The Boys// Ron Howard and Clint Howard

 

Hello February! 💘

Looking ahead to March, we have a few extra copies coming in of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, but just in case you don't need a copy and you haven't already let me know, would you please leave me a quick note in the comments below so we can keep the call list updated? Thank you for your help! 

 

To the book!

 

With the perspective of time and success—Ron as a filmmaker, producer, and Hollywood A-lister, Clint as a busy character actor—the Howard brothers delve deep into an upbringing that seemed normal to them yet was anything but. Their Midwestern parents, Rance and Jean, moved to California to pursue their own showbiz dreams. But it was their young sons who found steady employment as actors. Rance put aside his ego and ambition to become Ron and Clint’s teacher, sage, and moral compass. Jean became their loving protector—sometimes over-protector—from the snares and traps of Hollywood. By turns confessional, nostalgic, heartwarming, and harrowing, this is a dual narrative that lifts the lid on the Howard brothers’ closely held lives. 

We unanimously like the all the Howards, especially Rance and Jean. We commend the parents for being positive, present figures in their son's lives. For being dedicated advocates for them and for not helping themselves to their paychecks. We liked reading about a Hollywood family that loved and functioned in a healthy, wholesome manner~ it was refreshing and in stark contrast to most Hollywood memoirs. 

The majority also felt like while the style in which the book was written was neat, the book itself was too long~ all the intricate moving parts of each of Ron's acting jobs was really not necessary. We thought Ron could get a little long-winded and by the end, some of us thought the parts about Clint were too few. And it lacked any real talk of what married life has been like for Ron and Cheryl, and maybe a mention of how they have handled their own children's journey into acting and directing. To a handful, this retelling was a little too "squeaky clean" and they wondered if the whole truth might be a little more stained. It was also said that people who grew up watching "Happy Days" might enjoy the book a bit more than those who missed the hype. 

 

What do you think? Did we miss anything? Let us know in the comments below! 👇 

 

Did you really like The Boys? Fans of the book also enjoyed, In Pieces, by Sally Field, Cher: The Memoir Part 1, by Cher, and Being Henry, by Henry Winkler. All of these titles are available within the Viking Library System~ reserve your copy today!    

 The votes are in!

Would we recommend this to a friend to read?  No

 
Would we recommend this to another book club for discussion?  No

                                                                                                                                             Rate the book 1-5 stars, with 1 being the lowest rating:  3 stars