Eddie's Method

by Michael Walsh

As a young teenager growing up in Westfield, Massachusetts, the author witnessed an incident that left him with an emotional scar. Due to this incident, his life started taking a turn in the wrong direction. When a good friend of his enticed him into joining a local drum corps, he met four unique brothers. These four young men had an immediate impact on turning the author's life around. When one of the brothers was murdered, the author's life was changed forever. This change stayed with him all during his tenure in the military and right up until ten years later, when another good friend was murdered. Eventually, his emotions got the best of him, and he had to change his surroundings to maintain his stability.

200 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 14, 2010

Reviews

[Susan Buffum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being from Westfield, MA where this book was set I had to read it. I have seen the Whip City Drum Corps perform in parades (the Memorial Day parade) and they have been amazing with their precision and unity. I liked the story of a young man who started down a wrong path but then changed direction and became a member of the drum corps. Along the way he learned so much about life and himself. Being from this city I recognized some of the people in the book, and vividly remember both of the murders that wrenched his heart and soul so much. This is a book that takes the reader on an emotional rollercoaster through adolescence into adulthood. It vividly recalls a more innocent time in this country, and a time when our innocence was shattered (Viet Nam era) and one young man's struggle to find his place in his family, in his community, and in the world.

[C.S. Lane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an awesome true story of the authors coming of age. He was totally honest in the writing of this book: about the events that shaped him as a young man (good & bad), the bad decisions he and some of his friends made, his relationships with family and friends in both the good or bad moments and how this changed him, and...how one decision in his life helped turn his life around.

This book is a fantastic testament to our past and the life's of people who grew up in this small city in Massachusetts with the author. It also has an endearing moral message about how purpose can turn a unruly youth into an awesome grownup.