In God We Trust : All Others Pay Cash

Rating:
Summary: Skip the book!
Review: "A Christmas Story" is one of my favorite holiday films, so I expected to enjoy the book that inspired it. Instead, I hated "In God We Trust."

Shepherd's writing is devoid of rhythm or beauty. The sentences, bogged down with far too many adjectives, limp along like bits of a fourth-grade theme paper.

Shepherd is a hateful, bitter man. Slurs and offensive characterizations pepper the book and poison any of the sweetness that can be found in the movie version. There's plenty of hoary, old man humor about alcoholism and drunkenness too, the kind that better writers abandoned sometime in the early sixties.

Reading this book felt like being cornered by a drunken, unwashed, polyester-clad uncle at a holiday party. One feels polluted afterward. If there were a way to cleanse, or even excise the brain cells that hold my memory of this book, I would.

Rating:
Summary: Journey back to innocence
Review: A book that captures the essence of childhood and will bring a smile to your face as you recognize your own days of naivity. For anyone who was a fan of Wonder Years or A Christmas Story, this book is a must. Enjoy.

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Summary: Stories that inspired "A Christmas Story"
Review: A marvelous, nostalgic and funny series of short stories by writer/humorist/radio star Jean Sheperd. Many of these stories appeared originally in Playboy magazine, and later combined to generate the plot of the classic Christmas movie "A Christmas Story." Sheperd's unique powers of description are unparalleled, and sometimes serve to hide the subtle satire that he employs, using tall tales of his childhood in Depression-Era Indiana to jab at our own modern society. And for anyone in the Northeast who grew up listening to Sheperd's nightly radio program on WOR, reading these stories again will bring you to yet another level of nostalgia.

Rating:
Summary: In God We Trust. All Others Pay Cash
Review: After seeing "Ollie Hopnoddle's Haven of Bliss" on PBS T.V. several years ago, I thought back on Jean Sheppard and his radio show Jean Sheppard's America. Then I faintly remembered his work in Car & Driver back in the late '70's. This was after he left WOR radio I guess? The Christmas Story and other works he did on PBS still bring back memories of growing up in the midwest in the 50's. Then I bought the two Sheppard books and have my 12 year old daughter experiencing the joy of Jean Sheppard. His death recently is a loss to all of us who grew up in the inocent years.

Rating:
Summary: Delicious satire covered in rich nostalgia.
Review: As I suspect has been the case with other younger adults of my generation, I first became familiar with the works of humorist Jean Shepherd after watching the delightful 1983 motion picture "A Christmas Story" (reviewed elsewhere in this catalog). It would take some time before I finally decided to read "In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash", which the movie was partly based on. Those of us who enjoyed Shepherd's side-splitting narration in "A Christmas Story" will not be disappointed by the book, although the movie is more upbeat and lacking the book's satire. The premise of "In God We Trust" is simple: New York-based writer Ralph Parker is back in his mythical hometown of Hohman, Indiana to write an article on this blue-collar Midwestern town for a magazine. Between drinks at his old friend Flick's tavern, Ralph reminisces on his childhood experiences in Hohman during the Depression and the colorful characters who were so much a part of the town. Throughout the book, Shepherd uses masterful similes and metaphors in describing the most basic aspects of life during Ralph's younger years. The book is funny indeed, and there is enough satire in the nostalgic references to disqualify Hohman from becoming a Norman Rockwell painting. There is also a feeling of pathos in Shepherd's brand of satire, as Ralph describes the drab experience of living in a town surrounded by pollution-spewing steel mills and oil refineries, a town where there is not much of a future unless you own a bar or used-car lot or work in one of the nearby industries. The denizens of Hohman do find moments of respite from the drabness during Christmas, the Fourth of July, the Thanksgiving Day parade, or a trip to the movies, often with hilarious consequences. After reading the highly enjoyable "In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash", I can understand how Jean Shepherd earned his reputation as a master satirist and raconteur.

Rating:
Summary: Delicious satire covered in rich nostalgia.
Review: As I suspect has been the case with other younger adults of my generation, I first became familiar with the works of humorist Jean Shepherd after watching the delightful 1983 motion picture "A Christmas Story" (reviewed elsewhere in this catalog). It would take some time before I finally decided to read "In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash", which the movie was partly based on. Those of us who enjoyed Shepherd's side-splitting narration in "A Christmas Story" will not be disappointed by the book, although the movie is more upbeat and lacking the book's satire. The premise of "In God We Trust" is simple: New York-based writer Ralph Parker is back in his mythical hometown of Hohman, Indiana to write an article on this blue-collar Midwestern town for a magazine. Between drinks at his old friend Flick's tavern, Ralph reminisces on his childhood experiences in Hohman during the Depression and the colorful characters who were so much a part of the town. Throughout the book, Shepherd uses masterful similes and metaphors in describing the most basic aspects of life during Ralph's younger years. The book is funny indeed, and there is enough satire in the nostalgic references to disqualify Hohman from becoming a Norman Rockwell painting. There is also a feeling of pathos in Shepherd's brand of satire, as Ralph describes the drab experience of living in a town surrounded by pollution-spewing steel mills and oil refineries, a town where there is not much of a future unless you own a bar or used-car lot or work in one of the nearby industries. The denizens of Hohman do find moments of respite from the drabness during Christmas, the Fourth of July, the Thanksgiving Day parade, or a trip to the movies, often with hilarious consequences. After reading the highly enjoyable "In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash", I can understand how Jean Shepherd earned his reputation as a master satirist and raconteur.

Rating:
Summary: A wonderful journey for the entire family.
Review: Brenda/Jasmine/Jarenda Foster September 27,1998 [e-mail]++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ During the holiday season Turner Network did movie marathon on the movie A christmas Story,it was the first time we were introduced to the wonderful works of Jean Shepherd, watching the movie reminded me of my life as a child in a small town in Eckman West Vurginia, population less tha 300. What a treat for the spirit, Christmas glorious christmas, ahh what a wonderful time of the year. The anual trip to the company store to see the new display, to the conversations about what we were going to receive as well give for presents. Chirstmas time like in the movie was a delight for all, to enjoy. Having the opportunity to read the book and see the movies,it just a pleasure and a delight for my entire family. We have also read Wanda Hickeys Night Of Golden Dreams And other Disasters, and are in the process of buying A Ferrari In The Bedroom, with much delght we hope have the complete writings of Jean Shepherd, this man is a wonderful treasuse indeed. The most wonderful actor Darren McGavin who plays the father in the movie is truely a delight as well as Melinda Dillion and Peter Bellingsley all were just the best. My favorite actor is of course Darren McGavin and would love to know just where are both Mr.Shepherd and Mr.McGavin are and are there any new projects for the two of them together or seperately.Thank you from our family to both the writer and to my favorite actor.

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Summary: Rare Gen-X'er who LOVES this book!
Review: Ever since I saw the movie "A Christmas Story" for the first time on TNT I fell in love with the eloquent writing of Jean Shepherd. The book "In God We Trust; All Others Pay Cash" is the funniest and most clever of all of the books I have ever read. For all of you twenty-year-olds who think this book is just another 50's boring sock hop cheesy story, think again. This book will have you on the floor in convulsions because of the non-stop laughter. BUY THIS BOOK :)

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Summary: Memoirs of a kinder gentler humor.
Review: Every Christmas season, I'm reminded of the work of Jean Shepherd when the movie A Christmas Sotry airs on TV. A funny, likeable movie on its own , it always brings me back to my childhood in the 60's, sitting on the edge of my bed with my father, listening nightly to Mr Shepherd's wonderful monologues on WOR radio in NY. In God We Trust.. is a compliation of some of the hundreds of storys told by Shepherd during his radio days. Highly recommended, it will make you laugh out loud and should have special memories for those 'boomers' from the NY area whe grew up listening to this funny funny man.

Rating:
Summary: A Classic for Kids and Adults
Review: I have always been a fan of the movie "A Christmas Story," and I can't even remember where or when I heard that it was based on Jean Shepherd's "In God We Trust All Others Pay Cash," but I do remember that rushed to the bookstore I work at (on my day off) and ordered in 10 copies. I read the book the night it came in and sold the remaining 9 copies the next day. I repeat this ritual every year adding more copies to my order each and every time. This book simply fantastic and I have never heard anyone say they didn't like it. The irony of Sheperd's narrative combined with the memories of childhood make a perfect post-Christmas read. No one can re-tell events as well as Shepherd except for maybe David Sedaris (Naked, Barrel Fever).
I usually cringe when books are made into movies, yet this story is so great that nothing could do it injustice.
I can't praise this book enough. Set in midwest during the depression, Shepherd shows that although times were tough, families were still families. This book is sometimes painfully, yet comically real, and I can't say that any other book has made me want to be as kid again - nor make me want to have a family - as much as Shepherd's.