Homing: A Memoir

by Mark Lyons

In this heart-twisting memoir, a teen boy is the object of his mother s deep sexual urges. Does it cross the line into abuse? Is he responsible for her frequent retreats to mental hospitals? Can he ever forgive her? The son needs most of a lifetime to unravel, then free himself from, the mysteries of her demise. Fourteen-year-old Mark Lyons awakens to his mother screaming at his father, threatening to tell the children her darkest secrets, including her sexual obsession with her son. The “Black Dog” soon drives her to mental hospitals, electroshock therapy, and addiction. Some days Mark is banished from home to avoid setting her off. He finds sanctuary in the greasy garage of his friend Richie and in training his pigeons to circle home to their roost. At seventeen Mark flees his home, but he never really escapes. As an adult he contends with guilt and rage and a profound fear of loving. Decades later, after circling back home time and again to reclaim his childhood, he finds a way toward peace and forgiveness.

224 pages, Paperback

Published November 19, 2019

Reviews

[Raquel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully written, raw, and honest. The narrative moves back and forth through time, mimicking memory, although in a few points I found myself just a bit ungrounded. I also wished for more depth in the author's exploration of the emotional impact of learning what his mother's "black dog" was, as well as a bit more plumbing into how he was able to heal enough to have lasting, stable relationships in adulthood. This said, I was truly immersed in the story and admire the author's bravery in putting his story forth on the page.

[SR · Rating 5 out of 5]

A poignant, brutally honest memoir

I read about this book and author in my local paper and admire his frank retelling of his life and the torments that plagued all of their lives. He captures an era long passed both in America and in the treatment of mental health. Still, many families suffer in the silence and secrecy chronicled in these pages. I found this hard to put down and ultimately rewarding.