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The Legend of Colgan Toomey
From the Back cover:
Colgan Toomey was a hometown legend in Kellyville, Alabama. He had been a precocious child who’d delighted, amazed, and often bewildered everyone he met. He grew into to town’s biggest, and perhaps only, star: a football recruit that attracted every coach from there to Canada, an Eagle Scout, and eventually a medical student at the University of Texas. When the town heard that he’d been killed by Salvadoran rebels while volunteering on a Doctors Without Borders mission in Central America, everyone for miles around stopped to mourn.
Colgan’s death was impossible to understand – tragic, slightly mysterious, and exotic. He died a hero, though, with a massive funeral in the town’s football stadium, and a monument in Kellyville’s only graveyard even though his body was never found. No one, least of all his best friend P.J. Campbell, had any clue of the _truth_ behind the Legend of Colgan Toomey. It is a legend of many facets, all of which look different from every angle. Look inside to see it for yourself.
Colgan Toomey was a hometown legend in Kellyville, Alabama. He had been a precocious child who’d delighted, amazed, and often bewildered everyone he met. He grew into to town’s biggest, and perhaps only, star: a football recruit that attracted every coach from there to Canada, an Eagle Scout, and eventually a medical student at the University of Texas. When the town heard that he’d been killed by Salvadoran rebels while volunteering on a Doctors Without Borders mission in Central America, everyone for miles around stopped to mourn.
Colgan’s death was impossible to understand – tragic, slightly mysterious, and exotic. He died a hero, though, with a massive funeral in the town’s football stadium, and a monument in Kellyville’s only graveyard even though his body was never found. No one, least of all his best friend P.J. Campbell, had any clue of the _truth_ behind the Legend of Colgan Toomey. It is a legend of many facets, all of which look different from every angle. Look inside to see it for yourself.
231 pages, Paperback
Published June 24, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
June 20, 2020
The book opens with a large funeral flush with eulogies that paint a picture of a near perfect person; a small town hero and a promising football star and medic. Colgan Toomey was loved by many and mourned all too soon. The story unravels from there, being told from the perspectives of different characters. Each chapter we change perspective, hearing from people who knew Colgan Toomey, from former girlfriends, family and friends to outsiders. As they give accounts of their time with him, we slowly learn more and more about a person who is perhaps not as perfect as he is remembered.
This is a well told and intriguing story. I found it beautifully written and engaging. The conversational style and array of well developed characters are believable and I was transported to the various locations and times, immersed in the complex issues of social justice, civil rights and government oppression.
Colgan Toomey was someone who had the talent, intelligence and drive to do whatever he wanted but like his father, he wanted to dedicate himself to a quest. Did this make him a hero?
I thoroughly recommend this book.
This is a well told and intriguing story. I found it beautifully written and engaging. The conversational style and array of well developed characters are believable and I was transported to the various locations and times, immersed in the complex issues of social justice, civil rights and government oppression.
Colgan Toomey was someone who had the talent, intelligence and drive to do whatever he wanted but like his father, he wanted to dedicate himself to a quest. Did this make him a hero?
I thoroughly recommend this book.
April 19, 2020
Author Dargan Ware has crafted a most-interesting novel and mysterious character in "The Legend of Colgan Toomey." Colgan, a young man who was a child and adolescent superhero in his small town of Kellyville, Alabama, is actually being lauded as a legend at his own funeral as this story begins. Indeed, Colgan's character is built through chapters devoted to first-person accounts by his best friend (P.J.), lovers, a fellow musician, coaches (including Bear Bryant,) teachers, priests both dead and alive, and various other folks whose lives were touched and often forever-changed by this young man. Those in Kellyville and beyond recalled him as a brilliant student, athlete and musician, as well as being physically appealing and socially gifted. However, the various accounts suggested to this reader that he was a troubled youth searching for limits to his abilities and his consequent fairly easy life, that he wanted to invest in life causes to expend his immense passion, and that he was someone who struggled with the realities of non-idealized love. These issues ultimately led him to become involved in the civil war in El Salvador, where rebels reported he was executed. And hence, the funeral at the book's outset. It is an interesting technique to build a main character through the memories and opinions of others. As the truths about Colgan's life become increasingly evident, the plot thickens and surprises await.
May 1, 2020
A difficult story but easy to read
It’s extremely well written and the adventurous character is an absorbing person. There’s a lot of Catholicism running in and out of the book but the main character really isn’t a good Catholic although he tries to be in some instances. It’s always amazing to me how little the concept of sexual morality seems to influence modern people of faith. It’s as if they think God was just riffing when he reached the Sixth Commandment and later repeatedly condemned fornication, seeming to think that he really didn’t mean it seriously. Sexual precipitousnness, rather than actually learning about the person in order to truly love them, is at the root of a lot of the people’s problems in this book, and yet no one seems to notice it, not the priests in the confessional, nor even the author. As long as you are a good guy and you mean well, it really doesn’t matter what you do in bed or even if you murder dozens of people who probably needed killing, but you know… there’s an ap for that...
That said, this is really probably one of the deepest books I’ve read recently and even though I object to capitalism being called a ‘system’ when in fact it is just simply freedom, there are a lot of good insights worth pondering while you take in the madcap life of this imperfect hero.
It’s extremely well written and the adventurous character is an absorbing person. There’s a lot of Catholicism running in and out of the book but the main character really isn’t a good Catholic although he tries to be in some instances. It’s always amazing to me how little the concept of sexual morality seems to influence modern people of faith. It’s as if they think God was just riffing when he reached the Sixth Commandment and later repeatedly condemned fornication, seeming to think that he really didn’t mean it seriously. Sexual precipitousnness, rather than actually learning about the person in order to truly love them, is at the root of a lot of the people’s problems in this book, and yet no one seems to notice it, not the priests in the confessional, nor even the author. As long as you are a good guy and you mean well, it really doesn’t matter what you do in bed or even if you murder dozens of people who probably needed killing, but you know… there’s an ap for that...
That said, this is really probably one of the deepest books I’ve read recently and even though I object to capitalism being called a ‘system’ when in fact it is just simply freedom, there are a lot of good insights worth pondering while you take in the madcap life of this imperfect hero.
April 21, 2020
This book is about the life of Colgan Toomey, a model of perfection at nearly any sport or skill he attempts. He’s also super charming, displays an intensity to accomplish goals far beyond the average person, and the ability to forgive at a level equal to the most pious priest, and yet, he’s not perfect, as his best friend tells us in the first chapter.
The story begins kind of fun, detailing such things as the football exploits of Colgan or his amazing trivia abilities, or how impressed his English teacher is with him. As the novel moves along it decreases the time spent on the more ‘trivial’ aspects of Colgan’s accomplishments and focuses on his involvement in the El Salvador rebellion (I’m no history buff, but I looked it up after reading this book, and there were some horrific occurrences during the rebellion).
The skill with which Colgan’s story is related is impressive. Every chapter is told from an outside perspective, whether it’s his best friend, the most significant other character, or it could even be from the perspective of a dead priest. And it all comes together into a cohesive novel so well. Each character has something interesting, important, or even entertaining to add to The Legend of Colgan Toomey.
One of the things I enjoyed most was that despite the seeming perfection of Colgan, there’s always an undercurrent of imperfection. The choices he makes do not always lead to the best resolutions, and Colgan does seem to be somewhat tormented as he frequently prays for guidance. The people he leaves in his wake are often unhappy, despite or because of their relationship with Colgan.
The writing is as good as anything I’ve ever read. The style reminded me of a John Irving novel, and in particular, A Prayer for Owen Meany. That’s about as a high praise as I can give.
I could see this novel being studied in college/university.
Easy five stars.
The story begins kind of fun, detailing such things as the football exploits of Colgan or his amazing trivia abilities, or how impressed his English teacher is with him. As the novel moves along it decreases the time spent on the more ‘trivial’ aspects of Colgan’s accomplishments and focuses on his involvement in the El Salvador rebellion (I’m no history buff, but I looked it up after reading this book, and there were some horrific occurrences during the rebellion).
The skill with which Colgan’s story is related is impressive. Every chapter is told from an outside perspective, whether it’s his best friend, the most significant other character, or it could even be from the perspective of a dead priest. And it all comes together into a cohesive novel so well. Each character has something interesting, important, or even entertaining to add to The Legend of Colgan Toomey.
One of the things I enjoyed most was that despite the seeming perfection of Colgan, there’s always an undercurrent of imperfection. The choices he makes do not always lead to the best resolutions, and Colgan does seem to be somewhat tormented as he frequently prays for guidance. The people he leaves in his wake are often unhappy, despite or because of their relationship with Colgan.
The writing is as good as anything I’ve ever read. The style reminded me of a John Irving novel, and in particular, A Prayer for Owen Meany. That’s about as a high praise as I can give.
I could see this novel being studied in college/university.
Easy five stars.
April 19, 2020
I chose 5 stars because this story kept me turning pages. The creative use of multiple points of view let the character of Colgan Toomey unfold through the eyes of witnesses was so unique and masterfully executed.
November 19, 2019
Who is a person really? Is it who they think they are? Or do others see through their façade to know them better? Everyone knows everyone else from their own perspective. Such is the case of Colgan Toomey, an Eagle Scout, a super athlete, and an admired scholar who grew up to be a volunteer physician for Doctors Without Borders found missing and presumably dead on a volunteer mission in Salvador.
Everyone agrees that Cogan was a hero. That he was someone to look up to and admire. But how did Colgan view himself? We don’t know. The story is told from the .point of view of other who knew him or ran across him, each from their own slant and perspective, some with their own ax to grind.
From the reader’s point of view, we are drawn into what it takes to make a hero among us. Is near perfection required? How much perfection and in how many ways? Is there a darker side to our legends that we tend to overlook because we don’t what to tarnish the shine?
The Legend of Colgan Toomey by Dargan Ware is really a psychological story of how legends are made and perceived, and how we need then as models to admire, look up to, and emulate. It’s a thought provoking book that challenges us to think about our heroes and about ourselves in the process. Well written and highly recommended.
Everyone agrees that Cogan was a hero. That he was someone to look up to and admire. But how did Colgan view himself? We don’t know. The story is told from the .point of view of other who knew him or ran across him, each from their own slant and perspective, some with their own ax to grind.
From the reader’s point of view, we are drawn into what it takes to make a hero among us. Is near perfection required? How much perfection and in how many ways? Is there a darker side to our legends that we tend to overlook because we don’t what to tarnish the shine?
The Legend of Colgan Toomey by Dargan Ware is really a psychological story of how legends are made and perceived, and how we need then as models to admire, look up to, and emulate. It’s a thought provoking book that challenges us to think about our heroes and about ourselves in the process. Well written and highly recommended.
August 11, 2019
BOOK REVIEW...THE LEGEND OF COGLAN TOOMEY
I must say that the pace of the book was gripping and stirred my soul deeply. It is a serious novel that raises many questions about good and evil, heroism, hero worship,
love, social justice, immigration, the Catholic church, the South, and the tragic death
of a young man. The book is written by a cast of characters who each have there
own voice, perspective, attitudes, and their own chapter in the book.
The book makes you realize how chance, opportunity, relationships,
and individual people affect our lives. I love looking back on Toomey’s life
and wondering if he had met different people the whole trajectory of his
life would have been different. His legend has many facets, all of which
are explored with great psychological insight and detail. I will definitely re-read
this book many times. I look forward to trying to understand the twists and
turns of Toomey’s life as I ponder my own life.
November 13, 2019
I deeply enjoyed reading The Legend of Colgan Toomey. I couldn't put it down. I love the shifting of perspective among so many characters. Often that can be confusing, but it works here to give us the full 360 degree view of Colgan. We see the man as even he doesn't see himself.
February 28, 2021
I just finished reading this late last night, and the story pulled me in right away. It starts at a funeral, where Colgan's best friend PJ becomes upset because people are reading off his friend's accomplishments instead of talking about who Colgan was as a person. What drew me in the most was the multiple POV's of people in Colgan's life who talked about how they knew him best, and what he meant to them. The further you get into the book, the more you can see that there is more to this man than his friends and family could ever think of, including some dark incidents that the police attribute to a man even the cartels fear, called "El Colo Loco", and the book takes you to South America, where his adventures with the rebels of El Salvador were said to have ended. But did they? i won't tell. I enjoyed the colorful characters, the witty dialogue, the very real way the characters interact with one another and the sense of wonder and heartbreak that pervades throughout, leading to a shocking ending you will have to read to believe. Fans of mystery will love this!
February 28, 2021
An Extraordinary Life Story
Colman Toomey was larger than life to many in his small town of Kellyville, AL. His life was told by those that knew him before he went to El Salvador with Doctors Without Borders. What is most amazing to me about this book is the way the story is told, through the eyes of those whose lives he touched. There were many unexpected twists in this story, and even the multiple POV shifts did not detract from my love of this amazing bittersweet tale. This is a must read for those that love mysteries that tug at your heartstrings.
Colman Toomey was larger than life to many in his small town of Kellyville, AL. His life was told by those that knew him before he went to El Salvador with Doctors Without Borders. What is most amazing to me about this book is the way the story is told, through the eyes of those whose lives he touched. There were many unexpected twists in this story, and even the multiple POV shifts did not detract from my love of this amazing bittersweet tale. This is a must read for those that love mysteries that tug at your heartstrings.
November 13, 2019
Super interesting and great read
Very good job of interviewing and getting some really cool stories and details. I enjoyed learning about not only the athlete, but exceptional person Colgan was in his life. What fell a little short for me was a few throw away chapters of pieces that didn't seem to fit. Overall, good read.
Very good job of interviewing and getting some really cool stories and details. I enjoyed learning about not only the athlete, but exceptional person Colgan was in his life. What fell a little short for me was a few throw away chapters of pieces that didn't seem to fit. Overall, good read.
November 19, 2019
This story was intriguing, like a giant jigsaw puzzle of a remarkable life. The story unfolds through the reminiscences of a surprising variety of people, and nothing is lost as each adds their line to the melody. I was surprised at the depth of the tale, and the challenging questions it asks about life. I was thoroughly engaged throughout and definitely recommend.
Read
August 22, 2019This book is one of the best reads in a long time. The story is told from so many different personalities. As you read you can picture each person sitting down telling you a story of Colgen Toomey. This is definitely a must read.
December 11, 2020
A difficult read, particularly the first 2/3 of the book. The constant POV changes for each chapter were confusing, and the incorporation of "dead" characters bothered me throughout with the question "How are these people speaking?" The second question of "Why are these people speaking?" began with a eulogy premise that expired in the timeline half-way through the book and never replaced. The plot, revealed in fits and starts, was a simplified quest story, but the way it was told, by people along the journey, made it difficult to follow on a first-read.
The main character had no voice in most of the novel. This made the decisions he was responsible for to seem contrived and, for my part, un-relatable. He was dealt with at arms-length, and I never really cared if he lived or died despite the narrators' universal love for the protagonist. He really seemed to be a selfish jerk, although he did some good; even the "good" he did was tainted by politics and selfishness.
The side stories of the narrators, while perhaps adding some depth for them, often simply filled the space in the chapter with no payoff in plot or character, since we often never see these narrators again; the ones we do see again show, for the most part, no growth at all. Also, the backgrounds of the narrators are different - regions, nations, religions, languages - but by the end of each narrative, they have all generally fallen back to the same voice. The nuance of translated language is lost in the narratives done by non-English-speakers, so that their stories are the least believable.
I wanted to love this book, but in the end, I would not recommend it. Of course, I wouldn't recommend Faulkner's Sound and Fury either, so consider the source :-). I simply was not transported into the story; I was kept at arms-length as well.
The main character had no voice in most of the novel. This made the decisions he was responsible for to seem contrived and, for my part, un-relatable. He was dealt with at arms-length, and I never really cared if he lived or died despite the narrators' universal love for the protagonist. He really seemed to be a selfish jerk, although he did some good; even the "good" he did was tainted by politics and selfishness.
The side stories of the narrators, while perhaps adding some depth for them, often simply filled the space in the chapter with no payoff in plot or character, since we often never see these narrators again; the ones we do see again show, for the most part, no growth at all. Also, the backgrounds of the narrators are different - regions, nations, religions, languages - but by the end of each narrative, they have all generally fallen back to the same voice. The nuance of translated language is lost in the narratives done by non-English-speakers, so that their stories are the least believable.
I wanted to love this book, but in the end, I would not recommend it. Of course, I wouldn't recommend Faulkner's Sound and Fury either, so consider the source :-). I simply was not transported into the story; I was kept at arms-length as well.
September 30, 2026
Welcome to Colgan Toomey’s world
The Legend of Colgan Toomey follows its Alabama namesake’s life through the viewpoints of those who knew him. Accompany Colgan from his Southern roots in childhood and youth to South America as a young man. View the lives touched by his, and the beliefs each one believed about him. His story includes love and loss, triumph and tragedy, principles and perfidy. Share the legend and the adventure.
Enjoy the panorama of Toomey’s life and times. Judge for yourself whether the legend is deserved.
Although there are multiple viewpoints presented, author Dargan Ware avoids “talking head syndrome.” His meticulous storytelling makes everything clear to the reader.
The Legend of Colgan Toomey follows its Alabama namesake’s life through the viewpoints of those who knew him. Accompany Colgan from his Southern roots in childhood and youth to South America as a young man. View the lives touched by his, and the beliefs each one believed about him. His story includes love and loss, triumph and tragedy, principles and perfidy. Share the legend and the adventure.
Enjoy the panorama of Toomey’s life and times. Judge for yourself whether the legend is deserved.
Although there are multiple viewpoints presented, author Dargan Ware avoids “talking head syndrome.” His meticulous storytelling makes everything clear to the reader.
January 26, 2022
The Many Tales of Colgan Toomey
A very unique telling of a story. Really surprised to find a story told in this fashion. It is entirely told from the beginning to the end by the various people that knew Colgan Toomey. That writing style held my attention. Really enjoyed the stone in the lake touching so many with its ripples. Well crafted. Just unique for me to find a story told without the main character saying one word. Enjoyable read.
A very unique telling of a story. Really surprised to find a story told in this fashion. It is entirely told from the beginning to the end by the various people that knew Colgan Toomey. That writing style held my attention. Really enjoyed the stone in the lake touching so many with its ripples. Well crafted. Just unique for me to find a story told without the main character saying one word. Enjoyable read.
January 14, 2024
So I am not going to lie the beginning of this book was kind of slow. After a few chapters, the story really starts to pick up. The story is unique with lots of twists and turns. It makes you question do you know anyone?
August 11, 2019
AN EPIC SOUTHERN TALE OF REDEMPTION
BOOK REVIEW...THE LEGEND OF COGLAN TOOMEY
I must say that the pace of the book was gripping and stirred my soul deeply. It is a
serious novel that raises many questions about good and evil, heroism, hero worship,
love, social justice, immigration, the Catholic church, the South, and the tragic death
of a young man. The book is written by a cast of characters who each have there
own voice, perspective, attitudes, and their own chapter in the book.
The book makes you realize how chance, opportunity, relationships,
and individual people affect our lives. I love looking back on Toomey’s life
and wondering if he had met different people the whole trajectory of his
life would have been different. His legend has many facets, all of which
are explored with great psychological insight and detail. I will definitely re-read
this book many times. I look forward to trying to understand the twists and
turns of Toomey’s life as I ponder my own life.
.
BOOK REVIEW...THE LEGEND OF COGLAN TOOMEY
I must say that the pace of the book was gripping and stirred my soul deeply. It is a
serious novel that raises many questions about good and evil, heroism, hero worship,
love, social justice, immigration, the Catholic church, the South, and the tragic death
of a young man. The book is written by a cast of characters who each have there
own voice, perspective, attitudes, and their own chapter in the book.
The book makes you realize how chance, opportunity, relationships,
and individual people affect our lives. I love looking back on Toomey’s life
and wondering if he had met different people the whole trajectory of his
life would have been different. His legend has many facets, all of which
are explored with great psychological insight and detail. I will definitely re-read
this book many times. I look forward to trying to understand the twists and
turns of Toomey’s life as I ponder my own life.
.
November 9, 2019
It's a story with a complex main character, told from many voices and full of sidebars about college football, high school quizbowl, and U.S. policy in Central America during the late 70s and early 80s. Yet breezy to read in a good way, when you get through one short chapter and then you want to read another, and then one more before you have to get back to a chore or go to bed.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews