, and hope, relieving a bit of the loneliness and oblivion of teenage life. Being a junior in high school on the brink of adulthood raises many difficult questions. What am I going to do with my life? At this point, I honestly do not know and after reading this book, I have come to the realization that not knowing is okay. In my perspective, I currently am a lost soul, just like how Nick Flynn was, because I do not know my purpose in life. I have recently been in a lackadaisical state of mind, going through the tedious motions of everyday high school life. While reading The Ticking is the Bomb, I noticed countless, metaphorical similarities between my life and Flynn’s memoirs. Finding out that my current, mind-numbing chapter in the journey of life is not entirely divergent is extremely reassuring and bestows to me a real sense of hope and faith for the future. I would recommend The Ticking is the Bomb because everyone can relate to extreme pain in the past, a current obstacle, and a fear to what the future holds. Self-discovery is mentally growing up and it can happen at any age. At some point in our lives, we must accept our past, leap over our current obstacles, and be ready to face what we fear. Nick Flynn illustrates this well because this memoir is the epitome of self-discovery, telling the world what were, are and will be. After his daughter is born, Flynn finally finds purpose and his life begins to fall into place. His wife and daughter bring him back to land after he was endlessly floating out at sea. Flynn used to view swimming as his escape from reality, but now he is enlightened. Water is now a luxury rather than a necessity; it is no longer an addiction. He tells the story of how one can find his way after being hopeless. He gives hope to those that are currently lost and insight to those that have not been. The Ticking is the Bomb is a must-read because it opens your eyes to reality and transports you into a world different from yet similar to your own. I wanted to love this book ... Maybe I do love this book? I definitely loved portions of this book, and I see what Flynn is doing, and I believe he is a fine, interesting and inventive writer. I dog-eared pages and underlined sections. And yet I wanted more -- I wanted to be pulled in more emotionally as a reader to these extremely emotional topics Flynn is examining. I believe it is probably his intention to remain somewhat clinical, to linger in examination mode to avoid the maudlin, but I didn't fall in love with the book for that reason. I'd like to read it again sometime to see how it holds or improves for me.
What do You think about The Ticking Is The Bomb (2010)?
Flynn brings his poetic attention to language to telling the story of the birth of his daughter.
—moniqueleduc8
