700 SUNDAYS

700 SUNDAYS by Billy Crystal was read for the Jewish Literature Challenge and the In Their Shoes Challenge.

From the book jacket:

One of America's most beloved entertainers takes us home. Billy Crystal opens the front door to a time in his life when he shared joy, love, music, and laughter with an eccentric family headed by the hardworking father who left them all too soon.

To support his family, Billy's father, Jack, worked two jobs and long hours and could only spare Sundays to spend with his loved ones. But these precious days would be in short supply - Jack's life was suddenly ended by a heart attack when Billy was just fifteen. 700 SUNDAYS refers to the sadly precise amount of time shared by a devoted father and his adoring son.

From the story of the Crystal family's proud connection to the New York jazz scene of the 40s and 50s ... to the hilarious living room performances that would sow the seeds of Billy's unparalleled career ... to the times of tragedy, heartbreak, and his mother's unending courage, 700 SUNDAYS celebrates the memories, the love, and all the other wonderful gifts parents can give a child.

Based on his Tony Award-winning play, 700 SUNDAYS is not the story of Billy Crystal's great career. It is a tribute to a family and the people who helped make him a man. Personal, poignant, and funny, it will have you laughing out loud and sometimes crying - with the realization that Billy's family is also yours.

I can't add anything to that. This book did make me laugh out loud - more than a couple times - and brought tears at others. The only thing that could have improved this book would have been to hear Billy read it himself.