Growing Up Mostly Normal in the Middle of Nowhere: A Memoir

by John Sheirer

This memoir stands out as a beautifully written account of a mostly happy, mostly normal, fully real life at once both ordinary and extraordinary. Sheirer explores intensely personal experiences and relationships with humor, surprise, awe, suspense, and deep insight. With the depth of a memoir and the flow of a novel, Sheirer chronicles how his simple youth of farm, sports, school, nature, and family led him to an unlikely adulthood as an author and college professor.

208 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2005

Reviews

[Catherine · Rating 2 out of 5]

We were looking for a more uplifting book for our book club selection and this is what we came up with. Unfortunately, the author was stuck in platitudinous prose. The only interesting morsels came from his writings on his parents' and grandmother's lives. I can't recommend this book…unless you're looking for a book that will help you fall asleep.

[Loreen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Save yourselves the money and time. If you suffer from insomnia then this book is the cure for you, because it will put you to sleep. Oh...it gets better, this 'masterpiece' can even induce coma. If you have a mother-in-law that you cannot stand then gift her this book. I will bet you will get rid of her for good with the help of this book.

This memoir lacks substance, passion and is just flat, forced and constipated.
I will never get back the time I wasted reading this book.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

My own book! Despite the somewhat rude comment in one review here, this book won't put you to sleep.

[Joe Lyndinger · Rating 1 out of 5]

Actually I lived in Hyndman and this book is not remotely connected to the town. Of course, the author says it is fiction, but even at that, it's not very good fiction.