Green Grass Grace

Though not from Philadelphia originally, I have lived here since 1991 and live a stone's throw from the mythical St. Patrick Street in the Holmesburg section of the city. Wow do I see my neighbors being echoed in this novel (and no, I do not know and have never met the author and do not have any connection to him). When Green Grass Grace was first published, you couldn't turn the radio on without hearing something about the novel or an interview with the auther and you couldn't open up any local publications up without reading something about it - so of course I bought it. After all, I live in Holmesburg myself and can easily identify a multitude of the businesses, landmarks and places described in the novel. Though I love to read and usually can zip through a book in a day or two - this one took me months - not because it was hard to read - on the contrary - it was easy to read. The problem was - I DIDN'T WANT IT TO END. I savored it by reading a few pages a night - not even entire chapters. I have never done that with a book before! I don't think there was a character in the book that I didn't want to know more about. WONDERFUL! I look forward to hearing more from Mr. McBride and hopefully someday - Mr. Toohey.

Although set in Philadelphia in the 1980's Shawn McBride has fostered an authentic feel for neighborhood life and politics in just about any city in the United States. While there are obvious details that make it Phila to those who know it, an outsider will not be in the dark if they haven't visited Tack Park or seen a 76ers game. The voice of 13-year-old Henry Toohey is brash and fresh and although female readers may have difficulty discerning if Henry's voice rings true (do 13-year-old boys really think about boobs THAT much?), Henry is a bright star in a world stuffed with books about young women "coming of age". Henry's constant fluctuations between immaturity and maturity, his desperate desire to make everything right for everyone, for his family to be happy and whole, and his naiveté in believing he can bring it about single-handedly (and at all) with a premature wedding proposal to his beloved, chain-smoking, young love, Grace, is heart wrenching. And while every character in Henry's world is dysfunctional (the rule, not the exception), they are all dynamic, eccentric, powerful, compelling, insightful, touching, and familiar. Wonder abounds that they can survive each other at all. Shawn McBride's prose is musical and wonderful. The first couple of paragraphs demand to be read out loud and they suck you into Henry's attitude for life, into his world, and really set the pace. McBride's writing hits a beat like Henry's beloved record albums, resonating with life, love and the desire to persevere.

I decided to read Green Grass Grace for three reasons; my parents grew up in Philly, I've lived my entire life in NJ a stones throw from the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge and the "Philadelphia Inquirer" gave it rave reviews. How incredible that a first time author should hit a grand slam on his first at bat! And as with any grand slam, Shawn McBride touches all the bases. This book is hilarious, sad, poignant, touching and always refreshing. We quickly fall in love with the hero of this book, Henry Toohey. Henry is a typical 13 year old--he tries to be cool, agonizes over his hair, hangs out with his buddies, loves sports, describes every woman by her cup size, worries about his dysfunctional family and is in love with a neighborhood girl. Henry also possesses a heart of gold and a garbage mouth. We follow Henry through three days of late summer as he hatches a plan to propose marriage to his girlfriend and at the same time, save his sorry family from themselves. He is a naive romantic who believes in "happily ever after." Although Henry's scheme doesn't go as planned, the end results are satisfying and touching nonetheless. The events in these three short days also prove to have a maturing influence on the young Henry and he ends the book much closer to manhood than at the beginning. Although the book itself was thoroughly enjoyable, it was made even more so for those of us who recognize the neighborhoods, the parks, the churches, the neighborhood games (stickball and freedom), the sports teams and the houses complete with statues of assorted saints. It was also nice that this book was published first in paperback, thus making it more affordable for the average reader. I gave a number of them as gifts for Easter--something I couldn't have done if they were hardbacks.So, to Mr. McBride, congratulations and here's hoping that this is just the beginning of a long and distinguished literary career. It is truly a delight to read a new, fresh and young voice in the publishing world.

Green Grass Grace has got to be one of most hilarious books I have picked up in years. I haven't been this blown away by an adolescent protagonist since CATCHER IN THE RYE.McBride tells the story of 13-year-old Henry Toohey and his childhood adventures in 1984 Philadelphia. The book is both sharp and soft, as Henry's expletive-filled mouth tells a rather beautiful story of the search for love and hope within his Irish-American family. His journey is entertaining enough but the wit with which the story is narrated makes it all worth while, maybe even more than the immortalized Holden Caufield (Holden would be unlikely to compose a sonnet to breasts--that should give you a flavor of what is going on here.) The story is filled with surprises and treats that will have you laughing to yourself long after you've put the book down.I hate it when I can't fine books this good in hardback; I've already read it three times. Buy this book and enjoy yourself!

Shawn McBride has shone in one novel the amount of humor, passion and hilarity an author can have at any age! His insights via Henry Toohey brought me back to my own dysfunctional adolescence. Thank you Mr. Mcbride.