Ever since I ve known Howard, he s been dead. Author, Patricia Kambitsch, tells the true story of her father whose untimely death spurred a lifetime of storytelling. However dead he may be, Howard, the mild-mannered, über-geek hero, thrives through the collective imagination of his widow and six children. Questions of what really happened to her father give way to fantasy suspicions that include the questionable next-door neighbor who was last seen with her father, secret government projects, and alien abduction. Tales range from imaginative family antics at graveside, to bullying in the bathtub, to playing Jesus on the sidewalk. In the end, answers to the questions become less important than truths revealed through the re-creation of the past through a shared mythology.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From the Back Cover
Ever since I've known Howard, he's been dead.
However dead he may be, Howard, the mild-mannered, über-geek hero, thrives through the collective memories of his widow and six children. Questions of what really happened to Howard give way to fantasy suspicions that include the questionable next-door neighbor who was last seen with her father, secret government projects, and alien abduction. Truer tales range from imaginative family antics at graveside, to playing Jesus on the sidewalk.
These flashes of memory illuminate the complexity of family relationships revealing--though never wallowing in--grief, jealousy, deceit, rivalry, and love.
About the Author
Patricia Kambitsch is a painter, writer, teacher, and an advocate for communities of learning and interactive participation in the arts. A lifelong teacher, Kambitsch s formal education includes bachelors and masters degrees in education. As a teacher in urban public schools, her experience includes teaching virtually all subjects and all levels, preschool through grade twelve. Lessons created for the National Teacher Training Institute are available online.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Funny and touching,
This review is from: Looks Like Howard (Paperback)
In this memoir, Kambitsch really nails the smallest moments of family and childhood all under the shadow of her dead father. It sounds like a sad story from the outside. Six children left fatherless, a grieving, lovely widow left to fend for them all.
But it's not what you think. What makes this book different from the typical early childhood trauma memoir is Kambitsch's irreverent and hilarious narrating voice. She has all the flair of an author like David Sedaris and his underhanded humor, and she is able to capture the conversations, the rules of the childhood games (like "Playing Jesus"), and the portraits of her family that really make the story pop. Kambitsch sneaks in some poignant and sad issues and then tears them apart with her sarcastic and straightforward humor. In the end, you will love this family for their imperfections. It's refreshingly subtle and smart writing.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Look Like Brilliance,
By
This review is from: Looks Like Howard (Paperback)
One of the best and most entertaining reads I've had in quite some time. Sure, it was extra-special reading a memoir that took place in familiar home-territory, with so-familiar-that-it's-scary parallels that happen in many large, Catholic family settings.....but mostly it's just beautiful imagination shining onto paper, weaving a tapestry of humor, wackiness, honesty, awareness and insight to which many readers will instantly relate. The ending was unexpected and delightful (gave me chills, actually). I look forward to more titles by this author in the future!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Winner,
By gk (Cincinnati, OH United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Looks Like Howard (Paperback)
A powerful read -- packed with self-deprecating humor, fantastic turns of phrase,incredible emotion, and insightful revelations arising from mundane everyday life. And best of all,the ending is especially satisfying even though (and maybe because) it's not wrapped up with a perfect bow. This book is enjoyable not only because Kambitsch's writing is fantastic, but also because the story is compelling and vibrant in a very believable way.
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