The Boys Are Back

by: Simon Carr

Published by: Vintage (September 15 release)

Reviewed by Jamie Driggers

Simon Carr found himself the divorced, widower, single father of two boys, existing in an environment devoid of feminine influence. How did he get here? What was he to do with the situation now that testosterone was his lot in life?

The Boys Are Back is at once hilarious and touching. Mothers the world over will cringe and I can’t help but believe that some fathers will as well, but both will probably also carry away a lesson or two. Will “Just Say Yes” work for me, too?” You might ask. “If it does, how many days in a row can we practice this method before my children drive me to dependence upon anxiety meds?” I mean, two windows have been broken just today—one while I wrote this—from completely benign circumstances, what if we were to add a unicycle to the mix?

I don’t really think the author intended for his memoir to be his thesis on parenting as much as his story to tell, though part four came mighty close to an editorial on children and culture. Maybe it’s because my children DO have nightmares (at least the ones who have fallen victim to my less conservative TV viewing allowances) that I was less than impressed with the writing in this section.

I do realize my opinion may be clouded. However, overall, this heartfelt memoir of a single father of boys is worthwhile reading–even for married mothers of girls.

Armchair Interviews agrees.