Greg Bottoms

These are stories strung together via a through-line of characters and the fact that they depict a certain time in the life of the narrator. In a very loose sense they form a novella, as there are certain themes that develop through the stories, although other aspects are treated piecemeal.

Essentially we get a glimpse of the sometimes brutal world of two working class southern white boys in early pubescence. They are under-parented, under-motivated...under- just about anything that might be show more good for them. But the book is no celebration of childish decadence, and no cartoonish allegory a la Golding. It is a study of depravity and deprivation. We peer into this world through the sad eyes of the adult one of the boys became. Throughout the book you feel the author lamenting the fact that circumstances and should-be authority figures squandered his youth. Bottoms has a real penchant for picking out the images and memories that convey that sense of loss, such as that of the toddler wandering around in a house alone, her back covered with mosquito welts.

The only thing that kept me from awarding this full points was the author's penchant for occasional artifice, although most of the book is starkly and appropriately minimalist. There is the almost pointless meta-chapter near the end of the book, and the writing in a couple of places careens away from storytelling into self-conscious, gimmicky constructions. Perhaps Bottoms is not yet aware that his telling of the story is already filtering enough of reality? In any case, certainly a writer to watch. show less

This is the memoir of a man whose brother is an acute paranoid schizophrenic and whose family was unaware of his disease for two decades. Bottoms' account of his brother's life, from every perspective possible--mother, father, brother, self, neighbors, friends--is heart-wrenching. So many people suffer from this disease and yet most are never diagnosed or properly treated, and Bottoms effectively communicates the pain and struggle that this can inflict on every member of a family. This book show more is highly recommended for those who have experienced this disease through a loved one, or for those who are just compassionate and want to better understand the effects that schizophrenia has on its sufferers and on all of us as a community.
Recommended by Laura, October 2007
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Staff Picks show less

Parts of this book were really interesting but overall I found it somewhat limited focusing only on 3 artists, all of which were religious fanatics. While I appreciate that religion is one source of inspiration for outsider artists, there is a much more comprehensive range of creativity, and influence that could have been covered, and I think the author would have had more fun guiding his journey this way. I felt like a lot of the narrative was somewhat unnecessary so I became disinterested show more in parts. Some parts were really intriguing. The writing style was decent except when written in interview style. I don't like interview style when I am reading a book. It feels abrupt to suddenly have to read text as a script. show less

A harrowing tale of one family's suffering through their son's mental disorder (schizophrenia). Told from his brother's perspective, I found it fascinating, but sad. It was a quick read for me. I would recommend it if you are interested in how mental illness can disrupt an entire family, but there are no real answers here. Parts of it are disturbing.