Tietam Brown

by Mick Foley

Destined to be one of the most talked about books of 2003: a brilliant first novel by the world's most famous wrestler In the world of WWF wrestling, Mick Foley is a legend. The author of two best-selling autobiographies, he has now written his first novel, a book of such brilliance that it will astonish the critics while delighting his millions of fans. Antietam (Andy) Brown - named for the great-great-grandfather who died on that Civil War battleground - was an overgrown ten-year-old when he killed his abusive foster father and the teenager who tried to rape him. Now, after seven years in reform school, he is presumably free to make a new start as a student at Conestoga High School. But he is immediately thrust into the violent and debased life of his real father (known as Tietam) - an oddly charismatic man who seems addicted to bodybuilding, beer-swilling and 'bareback riding', his words for his serial womanizing. Swimming through a morass of crudity and violence (he's made an enemy of the football coach and his pack of steroid-pumped teens), Andy is stunned to find himself pursued by the high school homecoming queen - a born-again Christian - and to discover that his father has a hidden cache of books on serious, even esoteric, subjects and a hidden past. Obsessed with the idea of offering his girlfriend a pure love and driven to find out whether he's descended from a monster or a hero, Andy searches for the truth in the dangerous currents of his father's past and present - in a novel that is a zany and deeply moving celebration of the human spirit.

Genres: Fiction, Novels, Coming Of Age, Young Adult, Humor, Comedy, Literature

256 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Mick Foley is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of several memoirs, a WWE Hall of Famer, and the author of numerous books for children. He has appeared on "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, The Late Show with Jay Leno, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, Who Wants to be a Millionaire, Good Morning America, Family Feud, Fox News, and has made several appearances on The Today Show. He was featured in a story on ABC’s World News Tonight for his work as an online volunteer with RAINN, the nation’s largest anti-sexual assault organization. Foley was also recognized for his work with RAINN at the famous "Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear" – where he was awarded the Medal of Reasonableness from "Daily Show" host Jon Stewart. Follow him at @RealMickFoley.

Reviews

[Baba · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yes this was written by the Mick Foley of World Wrestling fame! A shockingly good debut novel that goes beyond all reasonable expectations of any writer! A story of the dysfunctional life of Antitam Brown IV and his father Antitam Brown III. A very original, innovative and compelling read, one that will stay with you. 8 out of 12, Four Star read!

2017 read; 2008 read

[Will Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

While very familiar with Mick Foley both as a person and a writer I found myself going into Tietam Brown completely blind, so to say this wasn't what I expected would be a massive understatement. Foley is known for being quite a jovial character, quick with a joke or a funny anecdote and just generally being one of life's good guys. So bearing that in mind this novel hits like a well placed punch to the gut.

Dark and brutal with some passages veering towards the horrific this wasn't the light hearted romp I thought I was getting into, but more of an assault on the senses. No subject is considered untouchable and Foley delves into places where very few would be comfortable going sometimes in very graphic details.

That said, this was also a real page turner too and although it invokes more than a few winces, does have some moments of real warmth and charm, although admittedly these are often extinguished again with swift and gut wrenching precision. In fact, my only real complaint is that Foley's voice does come across very strongly throughout the book, which can clash slightly when you're trying to distinguish between the character and the author, but this is a minor issue really. As I've said, this is a bleak and at times difficult read, but ultimately very readable too, even if I won't be revisiting it any time soon. Not for the faint of heart, but a must read for those who can stomach it.

[Andy · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is something innocent about a former wrestler writing fiction. Something kind, unexpected and altogether surreal, but one thing I can say is that Mick Foley does it with some grace and enjoyment. Make no mistake this book is fucked up beyond belief, but it is and was an enjoyable fucked up. A cringe inducing, jaw dropping, eye popping out of their heads, fucked up. The writing is not impossible. The story is easy enough to understand. The reality of the story... well, life can be fucked up sometimes, and that is exactly what Foley shows here. I say two thumbs up for the story and the balls it took to write it, and a little of a teak downward of the thumb for the simplicity, and ease in which the story was told. It was not picture perfect, it was not a happy ending, but it was an enjoyable read and it did have some sense of hope embedded in the ending. As a reader I like that. As a reader I think I need a little of that. Good stuff.

[Kieron Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny in parts. Touching in parts. Violent throughout.

[Kent Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think Foley is a good author. I loved his first bio. This one didn't grab me quite as much but it's enjoyable enough. Especially for an author who didn't pick up the pen until later in his life.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had never heard of this book until it was recommended as a book group read but as with many book club choices I was really glad to pick it up.
Andy (Tietam) Brown has had a difficult childhood , placed with an aunt at a young age a tragic accident happens, then he is placed with foster carers before ending up in a children's home. all three placements are affected by Andy's black mist, his rage. He then ends up living with his father Tietam senior in an upstate New York town and an apparent period of stability starts as he falls in love with cheer leader Terri and has to deal with his school peers.
Reading it felt a bit like reverting at parts to the mind of a teenage boy and I think any reader should park any sensitivities about adolescence sex and to some degree sexual stereotypes ( a little more difficult) for what in the end is a really good story with a finale which will have the reader squirming, and shouting at the injustices and at a character who stands head and shoulders above many of literatures great villains.
Definitely worth trying.

[Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Antietam Brown, aka Andy, the teen protagonist, is a true-blue coming-of-age character, falling in love for the first time, trying to fit in at a new school — and readers will root for him. But his is a hardcore life where normal rules don't apply. Broken bones are plenty here, but the injury count also includes a severed head, an amputated ear, lots of smashed teeth, an ear ripped off, and more blood than found in most horror novels. Sexual violence is just as prevalent, mostly rape, but even more disturbing are Andy's father's sexual antics and attitudes. The real main event in the book is the relationship between Andy and his father, which resolves itself in another cacophony of violence. Like many first time novelists, Foley loads the book with too much clatter, but beneath the noise is an intriguing novel about coming of age against the odds, about the weight of family history, and about wrestling with tough issues of coping with loss, betrayal, forgiveness, and acceptance.

[Tommy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not going to blow smoke up your rear, and tell you that this is the greatest book of all time. That said, it's a backhanded compliment to hear somebody say "that's a pretty good book, for a wrestler."

It's a pretty good book for a first-time novelist. It's a tale of isolation and loneliness, and I'd daresay it comes from a very personal place for Mick Foley.

There are corny jokes interspersed, and I don't care for them. I think it showed Mick's lack of confidence in the material, which was stronger than he and (apparently) his editors gave him credit for.

On the whole, this one surprised me. Give it a look. Maybe it'll surprise you, too.

[Bolly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is staggering. A beastly tale of adolescence and one young man's attempt to make it through intact. Foley is very successful at capturing the awkardness, rage and isolation of his teenage protagonist, Andy. For a novel which is so heartbreaking in places, the overall tone is one of hope. This is mainly down to the characters Andy, Terri and Holly who outshine the cast of monsters which otherwise populate this novel. This is genuinely funny and touching in places and devastating in others. This is the second time I have read this book but it won't be the last. A book to cherish and remember forever.

[Chris C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is by far one of the scariest books I've ever read -- probably because of how real the story is including the violence portrayed. I have this weird feeling that the story contains bits and pieces of the author, Mick Foley's (wrestling's Mankind, Cactus Jack, etc), life embedded within, however that is totally unsubstantiated. It is a shame that this book never made it to Trade paperback as I think it would have had a much longer life. (I stand corrected, apparently it is now available in paperback)

[Donald Armfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disturbing, Heartwarming, a brutal masterpiece!

Tietam Brown has lived a life of lonely and not feeling loved. The ones who did love him was torn away. The rage that built inside him came out in furies that just left him in trouble. The life story of this boy will bring laughter and tears.

Attention wrestling fans: I believe that some of the description used for father and son came from Mick Foley's wrestler "Dude Love" and "Mankind"

Overall this is a great read the "RAGE" chapters are a recommend read.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a pretty good read. It is a coming of age story about a young boy named andy who tries to fit in at school, fall in love, and survive life with his sex-crazed crude father tietam brown. How can he when he only has one ear and one functioning hand? Will he survive without unleashing his dark side? Read the book and find out. This is WWE star Mick Foley's debut fiction novel and I enjoyed it.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

So witty and a really entertaining story. Mick Foley truly is a marvel.

Before you run for president, please write more novels!

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my review that I posted on Amazon back in 2003. Please note there are mild spoilers.

A TALE OF FORGIVENESS
I have read thousands of books, and I have never read one quite like this one. In fact, "Tietam Brown" is so different I am having a hard time quantifying it for this review. But I do know this: It's good. Very good for a first fictional effort. Part comedy, part tragedy, part horror, part coming of age story, "Tietam" really cannot be summed up with one sentence. Much like real life, the bad blends with the good, "normal" is only a word, no one is totally what they seem, and those whom we love the most can also hurt us the most.
If you have read Foley's autobiographical works, "Have a Nice Day" and "Foley Is Good" or even just watched his wrestling career on TV, then you will see flashes of Mick in "Tietam." Bits of Mick's quirks are entwined in both Tietam and Andy, and occasionally a "Mickism" is used. In the beginning, the writing style pretty closely follows "Have a Nice Day," but soon finds its own rhythm and goes down a much darker and more literary path. Mick's perverse humor is also very apparent, much to my delight. :)
But don't let the author's name and background fool you: This is not a "wrasslin' book" or "Foley's Life Part 3." Instead, "Tietam" is a wonderful study of forgiveness, of right and wrong, of the limits that people put on their love -- both for themselves and others.
Most of all, it's the story of Andy Brown, a high school student who has spent most of his life in foster homes and an orphanage and who survived a terrible car accident at the age of five. His father, an enigmatic, mercurial man, comes into his life after a 17-year absence, and immediately the reader knows Andy will never be the same. However, this reader was shocked to find out just what an emotional, strange journey he will have. Put on your seatbelt and keep it on -- you will need it, because this is one powerful, somewhat surreal story.
The character that steals the show is Antietam "Tietam" Brown, Andy's father. He's smart, vulgar and loves deeply. He exercises naked, has purple fuzzy dice hanging on his rearview and sings along with Barry Manilow. And he can go from "normal" to crazy and criminal in the blink of an eye. He's not altogether sane. Antietam also has deeply conflicting views of the world and the people closest to him that he does not see as a problem.
And that is what makes him so essentially different from Andy. It can be argued that Andy has had a much harder life than his father did up to that age, and yet, Andy has a better understanding of the world around him. It is ironic that a confused, lonely teen has a much clearer moral vision for himself than his world-weary, road-hardened father does, but it is nonetheless true that Andy has the ability to see the shades of meaning, the layers of complexity in people and events that black-and-white thinker Tietam is incapable of.
But most of all, Andy is able to forgive. The further you go into the story, the more you realize how important this is. I won't say anything more about it, because I don't want to give away the story, but the idea of redemption runs very strong in "Tietam."
What sort of person would you be if you were incapable of forgiving anyone, most especially yourself? Do you believe that people can truly change for the better? If those questions intrigue you, then you will enjoy "Tietam Brown" as thoroughly as I did.

[Adam James · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tietam Brown may be the most difficult book I've ever tried to review.

I love Mick Foley. He's one of my heroes.
I've read all his memoirs and listened to any/all interviews from him that's possible to find.
So I'm biased; I've given Mick the benefit of the doubt throughout this entire novel.

But, there's so many questions.

Who is the audience for this novel?
• It's written at a lower lexile, but the content is absolutely not YA appropriate.
• As an adult reader, the plot devices are roll-your-eyes cringeworthy. Seriously, Mick? Coach Hanrahan? Han Jobs? Did you have this cartoon for a teacher as a youngster? How is any of his nonsense believable?

• I appreciate the theme of moral ambiguity. Genuinely - not enough novels explore morality THIS specifically. Therein lies the problem: The gray areas are only visible because so much of your character development hits extremes. This gap between "right" and "wrong" creates caricatures of human characters, not genuine reflections.

Speaking of characters, why are women portrayed as either saints or sluts?
• This book feels like an Eminem album, the way women are depicted. Your female characters exist only through the existence of men - this novel would not pass a Bechdel test.
The same can be said of the depiction of sexual abuse. I love you, Mick, but one of the first things men say to victimized women is, "Why didn't you just bite it?" Or, "Why didn't you ________"?
• I have enough faith in you as a person to assume in the nearly 20 years since publishing this novel, you've talked to enough survivors to know how short-sided this feels. As a result, these scenes of extreme violence and sexual abuse are as cartoonish as an Eminem song.

More later (August 31st, 2022)

[Cameron · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a nostalgic snapshot of loneliness, isolation, and forgiveness all wrapped into one story. At times heartwarming and heartrending, it expertly captures the feeling of being a lonely teen in a small town. Its characterizations - for example, the protagonist's father and his routine of exercising sans clothes with the assistance of a deck of cards - go a long way to bring its cast to life, and by the end, I felt like I had known Andy, the protagonist, when I was younger. The author also has a really great anecdotal style - the delivery feels much like something a friend might share with you at home or over food.

The ending doesn't quite stick the landing, and the epilogue feels particularly slapdash. Though the author's ability to develop his characters is worthy of praise, not all of the characters are sufficiently fleshed out. As a result, sometimes the story relies on telling the reader how much the supporting cast matters rather than showing them. But on the whole, this story does a lot right. I walked away from it feeling that the author understands what it means to love and be loved, to care about someone and be cared about by someone. It's not perfect, but it was a very enjoyable read.

[Ange · Rating 3 out of 5]

I probably should have skimmed the reviews before I read this. It's deranged. Not unlike a professional wrestling script. The pacing is non-existent. It goes from one shocking scene to another with very few gaps to catch its breath.

Trigger warnings galore for violence, sexual assault, pedophelia, racism, and abusive parenting. Lots of death. Lots of blood. Lots of pain, physical and emotional. Throw in too much alcohol and some steroids, because why not?

I thought this was going to be a 5 star book at the halfway point but the frenetic pace of betrayals and abuses of power were nonstop. If there was time to develop characters more by either doubling the length or halving the dramatic action, it could have really been elevated.

Overall, a solid debut novel but oof that was too much for me.

[Ryan LaMantia · Rating 5 out of 5]

That was easy. Three days in, and I may have already found my favorite read of 2025. Thanks to Phil for sending the book to me last year.

'Tietam Brown' is a story of a seventeen year old boy who'd had his share of troubles: Abusive foster homes, the deaths of people he cared about, physical deformities, juvenile hall, and more...but that's just the beginning.

The boy's father (Tietam Brown) shows back up when the boy is 17, but he's got his own problems. With that, Tietam Brown has a particular set of skills and a remarkable past that all make themselves known throughout.

'Tietam Brown' is a brilliant coming of age story about love, acceptance, family, and right and wrong. I laughed out loud on several occasions, but the book is not without its darkness.

I HIGHLY recommend Tietam Brown! What a fantastic read! 5-Stars!

[Soho_Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

You don't tend to hear about too many wrestlers becoming best selling authors. Although there has been a rush of wrestling biographies in the last few years, very few of them were written by the wrestlers themselves. The exception to this rule was the first, Mick Foley. His autobiographies, "Have a Nice Day" and "Foley is Good" were entirely his own work and, perhaps surprisingly, the best written and most entertaining of them all.

As he admitted in this autobiography, he has long had a desire to be a writer, dating back to his childhood. Back then, he was put off by his mother, who wouldn't allow him to use swear words in his writing. Now, with the time on his hands to chase his dream after he retired from wrestling, with the encouragement that being a New York Times No. 1 Bestseller provides and without his mother watching his language for him, Mick Foley has turned his hand to fiction. But is the pen mightier than the pile driver?

This is the story of two men named Antietam Brown, father and son. The father, known as Tietam, is an alcoholic who didn't see his son, known as Andy, for more than fifteen years. During this period, Andy was in foster homes and care homes, being routinely abused, both physically and sexually by the people he had come to love and trust. Now a teenager and living with his father for the first time, he is starting to find out about sex and, more importantly, first love.

His father, on the other hand, is something of an enigma. His past is clouded, whilst his present is full of strange behaviour. He is frequently in the company of married women, often in the midst of a bizarre sexual routine that involves nudity and a pack of playing cards. But he is also a man of many layers, most of which Andy is about to discover for the first time.

If you ever had any doubts that wrestlers could write, Mick Foley's autobiographies would have ended that. If you ever doubted that wrestlers could create, this is going to end those preconceptions. This is a beautifully crafted and told story. With any other author, you would suspect a little autobiography to have sneaked in to help the creative process along, but anyone who has read Foley's life story will know that the events depicted here are a mile away from his own childhood. That he has created such characters from nowhere and made the lives they lead as realistic as he has is credit to the author's invention.

Although the lives they lead are a little extreme, they are not so wild as to seem unreal. This seems to me to be a fairly accurate depiction of life on the wrong side of the tracks in small town America, with nothing that really jars or feels out of place. This helps you immerse yourself in Andy's life and, believe me; you're going to want to.

For this is the other part of the attraction here. The story is somehow addictive. Although the events described aren't really anything special, relative to some books, their realism and the story telling draws you in and makes you feel a part of the story. By the end, you are no longer a casual observer but a participant. I shared Andy's joys and I felt his pain and parts of the story left me with a lump in my throat. I got to the end of the book for the first time and immediately turned back to the front and started again. I couldn't help it.

The only other book that has left me feeling this way is Tawni O' Dell's "Back Roads". That is another story of a rough life in small town and written in the same simple fashion, easily readable and easy to lose yourself in. If you've read and enjoyed that story, you'll love this just as much.

If there are any criticisms that can be made, it's that wrestling does get a mention in the story. Whilst it makes sense that Mick Foley should include something of that here, it does feel like a bit of a sop to the wrestling fans who would be the most likely buyers of this book, having seen the author's name on the cover. However, for those who don't know this is what he did before he was a writer, it does fit in with the rest of the story and doesn't stick out as much. The other problem is that, especially in the early part of the book, it does feel like Mick Foley himself is the narrator, as the style and the humour is much like Foley's, as showcased in his autobiographies. If you're new to the author, though, this won't be something you'll realise and to be fair to Foley, as you get further into the story, Andy Brown does come more into his own and sound like a person in his own right, rather than a part of Mick Foley.

For those who enjoy a gritty reality in their reading material, as so infrequently seen in a modern literary scene that seems to consist mostly of vacuous chick-lit, this is a huge breath of fresh air. For those who enjoy reading for pleasure, as opposed to just something to pass the time, this is as pleasurable and emotional an experience as you're likely to find. For someone who likes to read for escapism and to step out of their own life and into someone else's, this is a doorway.

I read it twice in quick succession and I know that I will be reading it over and over again in the future. It's always wonderful to see a fresh voice in modern fiction, especially when it's one this good. After years of inflicting physical pain on opponents, Foley has discovered the art of inflicting emotional suffering on his readers and I suspect he may prove as successful in his new career as he was in the old.

This review may also appear under my name at any or all of www.ciao.co.uk, www.thebookbag.co.uk, www.goodreads.com, www.amazon.co.uk and www.dooyoo.co.uk

[Ash Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I brought this book thinking, hey it’s a book by Mick Foley, yeah he’s a great wrestler, yeah he’s a funny guy and nice too so even if this book isn’t good I’ll enjoy in bits and it’ll be a good bit of trash to read. Oh man I was wrong. Firstly this book is written fantastically! A real page turner. The story and how it’s written is awesome. Even tho this book is funny in places its also incredibly dark. But the way the main character talks and explains his feelings really draws you in!! A great read.

[Chad Webb · Rating 2 out of 5]

I only discovered at the end that this audiobook was the abridged version. That's annoying, but regardless, this is a bizarre book. Foley seems to be aiming for a YA novel, but with truly adult and often odd character details. It's sometimes humorous, sometimes tragic, but not good at accomplishing either. Instead it's primarily awkward. The end result comes across as a hodgepodge, which could be the abridgment, but I doubt the full novel is much different.

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite a strange but enjoyable story - just when things start to look up they all turn into a mess again! You have to feel sorry for Andy! It follows the disfunctional relationship between a troubled teen and his equally damaged and violent father. Dont look here for a tale of redemption and re-built bridges.

[Travis Sutton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very unrealistic characters and a crazy amount of violence (serious trigger warnings in this one).

I wanted to give this one 3 stars... but I just couldn't put it down! I had to know what happened next and see where the story went. It's also a story I don't think i'll forget for a long time.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, just wow. This book really struck a nerve, from beginning to end. I literally have no words. Mick Foley is a passionate, emotional, and raging writer, you can feel it as you read. I think I'll be in my feels for the next few days till I can get over this book. 5 Gold Stars, simply amazing.

[Greg H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really fun. But also kinda tragic and occasionally harrowing. There was a certain amount of levity, and those parts were full of charm. On the flip side, it got very dark very often but it was always good. I really enjoyed it. I will definitely read his next novel (Scooter) as soon as I can.

[Mathew O' · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilarious and at times harrowing. Great read.

[Sierra Profitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trigger warnings for rape, abuse, murder, and suicide.
Probably one of the weirdest books I have ever read, but enjoyed it very much.

[Lewis Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well this is far better than I ever expected. Foley wrote a really bloody good first novel. It’s equal parts funny and devastating.

[David Plough · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story of a boy with an alcoholic dad who is trying to make it in this world. Crazy book with an ending I still think about.

[Dean Dickinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bukowski from the ring. Sock on hand not on dick