Implosion

What could be cooler, thinks teen Elizabeth Garber in 1965, than to live in a glass house designed by her architect dad? Ever since childhood, shes adored everything he loveshis XKE Jaguar, modern art, and his Eames black leather chairand shes been inspired by his passionate intensity as he teaches her about modern architecture. When Woodie receives a commission to design a high-rise dormitorya tower of glassfor the University of Cincinnati, Elizabeth, her mother and brothers celebrate with him. But less than twenty years later, Sander Hall, the mirror-glass dormitory, will be dynamited into rubble. Implosion: Memoir of an Architects Daughter delves into the life of visionary architect Woodie Garber and the collision of forces in the turbulent 1970s that caused his family to collapse. Soon after the familys move into Woodies glass house, his need to control begins to strain normal bonds; and Elizabeths first love, a young black man, triggers his until-then hidden racism. This haunting memoir describes his descent into madness and follows Elizabeths inspiring journey to emerge from her abuse, gain understanding and freedom from her fathers control, and go on to become a loving mother and a healer who helps others.