Wanda Hickey's Night of Golden Memories : And Other Disasters

Rating:
Summary: This is a great book...will guarantee enjoyment by all.
Review: "Wanda Hickey's Night of Golden Memories" is a story about a young boy that looks back and tells us of all of his childhood memories. I enjoyed this book very much because it brought back some of my own memories. Jean Shepard's humor made each of the tales contained in this book go by so fast. It was easy reading and at the same time very interesting. It is a book that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. The stories were told in the first person and by the end of the book you begin to feel as if you've known the narrator personally. These are all stories that everyone can relate to. I recommend this book to everyone that needs a good laugh.

Rating:
Summary: I recommend this book.
Review: "Wanda Hickey's Night of Golden Memories" is one of the best books that I have enjoyed throughout my whole year of high school. I enjoyed this book becuase I could relate to the situations and scenarios. The story of prom made me reminisce back to my prom experience. Jean Shepard brings back old memories from my childhood through his tales of family outtings and get togethers. The best stories are the stories that the reader can relate to. Jean Shepard is a pure genius through his character of storytelling.

Rating:
Summary: This is a great book...will guarantee enjoyment by all.
Review: "Wanda Hickey's Night of Golden Memories" is a story about a young boy that looks back and tells us of all of his childhood memories. I enjoyed this book very much because it brought back some of my own memories. Jean Shepard's humor made each of the tales contained in this book go by so fast. It was easy reading and at the same time very interesting. It is a book that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. The stories were told in the first person and by the end of the book you begin to feel as if you've known the narrator personally. These are all stories that everyone can relate to. I recommend this book to everyone that needs a good laugh.

Rating:
Summary: I recommend this book.
Review: "Wanda Hickey's Night of Golden Memories" is one of the best books that I have enjoyed throughout my whole year of high school. I enjoyed this book becuase I could relate to the situations and scenarios. The story of prom made me reminisce back to my prom experience. Jean Shepard brings back old memories from my childhood through his tales of family outtings and get togethers. The best stories are the stories that the reader can relate to. Jean Shepard is a pure genius through his character of storytelling.

Rating:
Summary: A clever, fun to read novel with vivid detail.
Review: A fluid novel that is easy to read and fun at the same time. The stories are well described and the detail truly draws the reader into Shepard's '30s universe.

Rating:
Summary: An entertaining book but little more
Review: A funny series of stories told through the use of exageration and comedic situations. the humor keeps you turning the pages. it is a good Saturday afternoon book, but do not try to analyze the book. It is superficial, but that is what makes it entertaining. Although somewhat shallow, it will hold your attention and might make you laugh.

Rating:
Summary: Hohman, Indiana revisited.
Review: After reading the hilarious "In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash" by Jean Shepherd, there was no doubt I had to read this gifted humorist's other books (fortunately, my local library carries them all). "Wanda Hickey's Night of Golden Memories: And Other Disasters" is a collection of short stories which further chronicle the growing-up years of Shepherd's alter ego in the mythical town of Hohman, Indiana along with Ma, the Old Man, and the ever-whining kid brother Randy. Our boy hero from "In God We Trust" is now a teenager, complete with puberty and dating. Only men can understand and identify with Shepherd's rich descriptions of falling head-over-heels for a girl, mustering enough courage to ask her out, and painstakingly preparing for "the big night", including the mishaps that accompany the whole process. In addition to memories of long-lost loves, Shepherd gives us the complete, unexpurgated story of the Bumpuses, those hillbilly neighbors whose 700-plus dogs were profiled in the motion picture "A Christmas Story". The reader is also treated to a day at the county fair and the family's yearly fishing trip. One short story in "Wanda Hickey's" actually takes place in the present, when our hero (now a grown man living in New York) receives a package from his mother one Christmas; what the package contains I will not reveal. Once again, Shepherd does an outstanding job blending "good ol' days" nostalgia with poignant satire; well-known staples of 1930s and '40s Americana become hopelessly pedestrian in his hands. Even the avant-garde, art-film culture of today's big city does not escape the satirist's wrath. Now that I have obviously recommended this book, it is time for me to move on to the next Jean Shepherd offering: "A Fistful of Fig Newtons".

Rating:
Summary: Hohman, Indiana revisited.
Review: After reading the hilarious "In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash" by Jean Shepherd, there was no doubt I had to read this gifted humorist's other books (fortunately, my local library carries them all). "Wanda Hickey's Night of Golden Memories: And Other Disasters" is a collection of short stories which further chronicle the growing-up years of Shepherd's alter ego in the mythical town of Hohman, Indiana along with Ma, the Old Man, and the ever-whining kid brother Randy. Our boy hero from "In God We Trust" is now a teenager, complete with puberty and dating. Only men can understand and identify with Shepherd's rich descriptions of falling head-over-heels for a girl, mustering enough courage to ask her out, and painstakingly preparing for "the big night", including the mishaps that accompany the whole process. In addition to memories of long-lost loves, Shepherd gives us the complete, unexpurgated story of the Bumpuses, those hillbilly neighbors whose 700-plus dogs were profiled in the motion picture "A Christmas Story". The reader is also treated to a day at the county fair and the family's yearly fishing trip. One short story in "Wanda Hickey's" actually takes place in the present, when our hero (now a grown man living in New York) receives a package from his mother one Christmas; what the package contains I will not reveal. Once again, Shepherd does an outstanding job blending "good ol' days" nostalgia with poignant satire; well-known staples of 1930s and '40s Americana become hopelessly pedestrian in his hands. Even the avant-garde, art-film culture of today's big city does not escape the satirist's wrath. Now that I have obviously recommended this book, it is time for me to move on to the next Jean Shepherd offering: "A Fistful of Fig Newtons".

Rating:
Summary: Give it to the High School Student on your list -
Review: And watch them live it this spring. I was introduced to this book by my High School English teacher 30 years ago. It was hilarous then. I have just given it to my own 16 year old son in gleeful anticipation of him living the prom ritual this year.

Rating:
Summary: This book is full of wonderful charm
Review: As a child living in a small town back home in Eckman West Virginia we did not have the opportunity to read the works of Mr.Shepherd.How ever as a adult my first introduction to the works of Mr.Shepherd was with the movie A Christmas Story. Since then my family and I watched the movie a numerous amount of times. The characters in Wanda Hickey is so wonderful, and it remind me of the days at Eckman Elementary school, and Prom night at good old Kimball Jr. High.I have went on to read a fistful of fig newtons, and would love to be able read any other works by Mr.Shepherd.It would a honor to meet Mr.Shepherd to thank him for the joy he has given myself aand family through his wonderful writings.