Second Age: A Recall of Things Gone By and a Bit of Now [Paperback]

Carl A. Franson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 24, 2004

"In our busy and complex world, we often forget how to enjoy simple pleasures of life. Second Age takes us to a time when eating oatmeal and raisins, having a warm house, hearing red-wing blackbirds calling, meeting new people and seeing new places are enough to deeply touch the heart, mind and soul. There is a place in each of us that needs to know the importance of appreciating what you have in your life.

Second Age is simply written, and you live the author's adventures mostly along the upper Mississippi and other places just as he re-lived them while he was writing about them. You experience a joy and a depth in what life has to offer and in what it has to teach."

Second Age has interesting and real descriptions of the Upper Mississippi in the early 1930's, bits about life during the Great Depression, San Francisco and the Bay Area of the early 1930's, reminiscences about working on a luxury passenger liner, visiting ports of call and appreciating other cultures, all viewed through the eyes of a curious young man who cared deeply for everyday people and who understood life's realities. The writing is not pretentious and the writing lends itself to readers who just like to enjoy a good book.

The Search Inside feature offers excerpts.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Carl Franson was one of ten children of whom seven survived, born to hard-working, first generation immigrants. Working to make his way in life was second nature to him. He possessed an intense curiosity about life, people, and natural wonders around him. This openness comes through in his story about his life on the upper Mississippi, and his early travels to the Orient.

When he began to write about his experiences as a young man, he was in his eighties but he found himself pacing the floor, remembering details of adventures, tasting how delicious simple foods are when you’re very hungry, appreciating the warmth and goodness of people he met along the way, appreciating the sights and sounds of the Mississippi and of the Far East.

He was a good natured person who appreciated and kept a positive rather than a negative outlook about people and life, who was a realist, but who believed above all else in the intrinsic power of love.

Product Details

• Paperback: 136 pages
• Publisher: 1st Book Library (March 24, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1414040563
• ISBN-13: 978-1414040561
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,071,369 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very enjoyable saga!, December 10, 2004

By 

Marilyn Graham (Marysville, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Second Age: A Recall of Things Gone By and a Bit of Now (Paperback)

Delightful 1st person account of a young man's adventures floating down the Mississippi in the 1920s. A good read - well worth one's time!
Don and Marilyn Graham

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Second Age, May 21, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Second Age: A Recall of Things Gone By and a Bit of Now (Paperback)

So nice to enjoy an easy-to-read book that's about real life -- no pretensions. You're taken away into a simpler place and time as the author relates experiences he had when he was a young man, for instance traveling with a friend part way down the Mississippi, adventures they had, having to make do, and more. Felt like I was there with them.

5.0 out of 5 stars book, second age a recall of thing gone by and a bit of now, January 11, 2009

By 

Minnesota (Arden Hills, Minnesota) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Second Age: A Recall of Things Gone By and a Bit of Now (Paperback)

I ordered this book on line and was very very happy with the turn time it took to get to my home. It was a week before Christmas and I worried it would not arrive on time. It arrived well ahead of time....before shedule. Thank you~