Thankfully, Gregory Gibson, Galen's father, enabled me as a parent, to walk with him as he worked through the aftermath of this tragedy. The circuitous journey through his grief has at its core his fierce love for his son and family. Dealing with the expediencies of the legal system, an inept college administration, psychologists, the penal system, gun dealers, the media, his son's friends, and others show how frustrating a quest this was. Through it all, however, Gibson's humanity enlightens us all, bestowing a grace to all he encounters.

I thank him for the privilege of learning so much about the workings of the heart at its best and worst moments.


A Time To Heal   October 29, 2008
This review refers to the audio cassette(unabridged- Books On Tape Inc) edition of "Goneboy: A Walkabout" by Gregory Gibson, read by Edward Lewis:

How often over the past couple of decades or so have we been shocked by the news of shootings on campus? Innocent lives taken by a gunman or gunmen who feel they are in the right, seeking some sort of irrational justice. Too many times.Here is the story of one father, trying to make some sort of sense of why his son,away at college, fell dead, victim, to these senseless crimes.

Shortly before Christmas, Gregory Gibson is awakened by a call. There's been a shooting on campus. his son is dead. Like any parent, the first reaction is disbelief. You must be wrong, there is some sort of mistake. We can't even pretend to imagine the thoughts going through his mind, but the devastation of losing a child, and in such a violent way,is easily understandable. His family and family life styles are forever changed. All grieving in their own way.

After going through the motions of burying his son,he takes a journey back in time to find the truth of what really happened that day. The killer has been tried and convicted. But it's not enough, someone or something must be to blame for taking his precious son from him. He throws himself into the case. Digging up info in every corner,for future notes for a book he will write about it. But pretty soon the reader questions whether he is doing this for a book, or has his fact finding mission turned into an obsession. Perhaps it is his way of grieving. And he won't stop the search until the time to grieve is done, and the time to heal is upon him.

Keeping in mind that this is not a journalist writing this story,but the father of the murdered victim, the journey is flowing with human emotion. On top of that he is stymied by legalities and unanswered questions. Why didn't the school officials do something when a package clearly marked "arms" came through the mail room. Where was security when a warning call was made? What about the gun seller, does he bear any responsibility for all this?
Gibson's quest to find the truth takes him down roads and side roads, and still more as he unravels each step it took for his son to be gunned down in cold blood.He tries to get into the gunman's head,even going as far as to meet with his parents. After years of searching can he finally put it to rest?

We all grieve in our own way. This is one man's story. One that is honest, poignant, and sometimes you feel that his wry sense of humor is something that helped him through.All though a few times, I felt some of the descriptions( the various guns,etc) went on a little too much, it is a memoir that will pull you in and put you at the crime scene and the aftermath, and may even evoke a little of the rage he must of felt. With this book, Gibson not only gets his own story out, but may actually help anyone in similar situations to know that they are not alone in what they feel and think.

Edward Lewis is the reader and he does such a good job that at times I thought it was the author himself reading. He narrates what seems to be just the way, a father would react. The sadness, the frustration, annoyance with some of the people he interviewed and even a little self- deprecation.

The book is unabridged. There are 8 cassettes of very good audio quality and the running time is about 10 hours in total. -

Recommended reading.....Laurie