I Grew Up in Broad Ripple - Paperback

by Russell Beck (Author)

A hilarious and heartfelt journey through Catholic childhood in the 1950s and 1960s.

Russell Beck wasn't supposed to steal candy bars from the corner store or sneak peeks at his friend's mom in the shower. He wasn't supposed to split his pants three times in sixth grade or accidentally pierce a fellow Scout with a dart. But growing up Catholic in mid-century Broad Ripple meant navigating a world where the rules were strict, the nuns carried wooden pointers, and childhood was something you survived as much as enjoyed.

From hauling a cabin cruiser back from Florida (complete with imaginary alligator encounters) to marching in the Indianapolis 500 parade after a grueling boot camp, Beck's memoir captures the texture of an era when neighborhoods had character, summer lasted forever, and a paper route was your first real job.

With warmth, wit, and unflinching honesty, Beck chronicles the adventures and misadventures that shaped him: Scout campouts filled with ghost stories, the mysterious world of CYO football, dancing lessons with actual white gloves, and the complex family dynamics of a house with six kids and parents whose marriage couldn't be blessed by the Church.

I Grew Up in Broad Ripple is more than nostalgia - it's a vivid portrait of growing up in a time when the world was still being explained to you, sometimes by nuns with rulers and sometimes by your equally confused classmates. Beck's stories will make you laugh out loud, wince a little, and maybe remember something you'd long forgotten about your own coming-of-age.

Perfect for fans of Jean Shepherd, John R. Powers, Bill Bryson, David Sedaris, and Garrison Keillor - or anyone who survived Catholic school and lived to tell about it.

What Goodreads readers are saying:

"Reading his prom story had me laughing out loud; this book motivates and gives hope that things eventually fall into place." - Bonnie

"I learned so much from Russell's life - it's nostalgic, emotional, heartbreaking, and exciting. His risk-taking spirit is inspiring." - Caroline

"A heartfelt and compelling memoir. A touching and engaging read that offers a sincere look at growing up, family dynamics, and the lasting imprint of one's childhood environment." - Foxtrot