Customer Reviews

Runestruck

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

 

 

This is the wonderful story of a cryptic runestone which two lunkheaded gas station attendants find while clamming in Maine. Everyone in town either becomes a Viking enthusiast(for tourism) or a sceptic (for a variety of reasons). The Down East Country music lyrics composed by the 2 heroes, like "The Overalls I Wear May be Green, but I'm the Bluest Car Mechanic You Ever Have Seen," are alone worth the price of the book. I've read this at least 7 times, and encourage everyone else to do so as well!

Too bad this listing shows a cover from a different book . . . I've tried to alert Mr. Trillin to this but can't find his email anywhere.

Anyway, five stars. It turns out the meaning of the runic inscription starts, "I don't know, but I've been told, Eskimo nookie . . . "

I am a great fan of Calvin Trillin's short pieces,and collections, but have found that his longer fiction, (like that of many humor columnists), tend to drag and/or run out of steam. This novel actually gets to the finish line in pretty good shape, and the cheerful loopiness of the characters is sustained in a satisfying fashion.

So, not just for Trillin completists, but of more general appeal.