Boo Walker
Author of The Singing Trees: A Novel
Series
Works by Boo Walker
Before We Say Goodbye 3 copies
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Canonical name
- Walker, Boo
- Gender
- male
- Education
- College of Charleston
- Occupations
- banjoist
songwriter
equity trader
farmer
wine maker - Short biography
- Boo Walker spent his College of Charleston years and a few after in Nashville as a banjoist and songwriter for the avant-garde punchgrass band, The Biscuit Boys. Some hand problems knocked him out of the game, and he stumbled into a position with a short term equity trading firm based out of Charleston, South Carolina. To feed his ravenous muse, he began writing his first novel, Lowcountry Punch. Around that time, what started as a passion in wine became a neurosis.
After six years of the Wall Street thing, Boo decided it was time to end his sedentary, computer-driven lifestyle. He grew out a handlebar mustache and moved clear across the country into a double-wide trailer situated on 5 acres of Malbec vines just down the road from Hedges Family Estate on Red Mountain in Washington State. The Hedges family took him in and taught him the art of farming and the old world philosophies of wine. He now lives with his amazing wife and son on a gentleman’s farm by the Yakima River on Red Mountain. - Nationality
- USA
- Places of residence
- Nashville, Tennessee, USA
Charleston, South Carolina, USA
Red Mountain, Washington State, USA - Associated Place (for map)
- USA
Members
Reviews
All Too Real. This book is all about a guy who hasn't been back to his hometown in 20 yrs due to some massive trauma while he was in school who finally goes back home... and has his world and entire life and history rocked by shocking revelations about what *actually* happened back then. As someone who read this book, then went back to visit my parents near my hometown (they now live in the next County up, rather than the house I spent grades 7 and college in), and had his dad just casually show more mention a previously forgotten if not outright unknown fact about his own high school history... yeah, this book is truly all too real. Add in the fact that I have my own version of "Mrs. Cartright", a teacher who stepped in and stepped up at exactly the right moment in my life - in my case, Tommy Harris of Kingston, GA, who absolutely always deserves every accolade I can possibly give him... and yeah, like I said in the title... this book is all *too* real. And yet, that is exactly what made it so relevant and cathartic, even years after I like to think I've "fully" dealt with all my own real-world crap from that era. (Though in defining both who Carter, in the book, and myself, in my "real" life, became... perhaps one never *truly* moves on from that era and that pain... which is actually something Walker actively looks into even into the closing words of the text here.)
For anyone who has ever had one of those teachers worthy of a "Mr. Holland's Opus Finale", you're gonna want to read this book. If you haven't seen that movie, seriously, go back and watch it. Then come back and read this book. :D
Overall truly a particularly well written and well told story, one that some will clearly relate to more than others - but which has enough universal truth to be truly transcendent, no matter the particulars of your own life. Very much recommended. show less
For anyone who has ever had one of those teachers worthy of a "Mr. Holland's Opus Finale", you're gonna want to read this book. If you haven't seen that movie, seriously, go back and watch it. Then come back and read this book. :D
Overall truly a particularly well written and well told story, one that some will clearly relate to more than others - but which has enough universal truth to be truly transcendent, no matter the particulars of your own life. Very much recommended. show less
Strong Multi-Generational Tale. With this tale, Walker expands into something I've never seen from him (though I *am* a somewhat recent fan, only finding him within the 2020s or so) - a dual timeline, present day/ historical fiction tale. Both periods are executed well for their time and setting, though there are some mystical elements to the present day setting that will be harder for some to accept - and some elements of the more practical present day setup that may seem just as show more unrealistic to others.
Still, Walker manages to write a female lead as well as most female authors within the women's fiction space while *also* having a male lead that is also Walker's typical greatness with such characters. That he *also* manages to give both of them a compelling romance - and proving some of my points re: "romance novels" along the way! - is even more icing on the cake there.
But really, the story here is about the trauma and the seeming generational nature of it. In this respect, I didn't really see the present day issues as "trauma" so much as a lot of bad luck/ bad circumstances. Yes, any one of the things *suck*, but I didn't really see them as "trauma". (Though the one situation, part of the practical yet possibly unrealistic stuff noted above, ... well, I'll shut up now to avoid any possible spoilers.) This noted, the historical period was simply *full* of trauma, that part I absolutely got and it was 100% crystal clear - particularly as they relate to some other books I've read and raved about over the decades.
And yet, regardless of which part of which storyline's traumas hit you, the reader of this review, harder... Walker, as always, shows superb skill in bringing the characters *back from it* - which isn't really a spoiler, given this is very much Walker's style in every book I've read from him. Indeed, it is a particular strength of his that sets his tales apart from many in whichever genre you may place his books. Thus, no matter your own traumas in your "real" life and no matter how much you may identify with a particular trauma found in this tale... you're also going to find a degree of catharsis within these pages that is Walker's particular brand of real-world "magic" with his words.
Very much recommended. show less
Still, Walker manages to write a female lead as well as most female authors within the women's fiction space while *also* having a male lead that is also Walker's typical greatness with such characters. That he *also* manages to give both of them a compelling romance - and proving some of my points re: "romance novels" along the way! - is even more icing on the cake there.
But really, the story here is about the trauma and the seeming generational nature of it. In this respect, I didn't really see the present day issues as "trauma" so much as a lot of bad luck/ bad circumstances. Yes, any one of the things *suck*, but I didn't really see them as "trauma". (Though the one situation, part of the practical yet possibly unrealistic stuff noted above, ... well, I'll shut up now to avoid any possible spoilers.) This noted, the historical period was simply *full* of trauma, that part I absolutely got and it was 100% crystal clear - particularly as they relate to some other books I've read and raved about over the decades.
And yet, regardless of which part of which storyline's traumas hit you, the reader of this review, harder... Walker, as always, shows superb skill in bringing the characters *back from it* - which isn't really a spoiler, given this is very much Walker's style in every book I've read from him. Indeed, it is a particular strength of his that sets his tales apart from many in whichever genre you may place his books. Thus, no matter your own traumas in your "real" life and no matter how much you may identify with a particular trauma found in this tale... you're also going to find a degree of catharsis within these pages that is Walker's particular brand of real-world "magic" with his words.
Very much recommended. show less
Boo Walker Just Has A Way With Words. That's really all there is to this one. The story is emotional yet also one told in so very many ways by so very many people. The story of the late 60s and mostly early 70s (with prologue and epilogue in 2019, and penultimate chapter later in the 70s), of a pair of star crossed lovers in that perilous time, of loving someone yet having goals of your own. Walker walks into this well-worn area and even era, and owns it in a way I've only seen *one* other show more book do in all of my vast and diverse reading - Laurie Breton's Coming Home. That book was an absolute gut punch that left you absolutely devastated for days. Walker's is one that will slap you in your face several times, feint to the groin, and then land a hay maker right in your solar plexus at the end, right when you thought you were already completely spent. Truly a beautiful story, superbly crafted. Very much recommended. show less
There are many novels about recently widowed mothers moving through their journey of grief as they simultaneously are helping their child(ren) heal from the loss of their father. Boo Walker presents a moving and captivating story of Baxter Shaw as he has struggled for the past 3 years to move forward. Baxter made a promise to his wife to give their daughter Mia the "best life." It is a promise that seems to be getting harder to keep not easier for either him or Mia. An email from a website show more his wife used to try and find her birth mother would have been welcome if his wife was alive. But now? It could rip open the past and damage the little progress Mia has made.
The writing is tender and presents the struggles of the journey of grief that is ongoing. Told from Baxter's POV it is an intimate behind-the-scenes view into Baxter's thoughts and actions. The portrayal of Baxter is multi-fold as the reader glimpses his roles of business owner and employer, widower, single parent, friend. I especially loved the author’s understanding of the healing power of music that is beautifully illustrated throughout Baxter’s life.
Without restraint Boo Walker shares the complexities of life (e.g., betrayal, secrets) and the gifts of friendship and love in our lives. The characters are relatable as emotions (e.g., love, sadness, joy, guilt) evolve and are expressed in realistic dialogue. The father-daughter relationship of Baxter and 8-year old Mia shows sensitivity and love. It also highlights Mia’s spontaneity and that she is more attuned to her father than he at first realizes is possible for a young child.
At moments heart wrenching I will warmly remember the book as it is also heartwarming and inspirational. In the midst of sadness it is difficult to see beyond memories of the past. Life is a journey. Hearts heal. The time it takes is different for each individual. The love remains and reminds us of our inner passion of what we love to do becoming a bridge of hope to all we are yet to be.
My sincere thanks to Boo Walker, and Lake Union Publishing for my complimentary digital copy of this title, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.
#ASpanishSunrise #NetGalley show less
The writing is tender and presents the struggles of the journey of grief that is ongoing. Told from Baxter's POV it is an intimate behind-the-scenes view into Baxter's thoughts and actions. The portrayal of Baxter is multi-fold as the reader glimpses his roles of business owner and employer, widower, single parent, friend. I especially loved the author’s understanding of the healing power of music that is beautifully illustrated throughout Baxter’s life.
Without restraint Boo Walker shares the complexities of life (e.g., betrayal, secrets) and the gifts of friendship and love in our lives. The characters are relatable as emotions (e.g., love, sadness, joy, guilt) evolve and are expressed in realistic dialogue. The father-daughter relationship of Baxter and 8-year old Mia shows sensitivity and love. It also highlights Mia’s spontaneity and that she is more attuned to her father than he at first realizes is possible for a young child.
At moments heart wrenching I will warmly remember the book as it is also heartwarming and inspirational. In the midst of sadness it is difficult to see beyond memories of the past. Life is a journey. Hearts heal. The time it takes is different for each individual. The love remains and reminds us of our inner passion of what we love to do becoming a bridge of hope to all we are yet to be.
My sincere thanks to Boo Walker, and Lake Union Publishing for my complimentary digital copy of this title, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.
#ASpanishSunrise #NetGalley show less
Awards
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Associated Authors
Statistics
- Works
- 16
- Members
- 726
- Popularity
- #34,982
- Rating
- 4.0
- Reviews
- 33
- ISBNs
- 41