Piano Days

by Don Reid

The story of three boys growing up in the late 1950s and early 1960s in a small town doing the things young boys playing softball for the local church team, discovering girls, going to the record hop at the National Guard Armory on Saturday nights, and learning to drive while learning a little bit about life along the way. The townspeople impact the boys in various ways during their childhood and influence who they become as young adults.

344 pages, Hardcover

Published September 6, 2022

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Don Reid, a member of the legendary Statler Brothers, has three Grammy awards, thirteen gold albums, and eight platinum albums. An award-winning songwriter, Reid is also the author of several books, including One Lane Bridge and O Little Town. He and his wife, Deborah, live in Staunton, Virginia.

Reviews

[Paddy P · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a wonderful story. Started well and then built up to the paramount of well written and heart-wrenching endings. While some moments were a little relaxed in pace, I found them to be critical in the emotional depth of the last two chapters. Piano Days was enjoyable from cover to cover.

The Statler Brother songs I was most reminded of are Maple Street Memories and Your Picture In The Paper. Piano Days wrapped up all the emotions and nostalgia into one well written novel.

[Gayle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Masterfully written describing boyhood in the 1960's in a small town. Three childhood friends go through their school years and enter life as adults. Really a book for men but the writing is so good that anyone of either sex can enjoy it. Full of humor and pathos.

[Linda Freeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew this book would be a good one! This will be one that I will read again (and again?)!

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a captivating story. Don is a very talented writer.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author has a beautiful writing style. This was an uplifting read (although, not without some sad bits that had me crying big-time tears). At first I thought it was just a collection of random childhood experiences but then it all came together and I realized it is a fictional story and follows three boys throughout their childhood and teen years.
If you grew up in the late 50s or 60s or in a small town (think dances at the armory and drive-in movies) you will relate with this story. I often felt like he was writing about boys I knew or sometimes even about me.
Reid seems to repeat himself at times but this is intentional. There were a couple times I was thinking, "this kid's a jerk!" but then the author would talk about letting go of the stupid things we did and remembering the good.
I had to ask my local library to order this book (they are happy to spend my tax dollars) but after I read it I ended up buying it for my personal library to reread when I need an escape to a simpler time.