Closing Time By Joe Queenan

by Alicia Webster
(Winchester, VA USA)

This book was incredibly painful to read, and yet I couldn't stop. As a child of alcoholics, I thought that I had cornered the market on abuse. But it would seem that my youth was a visit to the carnival compared to Queenan's childhood. And I am not referring to the physical abuse, which was brutal enough, but the never ending monotony of insults hurled at young Joe and his sisters made me cringe in their heart-splitting aim and intended cruelty. Perhaps worst of all was that his mother simply stood by and witnessed it all without intervening. Her excuse? She "never wanted children"...

Closing Time was simply, without a doubt, the most touching and soul-destroying memoir that I have ever read. I say "soul-destroying" because it is hard to reconcile my belief in GOD with an entity that would allow such innocents to suffer. My heart goes out to Joe Queenan and his sisters---may they forever find the peace that is owed to them for such undeserved suffering.