Gerry Tales: 03/14/11

Gerry Tales by Gerry Boylan is a collection of autobiographical essays in the same vein as Jean Shepherd's A Christmas Story.

The book and the essays themselves are short. They are usually a single scene or small number of scenes on a tight theme, like a misguided attempt to rescue a neighbor from a burning home or the birth of one of his children.

As it turns out I did most of my reading of this book while stuck at a dreadful birthday party. It was at one of those themed pizza parlors and aimed at children much older than any of the children at this party. The places was over their heads both literally and figuratively. That odd birthday experience matched well with the overall tone of Gerry Tales.

Of this type of autobiography, Gerry Tales wasn't my favorite. It's best for Baby Boomer Catholics or perhaps their adult children if they were raised in the faith.

Three stars. I received the book for review.

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