Growing Up Mostly Normal in the Middle of Nowhere: A Memoir (Paperback)

by John Sheirer (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review
. . . that kind of insight into the dichotomy of life is quite an accomplishment indeed. -- Patricia F. D'Ascoli, Publisher, Connecticut Muse

2004 Sante Fe Writers Project Literary Award Finalist -- 2004 Sante Fe Writers Project Literary Award Finalist

A brilliant and delightful showcase of boyhood memories...this memoir sings with honesty, humor, and grace. -- Kevin O'Hara, author of Last of the Donkey Pilgrims

A humorous and oh-so-easy-to-relate-to story. -- Carol Wells, editor of Humor is Relative

Polished and wonderfully written with humor and attention to the smallest detail. -- Daniel Blasi, editor of Full Circle Journal

The writing is engaging and enjoyable, the themes universal... -- Suzanne Strempek Shea, author of Songs From a Lead-Lined Room and Shelf Life

Product Description
"I wasn't kidnapped as a child, never abused, abandoned, beaten, or sold to the highest bidder."

So begins John Sheirer's delightful Growing Up Mostly Normal in the Middle of Nowhere. With the depth of a memoir and the flow of a novel, Sheirer chronicles how his simple youth of farm, sports, school, nature, and family led him to an unlikely adulthood as an author and college professor.

In bookstores overflowing with shallow celebrity "tell-alls" and wallowing rants about dysfunctional upbringings, this memoir stands out as a beautifully written account of a mostly happy, mostly normal, fully real life at once both ordinary and extraordinary. Sheirer explores intensely personal experiences and relationships with humor, surprise, awe, suspense, and deep insight.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Foremost Press (April 30, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0974892114
• ISBN-13: 978-0974892115
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,729,560 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful escape to the middle of nowhere..., October 21, 2005

By	Timothy Gager "some call me Tim" (Boston) - See all my reviews

As stated in his introduction, John Sheier's memoir is not about a life of crime, drugs, "the Underworld", abuse, survival or redemption. It is not about anything sensational that will attract undo attention and cause readers to rush the local mega-bookstore. Sheier is not going to appear on Oprah or, for that matter, Court TV. Growing Up Mostly Normal in the Middle of Nowhere is about growing up in extremely rural Pennsylvania; in a house on the side of a mountain.

I myself, grew up in rural Long Island, so I could relate to the story of a man traveling back to where he grew up and the memories associated with the return. The memoir is warm, reminiscent and captures our world in all its innocence. As we all know, today's world is less than innocent, so much so, that the feel of the book places the reader back to a much "simpler time", yet much of it is set only as far back as the late sixties and early seventies. It is fascinating for the author to take us back to that time period and compare it versus how time has been historically captured.

The stories of how John was brought up and how he was raised are riveting, often humorous, making the reader ponder, "What is normal, what is mostly normal, and what the aberration is?" I was left feeling that John Sheier's account of his own upbringing was refreshingly different than how most of us grew up.

If Sheier's book were to be serialized, it would have the feel of "The Waltons", and ironically Richard Thomas makes a cameo, during a high school field trip by the author to New York City!

I recommend this book, in the same way the author was motivated to write it: It is a wonderful peaceful, escape to the middle of nowhere, mentally bringing the reader in front of a cozy fire or under a mountain of quilts.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Moving Tale of Embracing the Past, October 9, 2005

By	Callie Anderson (Durham, NH) - See all my reviews

"A Moving Tale of Embracing the Past"
This terrific memoir follows the author as he revisits his past and discovers more about who he is and why turned out the way he did. Sheirer is a college professor with a secret--he grew up poor in a semi-hillbilly area. But the book reveals how he learned to embrace the contradictions of his past and present. Sheirer is a funny, tender, mature, and delightful writer who tells a unique and universal life story with sophisticated but accessible and beautiful language.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Funny and Beautiful Memoir, October 7, 2005

By	Gerry Pattersun - See all my reviews

John Sheirer's memoir of returning home after many years away is a joy. He really shows how a somewhat sheltered and odd farm youth actually helped him develop into a down-to-earth, caring, college professor with strong values. Some sections had me laughing out loud while others brought me close to tears. As you might expect from someone who teaches memoir writing, it's exceptionally well written and structured better than any memoir I've ever read. This is not a famous writer, but anyone who likes to read thoughtful, reflective, passionate, humorous, loving, and readable writing will really appreciate this book.