The Buzz Boys by Edward Izzi

A tenderly penned reflection on the broad spectrums of boys and men, The Buzz Boys by Edward Izzi explores quiet and forbidden trauma, and the unexpected bonds so many people form to survive.

In this generation-spanning exploration of hurt and healing, readers are carried along on a coming-of-age narrative of five devoted young men that stretches across decades. Though the author clearly states this to be a work of fiction, there are a multitude of intimate moments between characters, and expressions of raw emotion, that will feel profoundly visceral. Delving into triggering subjects like abandonment, sexual abuse, domestic violence, and other sensitive topics is a potential risk in the wrong hands, but Izzi’s storytelling has an authentic edge. Aside from the darker themes, there are also wholesome moments of brotherhood and generational insight, and a charming peek into the past.

At times, major moments or traumatic experiences will pass in the span of two paragraphs, i.e., a death in the family, a brutal assault.  The pace can feel relentless, and the overwhelming flood of horrifying narration can sometimes be desensitizing. Additionally, the narration and backstory for some of the boys begins to feel repetitive.

This riveting tale could certainly use an editorial sweep to give the story more peaks and valleys, in terms of intensity and energy, and elevate some of the more simplistic vocabulary and syntax. However, the bones of this moving and philosophical novel are important, and a courageous undertaking by the author.

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