Review of Out of Nashoba
Posted: 12 Dec 2024, 10:02
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Out of Nashoba" by Jonathan Clark Patrick.]
Out of Nashoba by Jonathan Clark Patrick is a collection of poetry. The poetry reflects childhood experiences and how Nashoba helped shape the author into the man he is today. The book is suited to adult readers who enjoy poems.
The author grew up in a small rural town in the Nashoba Valley in Massachusetts. Farmland and countryside made up the town, and the author’s childhood was filled with exploring abandoned buildings, playing with model aircraft and space rockets, misadventures with tyre swings, and spending winters playing hockey on the frozen-over lakes. His father instilled a strong work ethic and pushed so hard it could be considered child abuse. The author took dance lessons to survive junior high school mixers. He entered relationships with the same formulaic approach as the tango steps he followed. The changing landscape of Nashoba into a suburban town serves as a metaphor for the changing seasons of life.
The poems tell a story of growth and experience. I particularly enjoyed the memories from early childhood growing up in rural Nashoba. The author has a great way of using metaphors like sailing to describe the journey from boy to man. The poems reflect fond memories and the joy he experienced as a child playing with toy aeroplanes and sledging in winter. I enjoyed the reflection and the reminiscing of a time gone by that gave the book a bitter-sweet feel.
The poems move through the different stages of life. We learn about a best friend, Rob, from college. Friendship is instant through their passions for writing and painting. I particularly liked the addition of several letters from Rob during a decade of correspondence. The letters display friendship, struggles, and a potential loss of contact that is very relatable for all of us who have had meaningful relationships.
Some of my favourite parts included nature and the seasons. I loved the descriptions of winter. The author has aptly displayed childhood innocence and enjoyment. The recollections are heart-warming and provoke musings on childhood experiences that have shaped you as an adult. As a reader, you consider times to be better as a child when our playground was nature, the great outdoors, and our friends. These experiences have become less popular as video games, social media, and technology have become prolific.
The book is edited professionally. I loved the reflective feel of this collection and enjoyed reading about the journey through life. I enjoyed the metaphors and how nature was a predominant theme in the book. I thought it was clever how the change in Nashoba over the years reflects the changes in the author’s life. I found nothing to dislike about the book, so I give it 5 out of 5 stars.
******
Out of Nashoba
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Out of Nashoba by Jonathan Clark Patrick is a collection of poetry. The poetry reflects childhood experiences and how Nashoba helped shape the author into the man he is today. The book is suited to adult readers who enjoy poems.
The author grew up in a small rural town in the Nashoba Valley in Massachusetts. Farmland and countryside made up the town, and the author’s childhood was filled with exploring abandoned buildings, playing with model aircraft and space rockets, misadventures with tyre swings, and spending winters playing hockey on the frozen-over lakes. His father instilled a strong work ethic and pushed so hard it could be considered child abuse. The author took dance lessons to survive junior high school mixers. He entered relationships with the same formulaic approach as the tango steps he followed. The changing landscape of Nashoba into a suburban town serves as a metaphor for the changing seasons of life.
The poems tell a story of growth and experience. I particularly enjoyed the memories from early childhood growing up in rural Nashoba. The author has a great way of using metaphors like sailing to describe the journey from boy to man. The poems reflect fond memories and the joy he experienced as a child playing with toy aeroplanes and sledging in winter. I enjoyed the reflection and the reminiscing of a time gone by that gave the book a bitter-sweet feel.
The poems move through the different stages of life. We learn about a best friend, Rob, from college. Friendship is instant through their passions for writing and painting. I particularly liked the addition of several letters from Rob during a decade of correspondence. The letters display friendship, struggles, and a potential loss of contact that is very relatable for all of us who have had meaningful relationships.
Some of my favourite parts included nature and the seasons. I loved the descriptions of winter. The author has aptly displayed childhood innocence and enjoyment. The recollections are heart-warming and provoke musings on childhood experiences that have shaped you as an adult. As a reader, you consider times to be better as a child when our playground was nature, the great outdoors, and our friends. These experiences have become less popular as video games, social media, and technology have become prolific.
The book is edited professionally. I loved the reflective feel of this collection and enjoyed reading about the journey through life. I enjoyed the metaphors and how nature was a predominant theme in the book. I thought it was clever how the change in Nashoba over the years reflects the changes in the author’s life. I found nothing to dislike about the book, so I give it 5 out of 5 stars.
******
Out of Nashoba
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon