Where I Belong: Small Town to Great Big Sea Paperback – October 13, 2015

Mr. Doyle's candid and lowkey writing style make it a joy to get lost in this memoir. Doyle's unabashed delight in his tiny fishing town upbringing (and his impressive narrative skills) make this just a fun read. It's a warm, humane coming-of-age and then out into the great big world (you thought I was going to say 'Sea' didn't ya) memoir that delivers - reminds us that no matter where you wander, home will always be right in your heart. Love it!

The man is a natural-born storyteller. He has a simple knack for entertainment; it shows in his songwriting, his presence in a room, and in this book.It's a really fun look into the humble beginnings of an adored artist. The book is simple, straightforward and well-written. I rarely read biographies, but Alan Doyle paints a warm and friendly picture of an otherwise cold and somewhat unforgiving little town in Newfoundland.If you're interested in Great Big Sea or just Alan himself, I can't recommend this highly enough. You'll be grinning like an idiot at times along with his anecdotes.(The audiobook is also exceptional as it's narrated by Alan. No voice could tell the story better than his own.)

I'm giving this four stars based not so much on the prose style of the author, though he does a fine job of capturing the unique vernacular of his home town, but because of the compelling nature of his working class story, set in an uncommon location, in this case Petty Harbour, Newfoundland. As a musician myself, I empathize with his artistic and creative urge and I became a fan through hearing them on Garth Hudson's Canadian artist covers of The Band's music,. Great Big Sea does a kick-ass version of Knockin' Lost John on Mr. Hudson's album, which is pertinent because Robbie Robertson's lyrics are quite the nice fit with Alan Doyle's own bio. I'm also a lapsed Catholic with a 1960's Midwest and East Coast Catholic schools upbringing replete with intimidation, fear, altar boy service and the common adult- on-child physical and emotional violence. Nonetheless, I found it very upbeat, cheerful and positive and I don't hesitate to recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good yarn, enthusiastically told.

I am from a small town in Kansas, USA, where we did things because that is the way they were always done.Alan Doyle captures the truth of living and being from a small town. Just happens to be from Newfoundland.One quote that I will keep close forever, "But the biggest lesson I learned on the wharf was that a job is not just an assignment or a task. It is something bigger than that. A job is an agreement, a deal you make with someone to do your part right, so everyone else can do theirs. If you don't clean out the boat right, the tired fisherman who just gave you his tongues is going to have to do it. He doesn't need that. He's been up since four in the morning. Far earlier than most, I learned that work does not do itself. What a lesson."I will read and reread parts of this book.Thank you, Alan Doyle.

I love folk music, especially Celtic music. I found Great Big Sea albums at the King County Library in Washington State around 15 years ago. I liked them so much I purchased them all for my own collection.My son and I had several opportunities to take road trips when he was young and we would always have GBS with us. Many times we had a car full of Boy Scouts. You don’t know how often Charlie the Horse was sung on those trips too and from summer camp.Allen Doyle has painted a picture for us. He has related the story of his roots and his life growing up in Petty Harbor. I really enjoyed his stories about the wharf and the business of tongue cutting.I really enjoyed the read and will have to try and down size his mom’s bread recipe.

I've been a huge fan of Great Big Sea for years and I have to say that Alan Doyle is the main reason. Love his voice, energy, positivity and amazing songwriting. This book was very interesting...I liked reading about his background, family and childhood experiences in Newfoundland, all told with sensitivity and humor. Looking forward to more books from him!

what a wonderful book. alan doyle is known as a musician, but he spins a yarn with the best of them. a terrific read. i felt as if i lived in petty harbour, even though i've never been there. colorful, amusing, heartfelt...a small town life, told by a small town boy, who succeeded in life, but chose to stay a humble small town man. instead of leaving it all behind, he chose to embrace it! i love this book! :) the characters are what one might, or might not, expect from a small, isolated fishing village... and mr. doyle brings them to life on the page. highly entertaining...funny, sad, hopeful...i will read this again and again... :)

My husband and I are GBS fans from way back. I've always admired Alan Doyle as the sexy, energetic, sweet-singing front man; even more so, I've admired his songwriting skill. On stage he seems so downright likable. "Where I Belong" shows him to be all that, and more. His storytelling is skillful and engaging. Reading this memoir gave me a great appreciation for the heart and soul of small town life in Newfoundland, before the tragic failure of the cod fishery. This book is a wonderful coming-of-age tale with a happy beginning and a happy ending. A fun read.