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Jack Young grew up in the Olneyville section of Providence, a turbulent mix of proud cultures. He slogged through twelve years of parochial schooling, emerging unimpressed and unconvinced. Like many city kids he was drawn to the idea of the country life, graduating from the University of Rhode Island with a degree in agriculture.
Young's path has been enjoyably erratic, moving from the secure but stifling embrace of Civil Service (Soil Conservation) to small-town cop, to crop management, which is touched on in his book Faraway Green. A time spent selling cars gave him valuable lessons in human behavior that he carries to this day. Young's travels have, by choice, centered on the lesser Caribbean islands, some real, some whimsical, as found in his book Hail Cigaros!, a Kirkus featured review selection.
Jack Young lives with his wife, a social worker, on an underperforming mini-farm in eastern Connecticut. He now devotes full time to writing after giving up teaching chemistry, and is currently in the final stages of book number three … as yet untitled.
Reviewed by Ruffina Oserio for Readers' Favorite
I discovered Jack Young through the breathtaking novel, Hail, Cigaros! I was instantly drawn to his exceptional craft, so when I took Faraway Green I was expecting a stellar work, and my expectations were met. Jack Young comes across to me as a master of the humorous yarn, with a gift for character and tight narrative. Meet the “grassman,” an unemployed man who suddenly finds work with the affluent Bill Borrington, a man with big dreams and a band of sycophants who do his bidding. Now the grassman is tasked to transform a rough and weed-filled field into an immaculately manicured putting green that could become the point of attraction and source of income for Borrington. But can the grassman work successfully with the cowboys who are uncouth, or the inmates from the women’s prison, or must he get his own crew to complete the work? Apart from the challenges that he faces, he will have to put up with the Zombini Sisters and their curse.
Faraway Green is the kind of book you need to read if you want a good laugh or if you are having a bad day. But you’ll still love it just for the sheer delight in the exquisite prose. Jack Young is a terrific writer and he creates a story that will have readers completely hooked and mesmerized from start to finish. I enjoyed the compelling cast of characters, the wonderful setting that leaves the reader with vivid images, and the gripping plot, punctuated with intense moments, great dramatic and humorous scenes, and a conflict that drives the plot forward. This one was a thrill ride, the kind of book you read and find yourself longing to read again. I enjoyed every moment spent with Young’s characters, and the laughter, oh, the laughter! It was just awesome.
