The following are several reader comments:
“Stephen Bye’s first fictional novel brings to life the adventures and experiences of a boy in small Midwestern city in the summer of 1965. “Looking Forward” is a coming -of-age story about the innocent and curious Scott Spykstra, who takes his first job as a caddie at the private links of the Mississippi Valley Country Club in La Crosse, WI. It is at the links and in the caddie yard that Spykstra begins to see a world where antics are abundant, kids can innocently find trouble, sometimes the bad boy is the real good guy, and the adults are often the least mature of all. Bye’s humor, as depicted through the golfers and the young loopers who follow the town’s leadership may find its country club may not favor the fair sex and the characters and their off-color jokes are hardly politically correct. Still, the dialogue reflects a perspective on social issues and political philosophies of the day, all presented with humor and insight. Bye’s country club characters would not be that recognizable today, 55 years later, buy one gets a sense in the lives we live and games we play, maybe we never really grow up. The young caddie, Spykstra, learns a great deal from the behavior from the various country club members…‘The most honest and cordial members I encountered were primarily high school graduates, who had worked their way of the ladder of success through hard work’…Nothing like honest achievement to keep you humble and grounded. Finishing this book was akin to a round of golf in that it doesn’t always flow the way you think it should…you can find yourself in the rough or struggling with your swing, but then you birdie the 18th hole and close the round with a big grin and think that was fun.“
“This book is for anyone who plays golf, has worked as a golf caddie, or belongs to any organization with a diverse membership. The book exhibits humor with a cast of characters from a Charles Dickens novel, as well as life lessons learned by a fourteen-year-old boy working his first year as a golf caddie at a private club in a small Midwestern city. While the book is set in 1965, the characters and events depicted are timeless.”
“If I like a book, I do not want the book to end or I miss the characters when I have finished the story. I felt that way at the end of your book. Another factor is if I am surprised by the way the story ends…you accomplished that as well. So Well Done!“
“Have read the book and thoroughly enjoyed and amazed at the research you must have done. Cleverly done. Being age appropriate, lots of thoughts and memories.”
“The parts I liked best were not on the golf course, but instead, all the Catholic school stuff, the ride to the lake, the interaction with his family were all very realistic…It made me remember how I felt at that age.
“I found the story to be an interesting journey through a summer of my youth.”
“I read your book…at times I could not stop laughing.”
“5 Stars! It’s a parody of what we were really like…”
“A lot of the content hit home with me…I was a caddie at the local country club and there was definitely a pecking order and competition for loops and some of the “Old” golfers were real characters. It brought back memories. Very creative.
“I’m not even a casual reader, but I really enjoyed it. I had trouble putting it down, particularly the last 3rd of the book. I didn’t want it to end!”
“This is the best book that I’ve ever read.”
“Just like in the novel, I started caddying as a teenager in the mid-1960s, so Scott Spykstra and I have a lot in common. References to that time in America were spot on. “Looking Forward…” is a great “coming of age” story. I highly recommend this book to anyone who either is near that age (which is basically a big chunk of baby boomers) or anyone else for that matter who has a close relationship with someone who is that age…it’ll help you to understand them a little bit better!”
ChatGPT Review: “Stephen P. Bye’s Looking Forward Through the Rear View Mirror succeeds as a heartfelt coming-of-age tale that doubles as a time capsule of 1965. It appeals most to readers who enjoy nostalgic fiction, humorous character-driven stories, and reflections on how youthful experiences shape adult identity.”
StephenBye.com 