Review of A Walk In the Twilight

[Esther-David]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "A Walk In the Twilight" by John J Bosco Jr..]

---

4 out of 5 stars

---

Share This Review

---

A Walk in the Twilight, by John J. Bosco Jr., is a non-fiction work describing the author's upbringing, career, and family and thoughts on big questions in life. It comprises a memoir and sections of poetry and short essays. The mysterious co-writer M Squared contributed some poetry, playlets, and musings. Bosco begins by presenting some giant questions about life. He circles back to these at the end. From Chapter 2 onward, every title in the memoir follows a "Then Came __" structure, which is amusing and very helpful. Chapters are dedicated to the author's childhood home, various family members, years of schooling, jobs, dating, religion, librarian career, and present family.

I enjoyed reading the memoir. I found it humorous, candid, and well-written. The author has lived a life full of memorable family members, places, and endeavors. His passion for his loved ones shines through and is endearing. One anecdote which stuck out to me was the story of a car crashing through a library! The bizarre visual is still rattling around my brain.

Bosco describes serving in various positions at different libraries in his career. He mentions a trial concerning his position at the Wantagh Public Library. This is the only instance where I was confused, as he is not clear about what transpired. The memoir closes with descriptions of the author's life with his wife, children, grandchildren, teaching endeavors, hobbies of collecting, and his radio station, the Johnny Angel Show.

The book then transitions into poetry from Bosco and M Squared. Most are accompanied by a short explanation. These cover topics such as love, pleasures in life, unnecessary war-related deaths, and animals. I liked reading the poems, but I did not like that most of them ended in a very on-the-nose, obvious manner. I really enjoyed "I Saw You Peeking O'er the Wall." My favorite of these poems is a memorable one about "eye floaters," as I have astigmatism. There is an error: on page 285, there is a description of a praying mantis poem which is not there.

The next section is short writings on topics such as health, vanity, children, religion, and politics. There is a section on the Netflix show "Midnight Mass." I love that the author references this brilliant show; it's fitting for the book. I highly recommend a clear spoiler warning be included at the beginning of the section as the author gives the ending away. M Squared's thoughts and playlets, following the characters of Frank and Mona Lisa, follow. These are entertaining to read.

The very last section attempts to address the great questions posed at the very beginning. These are giant, abstract questions such as "Does God exist?" and "What is consciousness?" The author answers from his perspective. The afterword summarizes the answers.

I had a fun time reading the book. It encourages introspection. It made me think a lot about my own life, schooling, relationship with religion, and family. I enjoyed the tone of the book. I nudge M Squared, if they have not already, to publish their own works or submit them to literary journals!

Readers looking for a profound exploration of the purpose of life, love, happiness, and religion might find this book enjoyable. I recommend this book to mature readers who are not fazed by descriptions of people dying and matters related to sex. All in all, I rate this book four out of five stars. There are a smattering of errors that hindered my reading experience, so I deducted one star.

******
A Walk In the Twilight
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

[Diana Lowery]

This sentence ("The bizarre visual is still rattling around my brain." ) is an amazing one to motivate people to read this book. It certainly intrigued me.

[Williams Jaden]

A Walk in the Twilight by John J. Bosco Jr. is a reflective non-fiction blend of memoir, poetry, and essays. The book recounts the author's life journey, exploring his upbringing, career as a librarian, and family experiences. With contributions from co-writer M Squared, it also delves into life's profound questions through musings and creative works. Each chapter's "Then Came __" structure adds a lighthearted, organized touch to the narrative.

[Esther-David]

This sentence ("The bizarre visual is still rattling around my brain." ) is an amazing one to motivate people to read this book. It certainly intrigued me.

Thank you Diana! The story about the car crashing through the library is indeed a fantastical and intriguing one! I hope you do get to read the book; it was an inspiring read.

[Naimah Agboluaje]

Comment:

Well, howdy there, partner! After readin' this review, I reckon "A Walk in the Twilight" by John J. Bosco Jr. sounds like a darn good read. It's described as a humorous and candid memoir that takes ya on a journey through the author's life and ponderings on life's big questions. The author's passion for family shines through, and there's even some poetry and short essays thrown in for good measure. The reviewer seemed to enjoy the memoir, though they did mention a few errors and spoilery moments. Overall, I reckon this book deserves a solid four outta five stars. So, if ya fancy a reflective and entertaining read, give "A Walk in the Twilight" a try! Happy readin'! Masterful world-building, brought the setting to life.

[Joe Alex 2]

This memoir, blending humor, candid anecdotes, and introspective poetry, seems to provide a personal exploration of life’s big questions, family, and career. While the storytelling and reflections on love, religion, and personal experiences sound intriguing, some clarity issues and predictable endings in the poetry might hinder deeper connection. Still, the mix of memoir, poetry, and musings from the co-writer could offer an interesting, thought-provoking read. I would consider reading this book for the introspection it encourages, especially if I’m in the mood for a more reflective, philosophical journey.