Customer Reviews

Lost in the Garden

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
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2 star:		(1)
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I bought this book because I enjoyed Mr. Beard's first book, "Dear Zoe" and I'm a sucker for books about golf. While the descriptions of Micahel Benedict's quest for the senior golf tour were great, his observations about love and life were what made the book so special. And I had to laugh out loud several times at his observations that brought back memories of similar experiences.

Although this book didn't pull me into it in quite the same way as did his Dear Zoe, (which was one of my favorite books ever, so it would've been hard to do), it was a thoroughly enjoyable read. Beard is a skilled and observant writer. I have this habit of highlighting passages that I find especially well done, and my copy of Lost in the Garden is probably now more yellow than white.

I hope women and non-golf-lovers won't be discouraged from reading this book because of its golf theme. There's far more to this story than golf.

Despite the less universal subject appeal, this book is even better than Beard's first novel,'Dear Zoe.' It is not about golf and sex. It is about family relationships and personal growth. It is hilariously funny, poignant,wise and wonderful. Forget Kirkus' dumb plot review and live for a few hours with Beard's characters: Kelly, Sal and Hank. You will ache for Michael and his children and you will laugh out loud at Michael as a child. I challenge you not to love this book.

A brief personal reflection stirred by Phillip Beard's book:

For the periods of my life that I've played golf, it's been because I've had a buddy or two I liked to walk the course with. So I'm a scenery and conversation guy while I also have writer friends who enjoy the "zen" side of the game. This book was recommended to me by one of the "zen" guys.

This is an interesting read for a look at relationships, golf, and mental health. If you're caught in some sort of personally destructive sexual cycle, (or are interested in reading about someone who is) you'll really dig this book. For myself, who feels emotionally healthier today than this protagonist when it comes to sex, I had trouble staying with this narrator who for awhile thinks about sex sooooo much. I did find that the protagonist brought to mind some people I know, people who might read this book and see themselves a little differently.

I want to be sure you don't read the paragraph above as me saying I haven't been caught in my own ugly cycles. I certainly have, and so if this story lagged for me in spots, it was because I got the struggle and was beyond it while the book stayed with it. This has more to do with where I am as a reader than what the story is on the pages.

I don't really play golf anymore but still, I really liked the quest to shoot the low score and try for the senior tour. I like the notion of having a crazy dream and trying to make it happen. (thus my attempt to write) In getting ready to write this, which has turned out longer than I expected, I glanced at some of the reviews for Beard's "Dear Zoe," and I look forward to checking that out.

Look me up at TheTorg(dot)com with comments or questions.

In the Pittsburgh, area, forty-five years old Michael Benedict decides he wants to live his dream of becoming a professional golfer so he plans to join the senior tour. His wife Kelly is unhappy with his desire although they live comfortably with their two children and his investments are growing. However, Kelly says if he score under seventy twice, she will support his Peter Pan fantasy.

When she learns she is pregnant he reacts by being cold towards her. She is hurt by his icy demeanor, but she reacts by withdrawing from him. Needing sex and not getting any home cooking he moves out becomes a recurring client of Healing Touch sexual therapy. He makes his bid to join the tour, but lacks conviction until his caddie Sal gets into his face that he has the talent to play, but not the heart.

LOST IN THE GARDEN is a terrific look at relationships when a man rejects his lifestyle to keep his youth even as he enters middle age. Michael is a deep person as he is the focus of the story line with his refusal to bring anything further into his relationships with loved ones and willingly gives up everyone he cherishes. The rest of the cast is not quite as developed as the prime player. Although the ending implies reconciliation, which goes against the trend of the plot, readers will appreciate making par with Philip Beard.

Harriet Klausner

I got Lost in the Garden after I finished reading Dear Zoe - which I loved. But Lost in the Garden bored me. The golf analogy was so boring that I started skipping it. I just wanted the book to end - I wanted to see if there was a lesson to be learned, a point to be made - something to validate the publishing of this book. The lesson I learned was that just because someone writes a good book, that doesnt mean they can write two good books.