OnlineBookClub.org

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Boyhood Dream" by John Scully.]

Boyhood Dreams, consisting of 361 pages and 30 chapters is truly an epic autobiography of Author John Scully. It provides a detailed account of his life of abject poverty and extreme targeting to a life of high attainment and self-actualization. It is certainly a page-turner, and his audience will be enthralled by the fast-paced and shocking events that have affected his life as well as his loved ones.

The author lives in squalor with his parents, his four sisters, and brother Mick in County Kildare, Ireland, during the postwar era. His home lacks many essential items. He attends school barefooted and is also a constant target for bullying from his schoolmates and surprisingly, his teacher.

Because life in his community seems so hopeless, he journeys to England to work towards realizing his dream of owning his own grocery store. In England, he is able to secure several jobs of which he has excelled. His path intertwines with Barbara who later becomes his wife.

Upon amassing enough financial gains, he, his wife and child return to Ireland where he opens his grocery store of which he has long dreamt about. He soon finds out that his community is no longer a simplistic and restrained one. It is now riddled with crime, police corruption, and political influences. His business, however, thrived and thus becomes the target for vandalism. Instead of rendering assistance, he encounters several cases of abuse occasionally at the hand of the Gardai police. Will Mr. Scully survive these constraints or will he be forced to return to England?

Anyone reading Author Scully’s narrative can easily detect the passion and alacrity which he sets out to record his experiences. His prose is clear, sharp, and the storyline flows seamlessly. The author has masterfully utilized ethos within the dialogue and action to portray the authentic life experiences that affect him and the other persons involved in his life. The mood that is felt throughout the passages of the book is determination. Loyalty, teamwork, and courage are promoted in this book.

There are several parts of this book that I do not relish because they have left me feeling very sad. One particular part, without giving away too many spoilers, is where the author’s children would bring the photograph of the store with the car and the van parked alongside it. They would ask why they were no longer possessing them. The author stated that he was afraid that his explanation would give the impression that he could not manage his business. He would, therefore, excuse or allow a wall of silence to come between them.

I like that the author’s life has shown great improvement. He went through a traumatic childhood where he and his brother were the targets of school bullying. This, however, did not deter him from pursuing his dreams. He went to England where he worked at various airline companies and was given several leadership positions. He then returned to his community, set up his business, and courageously fought against the criminals to maintain his stay.

I would highly recommend this book to persons who have been physically and psychologically abused and to those experiencing difficulty in their businesses. The writing is impeccable, therefore, I will award this book a 4 out of 4 stars rating coupled with all the above positive reasons.

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Boyhood Dream
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I like reading stories about people who were able to turn their life around for the better. It sounds like an encouraging read. Thanks for the review.

Looks like an amazing and life story. I have read some life incidents of the great B.R Ambedkar who is considered to be the father of Indian Constitution. His life was also a struggle and somewhat similar to this man. I would love to read and review this book. Thanks for your informative review. Good job!

I like that the author’s life has shown great improvement. He went through a traumatic childhood where he and his brother were the targets of school bullying. This, however, did not deter him from pursuing his dreams. He went to England where he worked at various airline companies and was given several leadership positions. He then returned to his community, set up his business, and courageously fought against the criminals to maintain his stay.

I have a great appreciation for redemptive stories like this one. Excellent review!

Great review of the book which is a autobiography of the author about the bullies he experiences in his childhood and more over that hard life with lack of essential amenities.

This is such an inspirational read. Thanks for the thorough review.

The review is great. And the book too is so inspiring!

He sounds like he would be a great inspiration. It's sad about some of the life experiences he had. That's good he was able to overcome them. Thank you for the review.

It sounds like he had quite a harrowing life. I’m glad he turned it around. Great review.

Everyone should pursue their dreams regadless of how they were raised.Nice review.Thanks.

This book sounds very interesting. I admire that the author shared his story. It’s great to hear that his life has turned around after a very difficult start. Thanks for your review.

Sounds like a stellar book! I'm not a fan of autobiography but you convince me that this Scully's life is worth reading about. Great review

I am very interested in stories of people who overcome poverty. This sounds like a great book.

This is a book that can inspire someone to keep hopes up. A lovely review.

I am always ready for a great inspirational read. Loved your review.