In this classic children's tale, a pair of boys growing up in small town America find "innocent" trouble and make mischief. Actually, it's more like a collection of short stories - vignettes of days gone by (the stories take place in the 1930s).
I'd never read any of the Soup series of books, and picked up this audiobook for some car time. Narrated by Norman Dietz, the book felt like your favorite grandpa telling you about his childhood: rolling down the hill in an apple barrel, getting in trouble at school, having a crush on that one cute girl.
For those who haven't read this series, "Soup" is the narrator's best friend (who doesn't like his real name and at threat of violence, no one calls him Luther), and the narrator is Rob. Soup's the mastermind behind all kinds of hijinks, and Rob's usually the action man. I'd say the series is on par as a boy-oriented alternative to the Little House on the Prairie books.
Showing posts with label nostalgia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label nostalgia. Show all posts
Sunday, April 6, 2014
Monday, February 17, 2014
Little Elvises by Timothy Hallinan
When a "connected" music producer needs help proving he didn't commit murder, he's certainly not going to call in the cops. But Junior Bender is a burglar with a heart of gold, and he's just the kind of guy to help a crook prove he isn't crooked.
This is the second book in the Junior Bender mystery series (the fourth is coming out in July). I'm enjoying the series because Junior is a great character: a reluctant private investigator for the seedy underside while trying hard to be a good dad to his precocious preteen, he's intelligent and essentially good ... yet also operating a bit south of the law.
For example, in this book he's being blackmailed into helping with the murder, but he's also helping his landlady look for her missing adult daughter. That investigation he's doing just because it's the right thing to do, and maybe he can help. It's not fun or easy (and he's already busy), but he can't just walk away.
Additionally, I'm a sucker for anything related to rock and roll, and this one's based on the true-life phenomena of post-Elvis pre-Beatles crooners that scars rock history.
This is the second book in the Junior Bender mystery series (the fourth is coming out in July). I'm enjoying the series because Junior is a great character: a reluctant private investigator for the seedy underside while trying hard to be a good dad to his precocious preteen, he's intelligent and essentially good ... yet also operating a bit south of the law.
For example, in this book he's being blackmailed into helping with the murder, but he's also helping his landlady look for her missing adult daughter. That investigation he's doing just because it's the right thing to do, and maybe he can help. It's not fun or easy (and he's already busy), but he can't just walk away.
Additionally, I'm a sucker for anything related to rock and roll, and this one's based on the true-life phenomena of post-Elvis pre-Beatles crooners that scars rock history.
Monday, March 18, 2013
The Wilder Life: My Adventures in the Lost World of Little House on the Prairie by Wendy McClure
Remember how much you loved the Little House books when you were a kid? (You TV-show fans can shove off about now. It's not the same.) How you wanted to have Laura as a friend and lived the pioneer life vicariously through her adventures? I do, and McClure does too.
While indulging her Laura-obsession in ways such as purchasing a coffee grinder to make "The Long Winter" bread and travelling the Midwest visiting museum sites, McClure also does both personal soul searching and critical, academic analysis to figure out why the Little House meant so much to her (and many, many of us). Her insights on American Girl is enlightening, and her philosophy of "Laura World" made so, so much sense to me.
The book is both hilarious and thoughtful, and in the end you have to give major props to McClure's boyfriend Chris (to whom the book is dedicated) for his patience, sense of humor, and even enthusiasm about the whole project.
I cannot recommend this book too highly - especially if you were ever a child pioneer, living in a sod house through the illustrations of Garth Williams.
While indulging her Laura-obsession in ways such as purchasing a coffee grinder to make "The Long Winter" bread and travelling the Midwest visiting museum sites, McClure also does both personal soul searching and critical, academic analysis to figure out why the Little House meant so much to her (and many, many of us). Her insights on American Girl is enlightening, and her philosophy of "Laura World" made so, so much sense to me.
The book is both hilarious and thoughtful, and in the end you have to give major props to McClure's boyfriend Chris (to whom the book is dedicated) for his patience, sense of humor, and even enthusiasm about the whole project.
I cannot recommend this book too highly - especially if you were ever a child pioneer, living in a sod house through the illustrations of Garth Williams.
Monday, August 17, 2009
You Are a Miserable Excuse for a Hero by Bob Powers
Remember those "choose-your-own-adventure" books from the early 1980's? This is an adult version, intended for thirty-somethings with a dark sense of humor and a broad swath of nostalgia.
At the story's start, you're an unsuccessful actor woken up by the telephone. A voice tells you the girl you went on a first date with last night has been kidnapped, and since you're the only person she knows in town ... it's up to you to save her.
At every turn you are given the chance to do the right thing or to be a loser. It's your choice: Do you roll over and go back to bed? Or do you get up and try to help? Do you ask your parents for money, or visit an old college friend with money? Or do you get sidetracked by your ex, and end up in bed with her?
It's a cheesy, kinda lame book. Exactly like the ones from childhood. I'd forgotten just how unsatisfying the storyline always was with these books once you'd make your choice. There's never a plan C option - damn it! I want another option!
It's a fun book, and perfect for pick-up-and-put-down reading. The storylines are dark and hilarious. Just the kind of grown-up nostalgia trip you need sometimes.
At the story's start, you're an unsuccessful actor woken up by the telephone. A voice tells you the girl you went on a first date with last night has been kidnapped, and since you're the only person she knows in town ... it's up to you to save her.
At every turn you are given the chance to do the right thing or to be a loser. It's your choice: Do you roll over and go back to bed? Or do you get up and try to help? Do you ask your parents for money, or visit an old college friend with money? Or do you get sidetracked by your ex, and end up in bed with her?
It's a cheesy, kinda lame book. Exactly like the ones from childhood. I'd forgotten just how unsatisfying the storyline always was with these books once you'd make your choice. There's never a plan C option - damn it! I want another option!
It's a fun book, and perfect for pick-up-and-put-down reading. The storylines are dark and hilarious. Just the kind of grown-up nostalgia trip you need sometimes.
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