Pennsylvania Curiosities: Quirky Characters, Roadside Oddities & Other Offbeat Stuff [Paperback]

Clark DeLeon (Author)

Book Description

Series: Curiosities Series | Publication Date: July 1, 2001

Pennsylvania Curiosities is your round-trip ticket to the wildest, wackiest, most outrageous people, places, and things the Keystone State has to offer. Popular humor columnist Clark DeLeon has combined Pennsylvania for one-of-a-kind gems that make his home state truly unique.

You'll learn about the invention of the Slinky and the Zippo lighter; discover famous sites from the filming of The Blob; and find out how Pennsylvanians talk from one end of the state to the other - and why they can't understand each other. You'll visit odd and far away places such as Mars, Dublin, Venice, and Jim Thorpe - the Switzerland of Pennsylvania.

Whether you were born and raised in Pennsylvania or are a recent transplant, Clark DeLeon's home-grown humor will have you laughing out loud as he introduces you to the neighbors you never knew you had and takes you to places you never knew existed - right in your own backyard.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Pennsylvania Curiosities is your round-trip ticket to the wildest, wackiest, most outrageous people, places, and things the Keystone State has to offer. Popular humor columnist Clark DeLeon has combined Pennsylvania for one-of-a-kind gems that make his home state truly unique. You'll learn about the invention of the Slinky and the Zippo lighter; discover famous sites from the filming of The Blob; and find out how Pennsylvanians talk from one end of the state to the other - and why they can't understand each other. You'll visit odd and far away places such as Mars, Dublin, Venice, and Jim Thorpe - the Switzerland of Pennsylvania. Whether you were born and raised in Pennsylvania or are a recent transplant, Clark DeLeon's home-grown humor will have you laughing out loud as he introduces you to the neighbors you never knew you had and takes you to places you never knew existed - right in your own backyard. (5 1/2 x 8 1/2, 224 pages, b&w photos, maps)

About the Author

Clark DeLeon writes a popular column for Metro, Philadelphia's newest daily newspaper. For two decades he wrote an award-winning daily column, "The Scene," for the Philadelphia Inquirer's Metro section. His work has also appeared in numerous national publications.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Globe Pequot; 1st edition (July 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0762708921
• ISBN-13: 978-0762708925
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.3 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,588,877 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Some Quirky Diversions, June 18, 2002

By 

doomsdayer520 (Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Pennsylvania Curiosities: Quirky Characters, Roadside Oddities & Other Offbeat Stuff (Paperback)

This is a fun book for Pennsylvania natives who like to stray from the beaten path and learn more about some of the weirder landmarks and tourist attractions across the state. The coverage here is similar in scope and humor to the excellent "Roadside America" book series and website. Non-natives might not be too enthralled by this book, but natives will be surprised by the diversity of people, customs, landscapes, and bizarre attractions that are found across Pennsylvania, even if you travel the state extensively. Some of those small towns can have some real weird things in those nooks and crannies. Just watch out for the many typos in this book, which is interesting because Deleon points out several typos on historical markers and artifacts around the state, especially the misspelling of Pennsylvania on the Liberty Bell.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Oddities of the Keystone State, July 16, 2003

By 

Frank J. Konopka (Shamokin, PA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Pennsylvania Curiosities: Quirky Characters, Roadside Oddities & Other Offbeat Stuff (Paperback)

I was born and raised in Pennsylvania, and even at that, this book told me many things about my state that I had not known. It's well written, with a wry attitude, and occasionally a wink and a nudge (especially in the section about Jayne Mansfield), but it is entertaining through and through. Although I am sure that I will never personally visit many of the sites merntioned in the book, it actually amazed me about how many of them I had actually seen throughout my life! This is probably a book that will only appeal of a native of Pennsylvania, but that doesn't detract from its appeal.