Customer Reviews

A Fistful of Fig Newtons

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Only the fertile mind of humorist Jean Shepherd could have thought of it. His Hoosier alter ego Ralph Parker reminisces on past events in his life once again, but this time against the backdrop of a rush-hour traffic jam in the famed Lincoln Tunnel connecting New York and New Jersey. In "A Fistful of Fig Newtons", Ralph's memories are not limited to any particular period in his life, as was the case with "In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash" (childhood) and "Wanda Hickey's Night of Golden Memories: And Other Disasters" (adolescence). Rather, he spans a wider field including summer camp, his first day of high school, Army life, and college. The reader will also enjoy a "critique" of the legendary Johnson Smith novelty catalog plus an amusing look at New Jersey. While still very witty and entertaining so as to earn a 9, "A Fistful of Fig Newtons" is more caustic and saltier than Shepherd's previous two books, mainly when Ralph's adult life is profiled. This book holds its own well as a work by a master satirist. Coming soon, my review of the fourth and last installment in the "tetralogy" of Shepherd books: "The Ferrari in the Bedroom".

Four stars out of five? By what standard? Well, anything by Shepherd is a five star read, but when judged against "In God We Trust" and "Wanda Hickey", "A Fistful of Fig Newtons" doesn't quite rise to his own very high standards. Still, don't let this turn you off to this fine little book. While the stories (some are really essays) are not as consistantly good as some of his earlier efforts, "Lost at C" is as good (and funny!) a short story as has ever been written. All of us can identify with the poor slobs stuck in the back row of the classroom, (the "alphabetical ghetto") struggling to comprehend algebra. "The Whole Fun Cataloge of 1929" is a brilliant essay which nails American culture better than any Harvard sociologist ever has. Jean illustrated this book with his own excellent and charming line drawings...another talent not many people knew Jean had. So, for dedicated Shep fans, by all means read "Fig Newtons", and for anyone interested in a funny book, you won't be dissapointed.

a review of early life while setting in a traffic jam. Not on the level of "In God We Trust" but a good lite read and a review of New York traffic and life in general

Buy all of Jean Shepard's book and settle down to smiling, laughing and rolling around with a belly laugh. Jean Shepard captures pre-television life with all of the hilarious anecdotes of the time and his work brightens even the darkest of days...read them all!

12 hilarious stories about common catastrophes, humiliating experiences, picking on toddlers and tailgating on the Jersey Turnpike. A testimonial for virtually every teen growing up in America today.

Not as good as Shepherd's first two books, but entertaining nonetheless.

For once, the back cover description is accurate: this is classic Jean Shepherd, telling vaguely autobiographical stories about his earlier life, a hilarious riff on 60's TV advertising, and much more. It's all tied together by an endless passage through the Lincoln Tunnel, something with which many of us transplanted New Yorkers can identify. This paperback is a huge bargain -- both to those who haven't yet discovered Shep's particular brand of humor, and to those who remember...and wish to relive it.

This was the third collection of Jean Sheppard short stories that I have read, and this one was every bit as humourous as the other two. This one focusses more on Sheppard's adult life than his other works, but there are still some stories with the familiar Ralphie, Flick, and Schwarz as well. Equally as funny are his descriptions of hippies driving in vans and college football players. This book is a nonstop laugh riot.

Jean Shepherd at his usual best! For anyone who loves the now annual classic movie "A Christmas Story" based on a collection of Jean Shepard's short s tories, this is another gem to enjoy. Good clean humor in the inimitable style of Jean Shepard, who does the narration in the forementioned movie.

Collection of short stories - hilarious. From the guy who wrote the book that 'A Christmas Story' was based on. All very memorable stories written with a wry sense of humor - people who grew up in the late 40's and 50's can really relate and reminisce, but young people will enjoy as well. The story about kids with last names starting with letters at the end of the alphabet forever relegated to the back row of all school rooms and their strategies for going unnoticed by the teacher had me laughing out loud as did the one about working the kitchen car on a troop train. The other people on the plane probably thought I forgot to take my meds. Jean Shepherd's other book 'Wanda Hickey's Night of Golden Memories' is also a classic and contains several of the short stories that were cobbled together for 'A Christmans Story' the movie.

It's not in the same league as Wanda Hickey's night of golden memories or In God we trust, all others pay cash but it still has some classic stories, including one of the last stories of the Parker family, where Ralph is discharged from the military and travels back to his home town for one last adventure. Like most of Shepherd's stories, it's bittersweet and funny.