Alan Doyle is a great story teller and his positive spirits makes this book a joy to read.

The Good Stuff

A wonderful and charming memoir of a talented (ok and handsome, totally had a crush on him for years -- till Fillion and Tennant came along) humble musician growing up in small town in Newfoundland. The man is a born storyteller, which for those who are fans of his work, will not be surprised.
Thoroughly enjoyed where Alan and his mother have a discussion on the recipe for her homemade bread. Reminds me of all the times I would ask my neighbor to write down her recipes, it never happened
His tales of the dinner table are so very similar to ones I heard from my husband
Don't get me started on the chapter about the family bathroom. I laughed so hard, I had tears running down my face.
As a fan of GBS, I never realized the Janie mentioned in Ordinary Day was Jann Arden. Interesting to hear how Ordinary Day came into being. Still one of my favorite songs by them, and like so many others, when I am having a crappy day that song always gets me out of my funk.
As a gal raised with very little religion (and in a bigger town, where I don't remember any kind of mentions of the difference between Catholics and Protestants) , I was fascinated by the religious divide between these two faiths (I know I'm a heathen, but to me they both believe in God -- so what's the problem here folks, thought God was about love and acceptance)
I felt very nostalgic when he talks about the kitchen parties. My fondest memories of my childhood are when my Dad's side of the family came over for a party. All the male members of the Porter clan have the most beautiful voices (unfortunately for me and my sister, we did not inherit this and we both sound like cats dying when we sing - never stopped me from singing along though) and we would hang out in the kitchen while my Uncles and Cousins strummed their guitars and sang. Guess that's why when I first heard a GBS song, it made me feel like I was home.
I appreciate and agree with his commentary on organized religions.
Felt like I was hanging out with a good friend telling stories of his youth. Sometimes the stories would make me laugh out loud and at other times made me cry and want to give him a hug.
Delightful glossary of terms
Book is even better if you read while listening to his solo album, Boy On Bridge

The Not So Good Stuff

Hoping he will write a second book, as I want to know more about life on the road with Great Big Sea
Spent days singing Ordinary Day - and trust me that was torture for so many people as I just can't sing worth a damn
Nooooo he's a Habs fan - why oh why ; ) Ah well, married to one of those, so I can let it go
Now having fantasies about this man singing to me -- hmmm new bucket list item. Have attractive man sing a song to me. Might have to let that one go
Have had a serious craving for homemade bread - ok lets post this review so I can try to make some (FYI - pals, don't drop by for a while, this could get messy)

Favorite Quotes/Passages



"This has always been my mother's pearl of wisdom, a single piece of advice she offers just about every time someone walks out the door or every time she ends a phone call. It's one of the most brilliant pieces of advice I've ever heard: Be good. Be good to people."



"We even got to play for a few dances in St. Paul's church basement, which meant playing for Protestant girls. And according to my grandmother, these girls were all scandalous whores who were on the pill, girls who were constantly having sex with just about everyone. You can imagine my disappointment when I discovered for myself that these gals were no more willing to make out with a guy like me than the Catholic gals at my own school."

"That's how parties went. That's what my folks did. People came over to our house, we sat around the kitchen or the piano and we sang songs. It wasn't a party unless someone was singing a song. We didn't have a big stereo or many records. Music was homemade."

"So, I restate my place in the world as a religious free agent with more questions than answers."

"Don't be afraid of tough guys. You need them and they need you. Let them have their moments in charge if it buys you order and civility where there might be madness.

4.75 Dewey's

I received a copy from Random House in exchange for an honest review. Also won a signed copy - which I will get him to personalize when I meet him next week at Chapters Chinook!!! And will try not to go all fan girl on him or beg him to sing me a song

Awesome fun read. Alan weaves a wonderful story, can't wait to read his next book.

Such a great book although there's a chance I am wildly biased.
That being said, the book had a great flow, a lot of humour and a lot of heart. Doyle has a gift for story telling and enough humour to make fun of himself and his antics growing up. I laughed out loud more then once. It reminded me a lot of my Dad's stories of being a kid causing a ruckus.

I absolutely love everything about this book. I bought the physical copy as well as the audio book. I love all of the stories and it was made infinity better having Alan tell them out loud.