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Summary: A compelling web of personal stories . . .
Review: Jo Ann Beard's book "The Boys of My Youth" is a thoughful collection of poignant vignette's about her evolution from childhood to adult. As you read, her stories subtlely weave their magic, leaving you wanting more. It's a book that, even in life's most busy moments, calls to you to be read.Jo Ann shares her most difficult and cathartic moments as a child, spouse, friend, and sister. She also finds a way to disclose some of her most personal stories with an objectivity lacking in most work of this kind. Jo Ann's book moves the reader from laughter, through her stories about childhood with her sister Linda and brother Brad, to tears when she losses her mother to cancer. "The Boys of My Youth" is one of the best autobiographies I've ever read!
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Summary: A great book, reminds me of Janet Frame.
Review: JoAnn Beard has the ability to make you feel you are in the room with her, watching the stories un fold.
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Summary: Wonderful!
Review: This book was hysterical. I cant wait for her next
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Summary: This is a fantastic book.
Review: This is one of my favorite books of all time. It is funny and sad and lyrical and true. I laughed my head off, had to keep stopping to read sections to whomever was closest at the time, and felt hugely melancholy when the book ended. Jo Ann, keep writing. And everyone else, start reading.
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Summary: This book is brillant.
Review: I was touched by this book from the first page. The story unfolds in pieces that I enjoyed connecting together. Beard makes me feel like I was one of her best friends that grew up with her and actually experienced all the funny-sad-embarrassing incidents in the stories she tells. She makes you feel like you know each other so well, that you would feel comfortable calling her up right now to talk about all those troublesome "boys of our youth."
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Summary: Incredible
Review: Beard's book is a breath of fresh air in a stale memoir market. Her style is unique and her stories fantastically emotional. I went from laughing out loud at her childhood antics to crying out loud over her aged dog. She writes the way I think.
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Summary: What A Great Collection!!!!
Review: "The Boys Of My Youth" was one of the best books I've read in a long time. Jo Ann Beard tells a tale of her life in short stories which are perfect to read in bed. I loved the stories of her childhood the best, especially with her sister Linda. Their mother is a sharp-tongued, beer drinking woman, their father a barroom lush. Her and Linda get into more than their share of trouble. This was a great book!!!
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Summary: Women Who Were Born In The Late 50's-Early 60's - READ THIS!
Review: This is a fabulous book. It took me a while to 'warm up' to the stories - but I ended up going back to a few to just savor the sense of 'place' that Beard puts into her stories. The "Fourth State of Matter" has been given a lot of attention in past reviews, and in my opinion, rightfully so. It is an extremely powerful story - one that will stay with you for sometime. Please, Jo Ann Beard, keep writing. Your voice is fresh and wonderful and mostly HONEST, boy do we need this type of writing now.
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Summary: Excellent ,takes you from laughing to crying and back again.
Review: The ability to describe exactly what you are feeling,is a true gift. Jo Ann Beards' descriptions of the simplest details, make this a wonderful book. I felt as if she had read some of my own thoughts, precisely, and put them on paper as I could never do.
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Summary: Better than most fiction
Review: If that sounds like an odd way to describe a book of creative nonfiction, try reading some of what passes for excellent fiction nowdays. Most novels are too long, too rambling and full of improbable occurances. Beard's book is just like life, beautiful, horrible and without reason. It is one of the best books I've read in a long time and I mean to tell my friends about it.
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