Indelible characters who I sobbed over reading this story. ( )

Great characters with a bit of mystery. ( )

Shoe Horn is a 17-year-old plumber's apprentice. His brother, Bobby, is "special." For those that love him, Bobby's eccentricities can be overlooked and his joy of living appreciated, but the rest of the world is cruel to him, including Mr. Horn, his father. Shoe supports his brother and father by plumbing and boxing, that latter the source of neighborhood rivalries. He also discovers the allure of girls, starting with smells and touches reminiscent of his deceased mother but becoming much more.

McLarty says that "The Dropper" is his most personal book to date, developing the story from the life of his father growing up in Barrow-in-Furness before leaving for the U.S. Knowing that the story of Shoe Horn was based on McLarty's own family makes the read even more precious.

McLarty is someone you would recognize if you have ever watched TV. He's played lawyers, cops, detectives, never the main character by always a strong supporting cast. I had overlooked him many times on the screen, but I fell in love with his writing and voice while listening to "The Memory of Running," a book I have listened multiple times.

The story of "Running" was compelling, but it was McLarty's narration brought it to life. The same is true for this audible.com recording; the narration by the author is spot on. I'm sure aficionados will take exception with his accents as they are wont to do. The rhythms of the language and the portrayal of the characters reminded me of all the best things of the "Running" narration. That is not to say, though, that the stories are the same. The two books had family and mental disability in common, but Shoe and Smithson are nothing alike. Shoe is mostly a likable character, but he has some flaws that are troubling, and it is important to keep in mind that he is only 17. ( )