Indians In the Arborvitae

Rating:
Summary: The Fundys, May Their Tribe Increase
Review: Michael Fedo's "Indians in the Arborvitae" is an engaging, offbeat romp of a novel. It features a pair of main characters calculated to win your heart: the Fundys, father and son. Richard, the son--usually referred to by Elwood, the father, as "Dickie"--is a 43-year-old schoolteacher suffering from a sort of generalized low-grade malaise("Heartsick--lack of succor" is how he describes it on the absence report he files with the school secretary). Divorced and at loose ends, Richard lives at home with his father and sleeps in his boyhood bedroom. The school he teaches at is named after Button Gwinnett, probably the least distinguished signer of the U.S. Declaration of Independence, and Richard scores points with his principal by writing and delivering a speech to local bigwigs that elevates Gwinnett and thereby the school. Elwood, for his part, is a pistol. He fancies that Native Americans are spying on him from the bushes surrounding the house and keeps after "Dickie" to remove the bushes. It is the relationship between the two men--and the surprising denouement regarding it--that provides the framework for the book. There are any number of funny scenes in the book. In one, a group of old ladies takes lessons in how to "get down" from a legendary black blues guitarist named "Honey Doo." In another, Richard finds himself entered in a "ferret-legging" competition in a local bar, with potentially disastrous consequences for his lower anatomy. This is a novel about love and life and getting by, and reading it is a whole lot of fun. I suggest you give it a try.

Rating:
Summary: The Fundys, May Their Tribe Increase
Review: Michael Fedo's "Indians in the Arborvitae" is an engaging, offbeat romp of a novel. It features a pair of main characters calculated to win your heart: the Fundys, father and son. Richard, the son--usually referred to by Elwood, the father, as "Dickie"--is a 43-year-old schoolteacher suffering from a sort of generalized low-grade malaise("Heartsick--lack of succor" is how he describes it on the absence report he files with the school secretary). Divorced and at loose ends, Richard lives at home with his father and sleeps in his boyhood bedroom. The school he teaches at is named after Button Gwinnett, probably the least distinguished signer of the U.S. Declaration of Independence, and Richard scores points with his principal by writing and delivering a speech to local bigwigs that elevates Gwinnett and thereby the school. Elwood, for his part, is a pistol. He fancies that Native Americans are spying on him from the bushes surrounding the house and keeps after "Dickie" to remove the bushes. It is the relationship between the two men--and the surprising denouement regarding it--that provides the framework for the book. There are any number of funny scenes in the book. In one, a group of old ladies takes lessons in how to "get down" from a legendary black blues guitarist named "Honey Doo." In another, Richard finds himself entered in a "ferret-legging" competition in a local bar, with potentially disastrous consequences for his lower anatomy. This is a novel about love and life and getting by, and reading it is a whole lot of fun. I suggest you give it a try.

Rating:
Summary: Indians? What Indians
Review: Richard Fundy is 43 years old. His life and spirit are in disarray brought on by a recent divorce and losing his long time job as a claims adjuster. Forced to change careers he becomes a high school teacher of American Studies. Life is so joyless he submits "heartsick - lack of succor" as the reason for a day's absence.

Moving back in with his father Elwood further compounds his misery. He doesn't understand Elwood's behavior such as his firing a shotgun into the bushes surrounding the house believing Indians are spying on him.

Ironically, Elwood's bizarre and eccentric behavior does have enviable and desirable traits. In pursuit of intellectual companions and stimulation his social hangout has a jukebox that plays poetry and classical music. He's fun loving, brutally honest and doesn't kowtow to social norms; pretty much "does his own thing" in accepting life on its terms. What he does and says and Richard's reactions create some very funny situations that show the difference between the two characters. Richard is frustrated, discouraged and ready to throw in the hand life dealt him. Elwood with unbridled enthusiasm and irreverence plays the hand he's been dealt.

I liked the book for the contrast of the two and the humorous dialogue and situations. The book is unpredictable. In fact, a big surprise at the end lends more credibility to Elwood's "normalcy". Throughout the book we see him as quirky, odd, socially out-of-place, outspoken and insensitive. But, we get to see him wear his heart on his sleeve and share "normal" feelings of love, heartbreak, and sadness.

From the beginning the book is chock full of laughs and chuckles which I attribute to Fedo's gifted creativity in his use of words and word pictures.

Rating:
Summary: Indians? What Indians
Review: Richard Fundy is 43 years old. His life and spirit are in disarray brought on by a recent divorce and losing his long time job as a claims adjuster. Forced to change careers he becomes a high school teacher of American Studies. Life is so joyless he submits "heartsick - lack of succor" as the reason for a day's absence.

Moving back in with his father Elwood further compounds his misery. He doesn't understand Elwood's behavior such as his firing a shotgun into the bushes surrounding the house believing Indians are spying on him.

Ironically, Elwood's bizarre and eccentric behavior does have enviable and desirable traits. In pursuit of intellectual companions and stimulation his social hangout has a jukebox that plays poetry and classical music. He's fun loving, brutally honest and doesn't kowtow to social norms; pretty much "does his own thing" in accepting life on its terms. What he does and says and Richard's reactions create some very funny situations that show the difference between the two characters. Richard is frustrated, discouraged and ready to throw in the hand life dealt him. Elwood with unbridled enthusiasm and irreverence plays the hand he's been dealt.

I liked the book for the contrast of the two and the humorous dialogue and situations. The book is unpredictable. In fact, a big surprise at the end lends more credibility to Elwood's "normalcy". Throughout the book we see him as quirky, odd, socially out-of-place, outspoken and insensitive. But, we get to see him wear his heart on his sleeve and share "normal" feelings of love, heartbreak, and sadness.

From the beginning the book is chock full of laughs and chuckles which I attribute to Fedo's gifted creativity in his use of words and word pictures.

Rating:
Summary: Non-stop laughs
Review: Richard Fundy was a 43 year old man who had lost his wife, as well as, his job as a claims adjuster. He applied for a teaching position at Button Gwinnet Senior High School back in his hometown. The principal hired Richard because Richard had been the only applicant who knew who Button Gwinnet had been in history.

Richard moved back in with his father and began teaching American Studies. However, Richard felt as though his life was going down the drain. His father, Elwood, thought that Indians were spying on him from the arborvitae, just waiting for a chance to rob him.

Luther Burgess-Durfee had been a friend back in high school with Richard. He was on sabbatical and ended up spending much time with Richard and Elwood. Elwood was always getting them into trouble, such as stealing apples from a cop's yard. Richard was kept busy trying to look out for his dad, but Luther was fascinated by Elwood and edged him on. Would it never get any better?

***** This book is non-stop laughs! Author Michael Fedo has written a tale that is sure to please. Fans of Jeff Strand should especially take note of this writer. I found myself staying up late into the night just to see what wacky thing would happen next. Recommended for all ages! *****

Rating:
Summary: Fitting Fedo
Review: You never know what you're going to get with Michael Fedo's fiction-I've been publishing his short pieces for years-and that's why he's a joy to read. Put another way, you CAN expect his writing to be quirky, subtle, enlightening, humorous and at times even outrageous. "Indians" is all of that and more.