Customer Reviews

Hoboken Fish and Chicago Whistle

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A lot of the short essays and stories in these two books started out as commentaries on NPR's "All Things Considered."

To say they cover a lot of territory is a terrible understatement. Read them and learn about art, big malemute dogs, pudding, writing for kids, African safaris, hot peppers, Chicago, Hoboken, being fat, being weird, living in bohemia, living in the boondocks, and more!

Truly wonderful stuff. Literally wonderful. The image of Pinkwater memorizing passages from Homer while operating a machine tool is hard to forget.

The only thing better than reading these is hearing Pinkwater read them. If you can get your paws on the OOP two-tape "Fishwhistle" audio book, do so. I have had friends seriously damage their bodies convulsing in laughter after hearing a few pieces.

In any case . . . buy the book. The price is steep, but you won't be sorry.

And . . . "eat pudding!"

Both of Mr. Pinkwater's essay collections in one handy volume: this is a deal not to be missed. Fans of his children's books will discover the true inspirations for the Chicken Man, the Boy from Mars, and friendly lizards; fans of The Afterlife Diet will receive more witty and wise insights into the life of the modern downscale gourmet and fat American, as well as the secret to a happy life ("Somewhere, there is a chili you cannot eat"). In between, there's a little bit of everything else: big dogs, tough cats, African safaris, Japanese delis, Chicago street characters, inscrutable art dealers, and parrots. Even if you haven't yet been introduced to the joys of Pinkwater's endlessly inventive deadpan prose, these hilarious essays are sure to contain something that will leave you rolling on the floor, aching with laughter, possibly rupturing something in your abdomen. Highly recommended.

As a wee child, I loved "The Big Orange Splot". As a youngster, I loved "Fat Men From Space". As a slightly older child, I loved "Lizard Music" and all the rest. And now I can enjoy all of those books, as well as Pinkwater's short-story collections. It's great to see this stuff back in print. I hope the trend continues...I'd love to see new editions of "Lizard Music", "The Worms of Kukumlima", and "Wingman".

Hoboken Fish and Chicago Whistle is one of eighty excellent books by Daniel Pinkwater. He is a regular commentator on public radio and this is a diverse collection of his radio commentaries and essays. This is an excellent book with loads of humor. Pinkwater is a comic genius and a superb writer. Pinkwater's essays have topics ranging from the humor impaired, to his life in Hoboken, New Jersey, to dog training. Pinkwater recommends all his books for intelligent young adults and up who have their sense of humor intact, and I agree.

When I was smaller I read, nay, devoured _Alan Mendelsohn, Boy From Mars_, _The Snarkout Boys and the Avocado of Death_ and _Lizard Music_. When I was but small I discovered Mr. Pinkwater's first collection of NPR commentaries, and I learned to eat pizza...one handed...while holding a drink...and running for the bus. Then I discovered the second collection. Since then I have worn out three copies of each. To have them togehter in one HARDBOUND volume is literally a dream come true. You cannot afford to miss this book.

If you love the city and love to eat, this book could quite possibly change your entire outlook on life.

I enjoyed these witty essays, but had trouble ignoring a few things. One, the author seems to have a compulsive need to remind the reader that he's fat. OK, if we haven't picked it up from the cover, we get it. Sometimes it was relevant to the piece and sometimes it wasn't.

Secondly, I detected the oh-too-familiar complaint of many writers - that they are unsung geniuses and anyone who criticizes their work doesn't know squat. (I noticed this with Stephen King's and Rita Mae Brown's books on writing.) Some critics don't know what they're doing, but some do. If most people who work in publishing are ignoramuses, how did your books manage to get published? Writers who can make a living doing what they love should ease up on the whining.

I've read other Pinkwater books. Some are great, some are so-so, and some are in dire need of editing.... In any case, whether or not he's a genius (yes, he actually discusses this) will only tell with time.

And, while I'm really on a roll, why this pathological reluctance to mention his alma mater? I went there. It's a decent school. Lots of flaky artists, but certainly nothing to be ashamed of.