Title: Two Boys from Hitchins: A Memoir of Adversity, Adventure, and Achievement
Authors: Edward W. Isaacs and Chilton E. Isaacs
Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
ISBN: 978-1662431814
Pages: 362
Genre: Partially Fictional Memoir
Reviewed by: Michaela Gordoni
Hollywood Book Reviews
Two Boys from Hitchins is a mostly true story about Edward Isaacs and his older brother Paul. They were raised in Hitchins, a small town in Kentucky in the Appalachian Mountains. They left home early and were told that they would never make it, or never “mount to anything,” as their great-uncle Toggie said. Well, their story explains just how wrong that statement is. Edward (or Ebert, as most people called him) and Paul had many things going against them, but by working hard in the painting business, they were able to build a successful life for themselves. After doing sweat-drenching labour for years, they put the money they’d saved into franchise restaurants, knowing very little about the restaurant world. But Edward in particular had sound business sense and was eventually able to do great things. Paul and Edward opened 26 restaurants, and Edward eventually even restored his old school in Hitchins, a difficult but rewarding task.
The Isaacs family was a lot like many of the families in the 1930s and 40s in America – poor. The Isaacs were so poor that they could not afford antifreeze for their car’s engine. Edward even had to drain their car’s radiator every night in the winter so that the engine wouldn’t freeze up. Neither of the brothers stayed to finish high school and chose a life of adventure instead. Their history is amusing, admirable, and at times a little sad, too. Empathetic readers will feel for the Isaacs family upon reading some of the misfortunes that they faced.
Two Boys from Hitchins is written better than most self-written memoirs. The authors say that some of the stories are imagined, but it is not very clear which ones are fictional. Almost the entire second half of the book talks about Edward and Paul’s restauranteering days. It has some useful information that business-minded readers might be interested in learning from. It is clear that Edward is the more prudent of the two brothers. Paul made some reckless and impulsive decisions. But Edward somehow still managed to run 26 successful restaurants with him.
Readers who enjoy small-town success stories will undoubtedly enjoy this American memoir by Edward Isaacs and his son Chilton. Told with openness, heart, and authenticity, Two Boys from Hitchins is truly a motivational exploration. This book will encourage others to look within themselves to find the positives in life.