Waiting for Pops A Journey from Boy to Man eBook John Riffice
Download As PDF : Waiting for Pops A Journey from Boy to Man eBook John Riffice 
Waiting for Pops, a mainstream biographical novel, is a tale of a young boy's appalling mistreatment at the hands of his alcoholic mother. It is a tale of spousal secrets and parental lies. It is a tale of love, friendship, and, above all else, betrayal. Pops is seen through the eyes of an innocent boy growing steadily into manhood in 1950's Chicago. Johnny Ryba tells his story and transports the reader into his small, blue-collar existence - his mother's alcoholism, his much-loved father's sudden death in an auto accident, his beloved little sister's autism. Later, as the reader accompanies Johnny into his teen years, they experience as well the painful heartbreak of his first love and loss.
The storyline rabidly evolves and ultimately centers on a mystery that Johnny attempts to solve as a mature adult, resulting in a shocking revelation that reverses almost everything he once believed about his mother and father, as well as his own harrowing past. He inadvertently discovers his parents' role as accomplices in a lifelong conspiracy of silence, and also becomes aware of a misplaced affection for his deceased father. Johnny must finally come to terms with the most important aspect of his life the truth about his parents, and about himself, too.
Reviews
“WAITING FOR POPS, author John Riffice’s initial foray into the world of fiction, ends up a smashing success! A story of spousal abuse as well as love, friendship, and coming of age make this tome a ‘must read’ for anyone and everyone who just can’t get enough of rock-solid fiction. A literary ‘Wow!’ for readers of all ages!” – Ann Kempner Fisher, Literary Editor
“John Riffice is a born storyteller, gifted with a mastery of emotional comic nuance and a swaggering sense of character. His WAITING FOR POPS electrifies the page in the most remarkable of ways. This thing shimmers with insight and pulses with plot that never stops barreling forth-a grand achievement from a fine new literary force with whom to reckon. And to applaud most vigorously.” – Bill Zehme, Literary Editor and author of New York Times bestseller THE WAY YOU WEAR YOUR HAT Frank Sinatra and the LOST ART OF LIVIN’ and LOST IN THE FUNHOUSE The Life and Mind of Andy Kaufman
Waiting for Pops A Journey from Boy to Man eBook John Riffice
John Riffice tells a wonderful story. This is the story of a boy growing up with an alcoholic mother and is told with such insight that the reader lives life through the child's eyes. DOG AND BUTTERFLY is another fabulous story by this author. You won't want to miss either one of these great tales.Product details
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Waiting for Pops A Journey from Boy to Man eBook John Riffice Reviews
`Waiting for Pops' tells the story of a boy who grows into a man under very difficult circumstances. His tale begins with a fondly remembered father who never eats his share of the main dish at dinner until he knows everyone else has had their fill, who works 50 hours a week and wants to spend weekends with his kids.
John Philip Riffice has an excellent personalized style, speaking directly to the reader. There are some thoughts about his life today interspersed in the story of his years growing up; it makes for an easy conversational technique that draws you into his account.
His formally ideal existence changes with his parent's escalating arguments and unhappiness and then one day his mother explains that his father died in a car accident. His life spirals downhill from this point. His autistic sister has to be institutionalized and he his left to deal with the horrendous conditions of living with an angry alcoholic mother. He becomes the adult in the family at too young of an age, cleaning cooking and falling in love in his high school years.
What makes this book impressive is that it is written in such a way that the reader does not have a clue, until Riffice is ready; to divulge the twist his life took.
For all the awfulness of his living situation there is a lesson that comes concerning anger - how it can cripple you. It is a shame that those that should read this book - to learn what their actions can do to their family, probably never will; but to those who have lived through this type of existence - at least you know you are not alone. He speaks of the innocent bystanders who are hurt, which is all too true.
This is a book that is a story of a boy and the man he becomes, but it can also be a lesson in life.
This also reminds one, that there are books out there that do not quite make the best seller lists, but should. This is a book that more should read and be aware of.
I was asked to review this book and given a copy for review by the publisher. The opinion and details written here, are mine alone and were not dictated or ordered. If I didn't like the book I would say so.
John Philip Riffice has produced a biography/memoir of his life as a child in Illinois and the family of which he was a part. While there are countless such books published in good faith every year, few of them are as genuinely touching and absorbing as this book WAITING FOR POPS A JOURNEY FORM BOY TO MAN. While the book does not declare itself to be a memoir, it is so pungent in detail and in emotional appeal that it would be surprising if it were solely a novel. Riffice's background is bipartite the first half of his adult life was working in heavy industrial construction, but when a serious work injury ended that career he turned to teaching and currently is involved in education of children with disabilities. Knowing this background - in light of the main character of the story - makes it seem very plausible that John Philip Riffice is indeed the Johnny Ryba of the story. The choice of belief is up to each reader suffice it to say that whether this book is based on a life well led or simply a novel well composed, it merits our attention and our praise.
The story involves the life of a shy sensitive boy of Czech background - Johnny Ryba - who was the first child of a beautiful mother and a movie star looking warmly attentive father whom Johnny calls 'Pops' . At first we see a devoted father/son relationship (Johnny idolizes his father and waits for him on the curb by the mailbox every night to be the first to receive his father's love) - an American family love that permeates the page. Times are tough economically and Pops must extend his working hours to support his growing family a little girl Rosie is born who is diagnosed with autism at age four. The family tenor changes Pops works late, Rosie needs extra care because of her autism, a social worker Mary is hired to help the family cope with the increased strain, the mother starts drinking and is abusive to both Pops and Johnny, and Rosie finally must be institutionalized. The family ties crumble, Pops dies in an accident (Johnny is devastated at his loss), the mother is drunk most of the time, continuing her abuse of Johnny, Johnny finds solace in his best friend Billy, and as Johnny ages into high school he finally begins to notice girls, has a crush on a beauty named Patty who looks elsewhere when she cannot attach to Johnny physically, and Johnny meets Holly. Holly has a secret - her father is an alcoholic - and despite Johnny's closeness to Holly, he cannot share the fact that he has the same secret his mother is an embarrassing alcoholic. College takes Holly out of town and their solid love for each other lasts a while then separation ends their plans. Johnny finds employment in a diner run by a fine and warm gentleman, Mr. Jensen, who is a stand in for Johnny's lack of a father. In time Johnny hears rumors about his family and past and he investigates them, making some shocking discoveries about his mother, his institutionalized sister, and his beloved Pops. The discoveries he makes alters the way he has remembered his at times torturous childhood and the book ends with a Johnny who is now wiser and can carry on his own life with his family with informed sensitivity.
Reffice's manner of writing is one of the reasons this book work so very well. Johnny narrates the book and the manner of writing matches the various ages through which Johnny passes the early years are written with wide-eyed wonder and shaky grammar, the years of turmoil are written with a keen sense of raw language and an informed mind of the frailties of autism, of alcoholism, of first physical love, and of the important camaraderie of a best friend. As the journey to discover the family secrets unfolds, the novel becomes intensely involving - a detective story paired with an exploration of the soul of a man whose life has been lived shaded form some gruesome truths. And Riffice takes advantage of the facts of the story and presents some very thoughtful moments of philosophy. He writes at the end of the book, 'Anger cripples and distorts, and robs you of compassion; it steals your love. And it does so without asking permission, making you someone you would ordinarily detest.'
Whether John Philip Reffice intends to write more books is not indicated in his biographical data. But be aware that his is a powerful force in writing - if there are other stories in this man's mind, we can only hope he will share them. If it is simply a memoir of his own life, then he has succeeded in providing a resource, a Gilead, for those who are victims of misleading family histories and abuses. Bravo! Grady Harp, December 11
I enjoy reading a book that I can relate to and Waiting for Pops did it for me on many counts. It's really a great story about a teenage boy growing up in a not so perfect family. The author can make you feel like you're back living in your old neighborhood. The story keeps unfolding and revealing stuff so it's hard to put down.
I've been gone from Chicago for almost 20 years, but I can feel it as I read the pages of Waiting for Pops. The characters are real, so real. The place and time they inhabit is familiar. The plot, a page-turner that at the same time teaches us so much about how the characters evolve. I love the ultimate message that decency and loyalty count. Thanks, John, for a great story!
An interesting story many situations reminded me of my youth. The way the story developed was sad with a bit
of happiness at the end.
It was an emotional journey for me as I read this. I truly felt for this boy and the struggles he faced growing up in an abusive home with no parental guidance or support. His strength and character at such a tender age all the way through manhood really touched me. I was very appreciative of my own parents and upbringing after reading what he went through and still survived both physically, mentally and socially. Kudos to the writer.
John Riffice tells a wonderful story. This is the story of a boy growing up with an alcoholic mother and is told with such insight that the reader lives life through the child's eyes. DOG AND BUTTERFLY is another fabulous story by this author. You won't want to miss either one of these great tales.
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