LitPick Review
The Philly Phenoms by Nate Oxman is a coming-of-age story that tells about the life of a young golf fan as he struggled to reintroduce his father, a former player, back into the golf game.
The novel introduces us to a ten-year-old boy named Lee Lomax. His father, Sam, was a former golf player who Lee saw as his idol, but unfortunately, Sam stepped back from pursuing the sport just to put his family's needs first. During the summer, Lee decided to spend the holiday at a country club in hopes that his dad would return to the game. Along the way, Lee met a rival named Hal Rustin, who was jealous of Lee's father and wanted to push his family out of the club. Hal’s actions threatened the dignity of the Lomax family, causing Lee's father, Sam, to reconsider stepping back into the competition. Sam wanted to do it not for pride but to maintain the dignity of his family then and in the future. Meanwhile, Lee's mother was facing a personal struggle that threatened her life. Her illness posed an emotional strain on the family, making them all confront both hope and grief.
Opinion:
The Philly Phenoms captures the authenticity of childhood. It was filtered through the eyes of Lee Lomax, the protagonist, and it expressed his feelings, which felt raw, and his emotions, such as how he believed his dad would return to playing golf and how he was awed at seeing the golfers play it. These expressions showcased how a child processes the world, and the narrations were earnest, but most times, naive. From Lee's perspective, I was saddened to read about the harsh struggles he went through; this included his mother's illness. This tension disrupted his innocence, making his childhood and reality feel deep.
Two strongest aspects of the story were the voice and the setting. The voice used by the author reflected the curiosity, honesty, and innocence of Lee. The author observed things from the perspective of a child, such as misinterpreting adult behavior, which is common among children. An example was when Lee noticed the changes in his mom's behavior and treatment, he waved it off as something she could get better from. What he actually misinterpreted was the depth and seriousness of her illness. He noticed the sadness that filled the house, but he did not understand what it was all about. The setting depicted a blue-collar country club located outside Philadelphia. Unlike an exclusive golf club, which centered on wealth, this one was a modest place that focused on people's dreams of playing golf. In the book, the club was more like a stage where actions like Lee's exploration into the world of golf sports and Sam's confrontation with Hal, a member of the club, were seen.
One of the book's anchors rests on a charity match. The match usually takes place during the anniversary of 9/11. This was not just a golf game; it was also a fundraiser and a memorial to honor the lives that had been lost to the terrorist attack of 9/11, in which nearly three thousand people died. This memorial contributed to the recovery efforts of the people in the community and outside of New York.
At first, I viewed the story as that of a young boy who wanted to watch his father play golf again, but deep down, it was more than that; it was a story that rested on childhood innocence, family sacrifice, and grief. Every part felt real, and despite not being a golf fan, I found myself caring about Lee and his family. I would like to recommend this book to fans of coming-of-age stories and to readers of sports fiction. Furthermore, adults who like books with a nostalgic feel can also dive into it, as it would bring back the memories of childhood.
