The Longest Trip Home: A Memoir by John Grogan - Inspirational Travel Stories & Family Journey for Book Lovers

Hilarious. The events of his childhood, his observations, and the stories he shares will make you laugh out loud.The book may offend devout Catholics, as Grogan clearly does not share a number of doctrinal beliefs, including the belief in literal transubstantiation. I don’t think I’m giving anything away to say that Grogan abandons Catholicism early in his life. He also points out the things that struck him as wrong or unfair, such as the disparity between the comfortable lifestyle enjoyed by the priests compared to the spartan lifestyle of the nuns. He was asked to accept the Church’s explanations but clearly did not. “The Longest Trip Home” like “Marley and Me” is very well-written, and I suspect that the unfavorable reviews are based strictly upon the content, and/or the author’s rejection of Catholic doctrine.I share the author’s experience of having a mother with dementia, and his descriptions of her behavior struck home. His mother is quite the intermeddler, even when he is grown, married, and living in another state. I laughed, rolled my eyes, and otherwise enjoyed the chapters about his mother and father. You will probably laugh too, but even if you don’t, you may relate to the trouble he has establishing boundaries with his meddling and intrusive parents. Some of the events he describes are thought-provoking. There are lessons imparted as to the costs involved in failing to set boundaries and allowing parents to intrude in your relationship with your partner and children.In sum, another great book from John Grogan.