Review of An Odyssey of Becoming: That Summer of ‘72

[Shirley Ann Riddern Labzentis]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "An Odyssey of Becoming: That Summer of ‘72" by Celeste Gauthier Johnson.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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I chose this book because the authors and characters in this book are my age. Barry Johnson was born in 1952, and Bobby Young was born in 1951. I was born in 1951, and this story resonated with me, especially about how they grew up.

Barry and Bobby were best friends. Bobby had a girlfriend named Christine. Still, the boys decided to hitchhike across the country and into Canada. Their final destination was California. Although dangerous, hitchhiking was prevalent back in the '60s and '70s. You couldn’t go down the highway for long before you saw someone thumbing their way to somewhere. They set out from Worcester, Massachusetts, with little money and some traveler’s checks.

They had some great experiences and saw the United States and Canada. The boys met some cool people along the way, but they also got into dangerous situations. They were no strangers to spending a night in jail before setting off on their journey, and they added a few more jail times on this excursion. Having long hair and backpacks was an invitation for the local police or sheriffs to bag themselves some of those hippies that were springing up all over the country. They stayed in hostels, slept outside, and occasionally slept inside someone’s home with kind-hearted people. They also ran into some bad dudes but escaped a horrible fate.

I enjoyed An Odyssey of Becoming: That Summer of '72, and there was nothing that I disliked about it. It brought back memories of an earlier and simpler time when five dollars went a long way. I applaud the authors for remembering their stories from back then, as sometimes I cannot remember what I did yesterday. There was some violence, profanity, and sex, but the sex was not described. It would be suitable for young adults and adults, and young adults can get a glimpse of what can happen when you venture out hitchhiking. Anyone who grew up in the '60s and '70s will enjoy this book. The book seems to be professionally edited, as I did not find any spelling or grammatical errors. I did find some typing errors of skipped spaces throughout the book.

My rating for this book is 5 out of 5 stars. The book kept me entertained and on my toes, wondering what adventure the boys would run into and hoping they would survive the ordeal. Although it is illegal today, hitchhiking is extremely dangerous, and I hope that people think twice before engaging in it.

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An Odyssey of Becoming: That Summer of ‘72
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[Maria Loukaidou]

Wow! The wow word is the only word which can describe the review I read!

[Etimbuk Eshiet]

This review made me feel nostalgic even though I didn’t grow up in the '60s or '70s. The book sounds like a great mix of adventure and life lessons. I appreciate how the reviewer emphasized both the fun and danger of hitchhiking, and it’s great to hear that the editing was solid too. Looking forward to reading this one!

[Kibet Hillary]

It always gives me great joy to walk down memory lane and visit times and places that I can only experience through the life and experiences of others. It appears the book is really captivating, and the fact that the authors get into every kind of situations, both the beautiful and the not-so-good ones, is enthralling. Thanks for the review, @Shirley Ann Riddern Labzentis.