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Publisher:
Booklocker.com |
Release
Date: June 2004 |
ISBN:
0975351028 |
Awards:
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Format
Reviewed: Paperback |
Buy
it at Amazon |
Read
an Excerpt |
Genre:
Genre: fiction / short story |
Reviewed:
2004 |
Reviewer:
Patricia Aliventi |
Reviewer
Notes: |
Copyright
MyShelf.com |
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Caught Dead & Other Catastrophes
By T.G. Browning
Author
T.G. Browning, while traveling with his family through Oregon once
remarked that he wouldn't be "caught dead" in the little
town of Toledo. He then humorously recounts the story of how he
ended up living there. This is just one of life's little ironies
which Browning manages to capture in his book "Caught Dead
and Other Catastrophes".
Browning
has assembled here a series of short stories written over several
years recounting various events in his life in a tone best described
as "black humor". The book is entertaining and brought
a smile to my face as I read through the various tales spanning
what seems like a lifetime. I could relate to tales such as the
eccentricities of one's family, the odd personalities of coaches
and teachers in school, growing up and suffering through the trials
and tribulations of the various part-time jobs, and home ownership.
Have you ever had a house that pretty much drank in the paint so
that you spent most of your summer trying to paint it? Browning
tells this story of his and his wife's attempt at house painting
in such a way I could picture the young couple as I read it. At
the time, I am sure it was not funny to them, but he's written the
tale with the perspective of the intervening years in the same way
I often find myself telling my family "we'll laugh at this
in a few years
"
The
illustrations are simple but cute, and each story has its own illustration
showing a part of the tale. Many times they elicit and additional
chuckle. I enjoyed the book quite a bit. Browning has a terrific
sense of humor about life and sounds like quite a character to be
around, what with the stalking killer luggage and being under surveillance
by the Salvation Army.
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