Wanda Hickey’s Night of Golden Memories and Other Diasters by Jean Shepard
by Jenners • 07/24/2009 • 4.5 Stars, Humor, Memoir, S Authors, W Titles • 8 Comments
My Favorite Reads is hosted by Alyce at At Home With Books.The idea is to write about some favorite books
that you read before you started blogging!
Wanda Hickey’s Night of Golden Memories and Other Disasters
by Jean Shepard
The Book Description
Amazon.com Review: For that small but populous slice of the world reachable by radio station WOR (New York City and environs), Jean Shepherd was once a nightly fixture, back in the days when radio talk didn’t shock. On the air, he would tell tales of his Indiana boyhood, which he eventually refined enough to write down. Wanda Hickey’s Night of Golden Memories collects the stories that first appeared in magazines in the 1960s and ’70s. For that slightly larger slice of the world that has seen the hysterical 1983 movie A Christmas Story, the book’s characters and setting will be instantly recognizable: the film was cobbled together from Shepherd’s stories. (One thing you have to say for the man, not only was he funny, but boy, could he recycle.)
Wanda Hickey’s Night of Golden Memories guides you through every triumph and crisis of Shepherd’s boyhood. One of the most entertaining involved the hijacking of the family’s precious Easter ham:
BLAM!
The kitchen door flew open. It had been left ajar just a crack to let the air come in to cool the ham.
I rushed to the kitchen just in time to see 4,293 blue-ticked Bumpus hounds roar through the screen door in a great, roiling mob. The leader of the pack–the one that almost got my old man every day–leaped high onto the table and grabbed the butt end of the ham in his enormous jaws. They were in and out in less than five seconds.
“HOLY CHRIST!” The old man leaped out of his chair.
“THE HAM! THE HAM! THOSE GODDAMN DOGS! THE HAM!!”
They say comedy is tragedy plus time; that’s why growing up is so funny. Wanda Hickey’s Night of Golden Memories–like its author–never disappoints.
What I Say
This was a book my father turned me on to when I was a child. He was a huge fan of Jean Shepard’s radio show and thought the books were hilarious. When I read them, I thought they were hilarious too. I think the Amazon.com review does a brilliant job of capturing the essence of the book. These are stories from a happy (if accident-prone) childhood in the American Midwest. The stories are about simple things — a first date, a county fair, the neighbors next door, a family vacation — but in Shepard’s hands, the ordinary events of childhood are turned into tall tales of comic mischief, amazing feats of cowardice and a memorably foul-mouthed father. A most enjoyable, hilarious read that will have you smiling, laughing and snorting throughout.
A Brief Note About Covers Used In These Posts: For the cover at the top of the post, I always try to find the cover that I remember the book having because it is this version that I feel the most attached to. Unfortunately, many of these books are not available with these covers anymore, which kind of makes me sad. Whenever I create my Amazon link, I’m often saddened to find that “my cover” isn’t available. Do you ever feel this way about books you’ve enjoyed?
This book is Shepherd at his best. It goes way beyond what was featured in The Christmas Story. Humorous and insightful, particularly when relating adolescent romance. I re-read Wanda every few years to help keep me grounded. Shepherd deserves the praise he's received as the "Mark Twain of the 20th century"
I am definitely that way about books. I get attached to certain copies and when I read them and a different copy doesn't feel "the same." I know it's completely illogical, but that's the way I am.
This book sounds magical. I'm sure the fact that you shared it with your father adds to the magic for you.
Re: book covers. I understand authors have no say whatsoever in the choice of covers for their books. I think if I ever got to the point that I were a sought-after author, I would have my contract include that I would have the right to choose the cover, or design it myself. Maybe because I am an artist, covers are important to me. I've purchased books solely on the cover art and/or title without knowing anything else about them.
Tales of comic mischief, I'm there! Shepard provides a fun roller coaster ride through some childhood antics for the reader. I agree with you about book covers. I hate when they change a good thing.
When I saw the words "Jean Shepard" in my reader I had to immediately click on your blog. I love him! He is freakin' hysterical!
My dad grew up listening to him on WOR; he's from Elizabeth.
We watch the 24-hour marathon as well; for Christmas one year, I gave Sister Kitten the 25th anniversary DVD, complete with Ralphie bobblehead and a mini Red Ryder BB gun.
And finally, I feel the same way you do about book covers. I grew up with 70s era covers and am always so psyched when I find 'em in a used book store.
I'm going to have to tell my husband about this book – he loves A Christmas Story. We watch the 24-hour marathon of the movie every year, so I recognize the Bumpus dogs.
I know I would enjoy reading it too (maybe around Christmas time as a treat for myself).
I feel that way about the covers of books that I've really grown attached to, but not so much about books that I've just bought (which I guess makes sense). Sometimes after purchasing a used book and then finding a different cover on amazon I'm a little disappointed with the cover that I got (especially if mine has a big coffee ring on it or something – although I try to buy books that aren't damaged).
There's always something to be said for a book that makes you snort!