The Baker's Boy

by Barry Kitterman

Set in Central America and in middle Tennessee, Barry Kitterman's debut novel gives us two intertwined In the first, Tanner Johnson, nearing midlife, has left his pregnant wife and taken a job as a baker, working nights, trying to avoid a shadowy presence that haunts him from the past. In the second, Tanner relives his painful experiences as a Peace Corps volunteer in Belize, where he taught at a boy's reform school nearly a quarter century ago. Haunted by the past, he struggles to find the courage to accept his role as a husband and prospective father.

336 pages, Hardcover

First published April 2, 2008

Reviews

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Still reading. Partly takes place in Belize, a place I 've known nothing about... the other part takes place here in Tennessee.
This is now one of my favorite books!

[Joshua · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kitterman is good writer who hasn't had the exposure he deserves, and whom I had the good fortune to meet while he was conducting a workshop in China. The novel has a well-crafted voice with a unique story to tell, one that helps us make sense of the unraveling of a human life, and the mystery of its eventual reknitting. One difficultly I had with the book is it took me a while to understand why the protagonist, Tanner, is struggling so hard to face his life as an expecting father. I was beginning to lose patience with the guy! I wouldn't have advocated for moving any of the big reveals forward, but I think there might of been some way to drop more hints of the depths of his struggles, to keep him more sympathetic. Then again, given how much Tanner tests the patience of some of the other characters in the novel, maybe it's only right that he tests the reader's as well. I don't want to overstate the novels flaws, because there was a great deal of pleasure in the way I later came to reinterpret Tanner as a damaged soul in need of healing, rather than a slacker with overdeveloped fears of responsibility. On the other hand, when a guy seems on course to become an deadbeat dad, the reader's sympathies need to be be managed carefully. Fortunately, Tanner's past was laid bare before all sympathy was lost.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a resident of Clarksville, TN, where much of the book is set, and because I have a passing knowledge of the author, I've been interested in reading this book for ages. I'm finally glad that I did. The story was interesting and well-written. It was a dark tale and I still have ambivalent feelings about the protaganist, but the characters were well-imagined. I look at people on the street and think, "Are you.....?" I could've done without the school shooting subplot, but luckily it was secondary to the efforts the main character makes to put his ghosts to rest. I felt the shock value of the scene so early was too disconcerting, not to mention unneccessary, and I had trouble getting back into the swing of the story.

Maybe it is because I have a feeling of kinship to the people and places in this book, but I am having a hard time separating my thoughts about the story from my imaginings about the author. I didn't expect the novel to be quite so dark and certainly I didn't expect it to be quite so humorous, either. I find myself wondering about the mind that conceived of this novel---there's got to be a few demons stomping around in his attic! It certainly doesn't jibe with the smiling face on the dustcover. I hope to have the opportunity to ask him about it some time soon....

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an unusual and touching book that moves in and out of reality and in and out of time. The beginning and ending of the book are particularly touching and well written -- throughout the book, you find yourself rooting for these complex, challenged, and imperfect people.

As a bonus, much of the novel takes place in a bakery/cafe, and there's some wonderful discussion about the magical power of bread and baking and the strange comfort of baking to nourish those around you.

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

a bit hard to read with the unexpected but anticipated incidents of violence; I also got frustrated with the protagonist's prolonged state of limbo following his presence in a tragic event. Other than that, I found the stories of the Peace Corps / Boys' school interesting and compelling and I found the characters interesting, although I would like many of them to have been developed a little more: Ellie, Sara, Katherine in particular.

[Kellie Eizensmits · Rating 5 out of 5]

A bit confusing at first but a great read once you find out the gist of the story. I loved hearing the boys at New Hope School talk in their creole-english languaage!

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

He was my professor in college.

[Bill Carrasco · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read.