Growing up too fast is a reality that many people must face, but for Judith Boggess, the author of Confessions of a Bar Brat: Growing Up in Rosendale, New York, adulthood was forced on her at a particularly young age. Falling asleep to the raucous sounds of a bar beneath you isn’t ideal for the maintenance of childhood innocence, and this memoir tells the visceral, and often disturbing truth of what it was like growing up in that strange place during a tumultuous time.
Boggess is an unflinchingly honest narrator of her own life, depicting the constant challenge of surviving and thriving in a family that doesn’t seem to ever put her needs first. With an alcoholic mother and an abusive father, Judy often must be the parent to her younger brother, although what she really wants to do is escape into the world of cinema and leave all of her struggles behind. Proceeding from the late 1940s into the early 1950s, this memoir is particularly powerful because of its youthful perspective. A young girl may not understand the complexities of debt, addiction, or a collapsing marriage, but she is certainly able to pay attention to the outcomes, and the emotions it creates in those around her.
Boggess is not only a witness, but also victim to physical, sexual and psychological abuse, but fortunately she has the movies to take her mind away from that grim reality. The recollections are highly visceral and difficult to read, considering that the trials and tribulations Boggess experiences could be enough to break an adult’s spirit, let alone that of a young girl. These moments are leavened by her love of music, language, and movie stars of the 40s and 50s, which gives the narrative a sparkling sense of color and authenticity.
As the book progresses, we see Judy understanding her value and worth in the world, and refusing to be a basic product of her environment. She finds joy in friends and camaraderie, role models in the theatre, and courage from the few good souls she meets in Rosendale, NY. There are moments of love and clarity from both Mom and Pop, but they loom large in the story as the villains, making it hard for even those brief instances of redemption to make an impact. Throughout the book, Boggess writes about both joy and despair with equal intensity.
Boggess is masterful with the pen, and highly skilled at transporting readers 60 years into the past. The colloquial nature of the narrative speech is intoxicating, and for the most part, it reads as though it were actually written by young Judy all those decades ago. The rough language and rowdy dialogue are highly believable and drive the story forward, accompanied by tender and thoughtful narration from Boggess’s younger self. The main knock against the book may be the title, which doesn’t reflect the book’s melancholy subject matter – or may appear to be about an older person.
The writing inside is exceptional and flows along at a smooth pace, with each chapter providing a strong snapshot of Judy’s life. Many scenes not only tell readers more about one person’s life, but also give a broad picture of life in that historical period. For that reason, Confessions of a Bar Brat functions as a heartfelt time capsule, not only for this family and Rosendale, NY, but also for America as a whole.
STAR RATING
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