St. Regis native releases novel about his life
<p>"The Long Escape" is a novel about Jeff Noonan's time growing up in St. Regis and the challenges and trials he faced.</p>
Former President of the Mineral County Chamber of Commerce and Chairman of the St. Regis Community Council Jeff Noonan released a novel that documents his life growing up in the town and the trials and tribulations he dealt with along the way.
The novel, entitled “The Long Escape” is available for purchase and Noonan will be in Missoula at Hastings bookstore on Sat. May 5 to sign copies and visit with the public.
Noonan was raised in St. Regis and the book documents his struggles dealing with his father, a former boxer, who in the early 1950s became an abusive alcoholic who beat his mother and younger siblings.
“In desperation, Jeff resorted to digging hidden bunkers where the family could hide when they were attacked,” a press release for the book reads. “Life became a daily struggle, both physically and financially,”
Noonan was the oldest of eight children, which placed him at the forefront of the fight for his family’s safety. After dropping out of high school, Noonan worked wherever he could and used the money to feed and support his family.
As the story of his life unfolds, Noonan details his time in the U.S. Navy and Army – where he had experiences ranging from love affairs in the Pacific Islands to Hong Kong bar battles.
But as Noonan himself says, at the heart of the book is his conflict with his father.
“I would return to Montana periodically in an attempt to protect my family,” Noonan said. “The book follows these efforts for about a 14-year period leading up to a time where I finally realized some degree of success with the help of two teenage brothers. Coming from an abusive home, you ultimately have to learn how to grow from it as life progresses.”