Customer Reviews

Good Roots: Writers Reflect on Growing Up in Ohio

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Good Roots is good stuff; it is a collection of over 20 essays and poems about growing up in Ohio by writers who grew up in places like Toledo, Findlay, Shaker Heights and Athens, to name just a few. On page 148, one of the writers Anthony Doerr writes, "You bury your childhood everywhere you go. It just waits for you, all your life to come dig it back up." Good Roots is about growing up in Ohio, but you don't have to be from there to enjoy this charming collection. You just have to be from somewhere because that is where it will take you. Although places that I grew up in the northeast might be different from Maple Heights or Portage County, Ohio, universal truths abound. P.J. O'Rourke writes about one on page 44 when he cites an example of what he refers to as Toledo teen critique: "There's nothing to do around here. Nothing ever happens." But not all truths in Good Roots are universal. For instance, in Andrea Louie's piece on page 151 she begins, "I used to castrate sheep." I must admit that as a teen I was often bored but castrating sheep was never an option.

In her introduction the editor of Good Roots Lisa Watts speaks of "a pervasive lack of pretension" that can be found in many of these Ohio towns, a feature that "strengthens creative souls." I suspect that there is a little of that small-town-America-feel in all of us wherever we are from. I highly recommend that you read Good Roots. Don't be surprised to find your way back to long-forgotten childhood memories or to discover your "inner Ohio."

This book will make you proud to be from Ohio, if you are an Ohioan. For non-Ohioans, this book is still a great read--you probably have more in common with fly-over country than you think you do. The selections and genres are widely varied, so if you don't like one, read a different one. There's something in this book for everyone. My personal favorites are P.J. O'Rourke's piece, and Mike Winegardner's afterword.

"Good Roots" is a lovely read, and you don't even have to be from Ohio to appreciate it! Ohio's far-flung natives recall their childhoods in bucolic times. This book will bring back memories for anyone from anyplace that they look back on with love.

I happened to see this book while checking in a pile of books the other day at the library and since I love anything that has to do with Ohio history, I thought this one would be a good read. I wasn't wrong. It is one of the most delightful gems I have read this year. Too bad there aren't any writers from the Lima/Defiance area as that is where I grew up.

The one big question I have for writers that grew up in Ohio ~~ why aren't you back home in your home state?

The essays themselves are wonderful ~~ and so true of Ohioans. In spite of what people might say about Ohio, Ohio really is a beautiful state. It doesn't have an ocean (I know that Lake Erie doesn't really count) or mountains ~~ but it is full of peaceful rolling hills, farm lands, forests (especially in southeastern Ohio) and it is where my family have lived for over 200 years.

I don't know if I have a favorite essay or not but the ones that I do like a lot are PJ O'Rourke's ~~ he cracked me up especially with his use of sarcasm. I also enjoyed Dan Cryer's essay about growing up in Findlay. Mark Winegardner's essay about growing up in Bryan is also a good one. I am familiar with both of those towns and can definitely relate to the mindset of the people there.

This isn't just all essays ~~ there are poems in there too. This is such a delightful book that every serious reader should have a copy of in his/her library. It represents the best of what Ohio has to offer ~~ and I can honestly say, I am proud to be a Buckeye girl.

11-9-07