BOOMER : An Odyssey

by Don Mooradian

“You? You did this … this terrible thing?”
David was a great guy, but yes, he did a terrible thing. He had been a high school baby boomer in the mid-1960s, living in safe, clean suburbia. He was charming, smart and likely had a college football scholarship in his future. His girlfriend, Constance, was cultured and classy yet usually quiet and humble. He taught her about football and photography and she taught him about opera and literature. Their world wasn’t perfect but it was close. Then it all disappeared in an instant. And still worse was to come.
David tried to make amends … and failed. In fact, against the backdrop of turbulent historic events, he continued to fail again and again, throughout the rest of his life. He failed with women, especially those he loved. He failed at his careers. He failed at living. After decades of being haunted by past decisions, he considered his own personal end game. In what could be his final act of desperation, he finds a surprise message from long ago. Will the message help David on his odyssey of romance, rebellion and ... redemption?

342 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 3, 2025

Reviews

[Constance · Rating 5 out of 5]

BOOMER: An Odyssey, by Don Mooradian, follows the life of a young college student in the sixties, as he navigates life through college, growing up, and into retirement. In true Odyssey fashion, this book spans decades, from 1960 to the late 2010s, and it chronicles several important global events through the eyes of the main character. From the Vietnam War, to the Twin Towers, and more. In fact large part of the book revolves around the Vietnam War, and Mooradian incredibly portrays its effects on both veterans and the families of soldiers involved.

Boomer: An Odyessy feels raw and can easily be mistook for a memoir or non-fiction novel, and that’s what makes it special. Mooradian captures life from the perspective of a college kid who grew up in the sixties, making it relatable to one generation and eye-opening to others.

[John Obi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Boomer is an aptly-titled novel of a present-day baby boomer's journey into the new millenium. It's a shockingly relateable tale of a man who, despite his best efforts, never seemed to catch a break. David, the main character, is definitely my favourite thing about this novel. His meager personality and constant struggles show us that awkwardness is not generationally bound, and that makes him appealing to generations other than baby boomers. We also see him struggle to grow into the technological era, a topic which few books have discussed.

[Phin Ejike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don Mooradian put together a cross-generational relateable drama in this novel. Following David, BOOMER showed me that a lot of issues young people face today are not unique to our time. There were some issues, such as being drafted into the war, which Boomers uniquely experienced. However, that adds to the richness of the story in a way.

Boomer was a beautifully written love letter to Mooradian’s generation, and it’s enjoyable even to outsiders.

[Joseph · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a deeply engaging story of revolution and its aftermath. It’s required reading for anyone who wants to better understand the cultural/historical impact of the sixties! This novel does incredible work to sift through the experience of that generation as they dealt with its meaning for the decades that followed.