Only from the twisted mind of professional wrestling legend Mick Foley could a book such as “Scooter†be born.
Warmer than cup of hot cocoa during winter and more bizarre than the first time you came across dad’s hidden porn collection, “Scooter†possess the kind of duality that makes the book so much more than a great literal tale. A story of life, love and gentrification, it’s equally as intellectual as it is heart-warming and shocking.
It also proves Foley is more than a hardcore legend.
He’s a great writer.
Following the exploits of Scooter Reilly, aptly named after the Yankees hall of fame shortstop Phil Rizzuto, this novel is a coming of age tale that although weird at times, will keep you hooked throughout. The son of a NYPD officer and grandson of a former New York fireman, Scooter is raised by a code of ethics and morals, with a story about baseball used as an example for every life lesson. However, in spite of his storybook childhood, Reilly realizes how ugly life can be, all before the age of 10.
Living in the Bronx through the ‘60s and ‘70s, Reilly’s life is a microcosm for the despair and uncertainty many Irish-Americans had during the time.
Changing drastically through the course of the book, Reilly’s metamorphosis is shocking, but completely realistic. In spite of that, he is a loveable character that simply doesn’t know what his purpose is. Regardless of his hard-working, patient, cunning and dedicated persona, he is unable to come through in the clutch for both his family and himself. Using classical baseball lore, music lyrics and history as his backbone, Foley guides us through Reilly’s life and this time period with authority, confidence and pizzazz.
Again, while the overall structure may be a bit too-far-fetched for some, with Reilly being thrown in a few situations that will remind many of an episode of “Curb Your Enthusiasm,†Foley is able to keep the reader constantly guessing, patiently waiting for Reilly’s moment of vengeance, his moment to show the world exactly what he’s made of.
While that moment never comes, the slice of life that you eventually get instead is so much better than a typical ending to a story that desperately needed a happy ending.
Brash and cold at times, with the pity you feel for Reilly throughout the tale as your guide, Foley tells the story of a kid that is a victim forever. A victim of his youth, his family and his location, someone who just doesn’t have the stuff inside of him to make his dreams come true. But that’s only because he was never given a chance to truly dream.
Driven by hatred, Reilly ultimately finds his way and by the end of the book you’ll find a few tears on your cheek from his efforts.
Although unorthodox, “Scooter†is a tale worth reading for the simple fact that it’s an accurate telling of a time period [thanks to great scene setting and research from Foley] where dreams were crushed and even the brightest prospects seemed clouded in smoke. At the same time, it’s often funny and fun and a tale that you’ll find yourself drawing inspiration from.
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