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All American Boy
All American Boy
Author: William J. Mann
"Would you come home, Walter? Please?" — With these desperate words from the mysterious, distant mother he hasn't seen in ten years, Wally Day finds his carefully constructed world falling in on itself. For years, the handsome actor has made denial his own particular art form — from his stalled career to his emotionless embrace of the hard-edge...  more »
ISBN-13: 9780758203298
ISBN-10: 0758203292
Publication Date: 5/1/2006
Pages: 368
Edition: Reissue
Rating:
  • Currently 3.5/5 Stars.
 2

3.5 stars, based on 2 ratings
Publisher: Kensington
Book Type: Paperback
Other Versions: Hardcover
Members Wishing: 0
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

reviewed All American Boy on
Helpful Score: 2
The story deals with many issues of past pain and is extremely well told. I found the style interesting and captivating. Mann explores the many regrets that most of us hold onto over what we always should have done better or possibly not at all. Life is full of decisions that in retrospect should have been avoided. The issues of coming to terms with your sexuality and what are you truly responsibile for as you grow up, are also explored in this sometimes painful story of Wally's life. I recommend this story to all.
reviewed All American Boy on + 18 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
The book has a lot of likeable characters. It also deals with child molestation in a rather interesting way. If a teen actively seeks sex from an adult and has an ongoing loving relationship is this wrong. This is one of the issues the author deals with in an open, unapologetic way.
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sweetwind avatar reviewed All American Boy on + 10 more book reviews
Not a book for those who need definitive answers. To the contrary, the book really explores the space between what we believe or remember, and what is the truth. Is the truth out there? The main character, Walter, is similar to Jeff in Mann's other book (The Men From The Boys) in that he often acts like a jerk but still seems to be surrounded by people who love and support him. Walter in particular was blessed by mentors in his small town upbringing, from stage actress Josephine Leopold to the local transgendered woman Miss Aletha, not to mention Zandy his first lover, the real reason he returns home for a visit. Also like TMFTB the book has an experimental narrative form, usually written in present tense. It was most interesting around the middle when the vampires showed up. (No, that's not a joke!)


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