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When Normal Blew Up: The Story of the People Who Died and the People Who Lived On
2017 INDIES Winner - Bronze, True Crime (Nonfiction)
2017 B.R.A.G. Medallion Winner
In 1967, in the small town of Circleville, Ohio, a man walked into an old-fashioned drug store on a busy Saturday and laid a smoking package on the pharmacy counter in the back. He shouted for everyone to leave, he had a bomb.
Five people died that day, leaving five spouses and fifteen children to grieve in silence, and a stunned community to pick up the pieces. Fifty years later, Joni Foster, who was nine at the time and daughter to the pharmacist who died, began a quest to find out in detail who these people were and what exactly happened. Over nine months, she would interview members from each family to hear their stories of what life was like before, what happened that day, and how they moved forward. Most of the people she interviewed had never told their story before to anyone, including members of their own families.
The story is a tragedy, a history lesson on the slow, painful emancipation of women, and ultimately a love story to the families trying to live normal lives.
2017 B.R.A.G. Medallion Winner
In 1967, in the small town of Circleville, Ohio, a man walked into an old-fashioned drug store on a busy Saturday and laid a smoking package on the pharmacy counter in the back. He shouted for everyone to leave, he had a bomb.
Five people died that day, leaving five spouses and fifteen children to grieve in silence, and a stunned community to pick up the pieces. Fifty years later, Joni Foster, who was nine at the time and daughter to the pharmacist who died, began a quest to find out in detail who these people were and what exactly happened. Over nine months, she would interview members from each family to hear their stories of what life was like before, what happened that day, and how they moved forward. Most of the people she interviewed had never told their story before to anyone, including members of their own families.
The story is a tragedy, a history lesson on the slow, painful emancipation of women, and ultimately a love story to the families trying to live normal lives.
- GenresBiographyNonfiction
174 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2017
28 people are currently reading
74 people want to read
About the author
Joni Foster
4 books2 followersJoni Foster has spent her life helping communities around the globe as a community organizer, community developer and storyteller. Today, she and her husband live on a small farm in Texas.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
June 16, 2017
Loved this book! The book took me back to my childhood days and growing up in the seventies. The book is well written and speaks of domestic violence and the wide impact it had on so many families due to the horrific bombing that took place in the small town of Circleville, OH. Highly recommend!
August 2, 2017
true story about an explosion at a pharmacy in Circleville Ohio in 1967
told by a daughter many years later whose father died in the accident
told by a daughter many years later whose father died in the accident
May 15, 2017
Many small towns experience tragedies such as tornadoes, floods and in the case of Circleville, Ohio, a bombing of a neighborhood pharmacy and soda fountain that killed a number of town residents. My interest in this story resulted from Circleville being the childhood home of my wife and she had shared her experience of this disaster with me long before this book was published. It is the story of a dysfunctional husband that for some reason thought the pharmacy where his wife worked or their employees were leading her down a path of sin. In any case his paranoia led to the death of five people and left this town which had "Pleasantville" aspects to it in shock. The book uncovers a great deal of detail about the town and those affected a half century after the event. This book may be of interest to anyone from this area which is located about 25 miles south of Columbus, Ohio or anyone with loved ones involved. There were aspects of this book reminiscent of the current bestseller "Hillbilly Elegy."
May 5, 2017
Originally from Circleville but in 1967 was living in California (graduated from LEHS in 1964). But I heard all the details from my pare TS and knew of some of the people it involved. Such a senseless act by an obviously very disturbed man. So SAD. I look back at those years and how domestic violence was overlooked. It was and continues to be a huge problem in families.
January 3, 2018
This is a very interesting story and it is quite surprising that it took nearly 50 years for it to be researched and told. Joni Foster began her journey simply to understand what happened, and later determined it could/should be a book that covered much more than her own family's experience. I'm glad she did. There are dozens of unanswered questions and she is very disciplined at not guessing answers where none were found, given the passage of time and the loss of many whose memories might have been more clear or precise. Most of her sources were children when the event occurred.
She also deviates from the factual tale to provide important context ... the origins of the key players, their cultural backgrounds and the societal expectations of men, women, mothers and wives. This is both helpful and shocking.
I certainly lean toward 4 stars but give this three simply because the writing and editing is not nearly what it might have been. It is unfair to critique the work of a victim as if she were a journalist or trained writer, but there are some simple things that could have been done to make this more complete and satisfying to the reader. Nonetheless, I recommend it to those with interest in this unique type of memoir.
She also deviates from the factual tale to provide important context ... the origins of the key players, their cultural backgrounds and the societal expectations of men, women, mothers and wives. This is both helpful and shocking.
I certainly lean toward 4 stars but give this three simply because the writing and editing is not nearly what it might have been. It is unfair to critique the work of a victim as if she were a journalist or trained writer, but there are some simple things that could have been done to make this more complete and satisfying to the reader. Nonetheless, I recommend it to those with interest in this unique type of memoir.
September 29, 2017
Tragic Story
This book is written about an unbelievable "incident" that happened in a small town in Ohio. The author tells about a man, not able to handle the changes in his and in society, who blows up a small business in town. Several people were killed and the effects of it lasted for lifetime s of those affected. An interesting book.
This book is written about an unbelievable "incident" that happened in a small town in Ohio. The author tells about a man, not able to handle the changes in his and in society, who blows up a small business in town. Several people were killed and the effects of it lasted for lifetime s of those affected. An interesting book.
February 14, 2025
My Mom gave me this book to read as she was across the street with my Granpa when this happened and they knew someone who was inside. While some of the non-fiction parts of this book were interesting, you really have to sift through the personal narrative lens to find it. This book was like reading a very long blog post.
July 16, 2018
We are proud to announce that WHEN NORMAL BLEW UP: The Story of the People Who Died and the People Who Lived on by Joni Foster is a B.R.A.G.Medallion Honoree. This tells readers that this book is well worth their time and money!
May 9, 2017
This was a well-written, interesting look at a small-town tragedy and how it impacted so many. Really informative depiction of the early 60's and hidden domestic violence.
October 2, 2017
What a book!
I wanted to know what happened in our town. So many lives were changed.
I wanted to know what happened in our town. So many lives were changed.
May 19, 2018
A very interesting book. Usually, non-fiction books aren't this interesting or this compelling to read. If you want a true story to read you will love this one.
November 7, 2020
Very good book. Has lots of connections to my family locations.
February 9, 2020
I grew up in this town. I remember this event very well. Very interesting book!
March 26, 2017
Wonderful Read
Very well written. Tells of a tragic event that was apart of my childhood. Circleville is my hometown full of wonderful people and memories.
Very well written. Tells of a tragic event that was apart of my childhood. Circleville is my hometown full of wonderful people and memories.
April 20, 2017
Joni Foster did an amazing job detailing this tragic event while spending the majority of the story highlight the heroic efforts of individuals, family members, and the community of Circleville. This was an emotional and powerful story that caused me to pause and reflect after each chapter. Thank you for the insight into this event and for honoring members of this community, as well as the community as a whole.
April 28, 2017
This is the true story of an explosion that occurred in the small town of Circleville, Ohio, in 1967. A man, who thought his wife was having an affair, walked into an old fashioned drug store and put a concealed bomb on the counter. It exploded, and five people were killed: numerous others were injured. Fifty years later, the author and daughter of the pharmacist who died, decided to research this event. She interviewed several people who had never told their own versions of the story. Incredible account of how the actions of one man changed many lives forever.
April 13, 2018
Memory of fear
This simple straightforward account of the biggest tragedy to hit my hometown brought back the abject fear I felt when I heard the news. My family usually were in Bingmans on Saturday . that Saturday they were home but the realization of his easily all could be lost has stayed with me since.
This simple straightforward account of the biggest tragedy to hit my hometown brought back the abject fear I felt when I heard the news. My family usually were in Bingmans on Saturday . that Saturday they were home but the realization of his easily all could be lost has stayed with me since.
February 3, 2019
An Interesting but Somewhat Incomplete Book
This book was recommended by a friend who, I believe may have either a familial connection or friendship with the author. I found the idea a bit horrifying--a young girl's father is murdered when she is quite young. I cannot fault in any way the veracity of the reporting for the research material is extensive and well documented. Unfortunately, the writing is so sterile that it just sits on the page with no life. I wish there was more suspense, more follow-up, more color to what is basically a pretty dull recital of facts. It has more of a feel of news reporting or of being a research paper than of storytelling. This is a draft copy of what could be a really compelling story of life in rural mid-America during the fifties and what happened to an entire town when one woman would not/could not follow the expected mores. I hope the author considers revising it for she does seem to be a talented writer; she just needs help in telling her story.
This book was recommended by a friend who, I believe may have either a familial connection or friendship with the author. I found the idea a bit horrifying--a young girl's father is murdered when she is quite young. I cannot fault in any way the veracity of the reporting for the research material is extensive and well documented. Unfortunately, the writing is so sterile that it just sits on the page with no life. I wish there was more suspense, more follow-up, more color to what is basically a pretty dull recital of facts. It has more of a feel of news reporting or of being a research paper than of storytelling. This is a draft copy of what could be a really compelling story of life in rural mid-America during the fifties and what happened to an entire town when one woman would not/could not follow the expected mores. I hope the author considers revising it for she does seem to be a talented writer; she just needs help in telling her story.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews