The Struggles and Growth of a Man Part 1 (Book 1 of 5)

This collection of poetry reveals the life and struggles of a young man named Robert. Although fictional, it is highly reflective of what many men encounter in their early 20s from growing up and role models to loving oneself and what one thinks about late at night. The first in a series of five books, this first book sets the stage by introducing us to this character and to the work of Jamell Crouthers.

Crouthers’ style is unique for a poet. He tells his story in long-form poetry that extends for several pages. There’s little to no rhyming or patterns, and this may deter some who are looking for a more traditional experience. That being said, once I became acclimated to this style, I did not mind it. It allows the author to structure his content in a different way that captures the reader’s attention.

“The Struggles and Growth of a Man” invokes a variety of emotions in a reader from melancholy to humor. The heart Crouthers infuses into this text is second-to-none. Any poetry reader should enjoy this book.

Book creates such conflicting emotions. Humorous, thought-provoking, reflective, nostalgic, all wrapped up within its pages. For some it would jog not too pleasant memories, for others it would evoke laughter, while for others, just wry amusement. Crouthers sums up the struggles every male could relate to, from growing up, to educational aspirations, setting goals, relationships, as well as expectations unwittingly placed on the male gender.

The Struggles and Growth of A Man would represent a cross between a reflective read and a humorous story.

Certainly, every male would relate to some section within the pages.
Some would be pensive in response to the stories within, while others could get some entertaining takeaway, an example, the story about the drugs and the short spell to get rich really quick.
If you have a quirky sense of humor, and you would want to know what it means to be the male gender, in the 21st century, Crouthers hits the hot spot.

The Struggles and Growth of a Man Part 1 (Struggles and Growth Series) by Jamell Crouthers is a book that tells the story of a man growing up with some heavy struggles, and it is all told through poetry. If you don't like poetry, you can still enjoy this read. The poems are more of a narrative and less of a rhythm and rhyme organization. The tale was easy to follow and easy to understand. Our narrator, who allows us to choose his name and race, is growing up in a struggling neighborhood with a family that has some serious baggage. His mother is a drug addict, his younger brother turned to crime at an early age, his aunt's have all had babies from men who are no longer in their lives, and the narrator himself is falling behind academically and has lost all interest in sports, an area that used to be a strength. His one saving grace is his grandmother who keeps him fed and gives him a place to sleep from time to time, but this is rare and he needs to figure out a better way to live his life.

I really enjoyed reading this. The story is strong and very relevant to our times, and the poetic storytelling makes this unique when compared to other books in the same genre. I found the narrative to be very well edited and creative in many ways. This is the beginning of the series and I am looking forward to more installments so I can see where this character goes from his starting point. Fans of underdog stories will enjoy this, as well as anyone who enjoys a story of someone rising up against the odds to find the good.

The Struggles and Growth of a Man is an apt title for this book. Our society does not place much value on men who are open with what they feel, so this book is a welcome insight into the daily life of a man. Robert is a young man in his 20s who chronicles his daily life in the form of poetry. Everything from his family’s struggles with drugs to the lack of male role models and the perils of his neighborhood where he grew up. In all the darkness and hardships of Robert's life, he has one bright spot: the high school guidance counselor.

I found this to be a very enlightening book about a man's struggles and his feelings on certain situations. Episodes of guilt over things I would never feel guilty over or even feelings of inadequacies where I would have thought the man would be fine. I think that we need more of these kinds of books that allow us to see into others lives so we can understand their points of view.

This century witnesses an increasing number of social poets. These are poets who document their social experiences in verses. It is a good development, if I may say.

This book of poetry highlights the experiences a 20-year-old poet named Robert goes through in his young life. He documents the pains, pleasures, challenges, and other issues he has to contend with on a daily basis. Readers are introduced to his childhood, neighborhood and, of course, his adulthood.

Robert has a lot to deal with as he grows up: A drug-addicted mother, an absentee father, and a neighborhood that is infested with drug and crimes. But Robert sees the light through the efforts of his tenderhearted high school guidance counselor, who helps him grow emotionally.
Readers who don’t like reading poetry will surely fall in love with this collection.

The Struggles and Growth of a Man Part I (Struggles and Growth Series) by Jamell Crouthers who is a big surprise to me, he writes poetry, prose, he is a blogger a podcaster and has written plenty of books mainly about the environment where I think he lives or used to live like the series of Kids with guns, America Under mind control, the private investigator I and II and other books, he has been writing since he was 13 years old, mostly he writes of things that we are not used to talking about and that is why this diary of Robert about what he struggles with along his life is such an important book, it uncovers things that many of us will never think about and many who will think of it, will never talk about it. The book is in a poetry format and is easy and entertaining to read. Great work!

This is a poetry book that is filled with poems that come from the heart and soul. You can really feel it when you read them, where the subject matter isn’t just sunshine and rainbows. You can see that the writer has gone through things and this may affect you as well. It reads almost like a biography, but written in a simpler, easier to follow way. This doesn’t make it any less real, however. You will feel like you have stepped into another person’s life when you read this one, and it feels rather intimate, since the poems show a real sense of vulnerability. Read this one at your own pace, and you may see a bit of yourself in places. The book contains beautiful poems and it won’t take long to read them either. It will touch you and that is okay. It seems like that is the whole point.

I didn’t really know what to expect from the first book from the Struggles and Growth Series, called The Struggles and Growth of a Man Part 1. James Crouthers showcases his writing skills in this poetry collection (not the traditional rhymes if that’s what you’re expecting, more like a narrative). In it, the author really shows his soul: his broken family, his anguish, his feelings of guilt and shame. It’s dark and introspective but it is written in a beautiful way and you can’t help to feel a connection with someone who is showing so much of his soul. A really interesting perspective, and rather unique, as this is not a style we are used to reading coming from men. This is actually my first contact with James Crouthers’ work but I’m sure it won’t be my last.