Tongues in Trees: A Memoir

by Mike Boyd

This is a memoir with an emphasis on education, growing up gifted, and dealing with loss, tragedy, and eventual victory. The voice in this memoir is a voice shared by many Americans who have dealt with much over the past few years. The author tells the story of growing up in Western PA near the dying steelmills; his own dealings with physical ailments; tragedies with friends and family. It is also a story of a teacher becoming an expert; of gaining--and eventually reveling in--the power of love.

364 pages, Paperback

Published April 20, 2021

Reviews

[Courtney Brock · Rating 5 out of 5]

I may be biased, but I loved it.❤️ I stayed up past my bedtime two nights in a row because I couldn’t put it down.

[Randall L Ward · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Tongues in Trees” brings out the best in people. As I read Mr. Boyd’s life journey, I identified with his thoughts, questions, and growth as a person. One of his early teachers noted that his writing had “voice.” That was delightfully evident. He provides the reader with personal lessons of love, understanding, compassion, pain, and perseverance. His is a success story worth reading. “Tongues in Trees” is the best book I’ve read this year.

[Jonathan Crary · Rating 5 out of 5]

The one thing that strikes me first is how vivid the author's memory is of his childhood. It's not just the events or things he remembers, but it's the relationship of all of those people, the intricate things, the relationships including his parents and friends, teachers, strangers and school girl crushes. The next layer is how skillfully he interweaves all of his experiences and even ties them into the socio-economic times of the Pittsburgh area, the decline of the steel industry. The stench of the run-off into the Three Rivers permeated that early part of this memoir. The author is the narrator and the conductor, and his thoughts and feelings are forefront, judging each time there is an event or happening. I will leave the rest for you. This is truly a "wear it on your sleeve memoir", a very profound and deeply intricate piece of work.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and didn't want it to end. It felt like I was sitting down with an old friend and just discussing life. I truly hope this author writes more books in the future!

[Humbledaisy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read Tongues in Trees, a memoir by Mike Boyd, over several weeks, taking my time not because Boyd’s story was boring but because I needed to ponder over the sections of his life story.

First of all, I’m a former classmate of Boyd and grew up in the town profiled here. I knew many of the same people and experienced many of the same teachers - heck, my mother was a teacher there! – so I’d approached this book as a lightweight retelling of the joys of high school, mostly likely along the lines of a roman a clef.

I was happy to find out that this is much more of Boyd’s interior life. He profiles his fears, loves and character growth, exploring how his early life shaped his adult life. I wish I’d had such a close relationship with my older relatives as Boyd had with his grandparents and extended family.

So much of Boyd’s life was shaped by his relatives – where he went to college, how he traveled and where he settled down to start his professional career. Of course, he writes about his more current life – his marriage, child, health issues and retirement – but I think I can see those early building blocks of family, literatures and even religion holding him up through the painful and difficult moments. I especially enjoyed reading about his time as a teacher of gifted and talented students.