Strictly A Loner: My Life and Times with Plattsburgh's Poorest Millionaire [Print] [Paperback]

Kathy L. Baumgarten (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: 2008

"We met Earl in 1990; we parted seven years later. So many little events had to fall into place before we met him that it seemed decreed Above for him to become "Our" Earl. He'd just chuckle to hear that, though. "Those Jokers," he'd say about us."They knew I was strictly a loner." What we also knew was his biggest secret." - from Chapter One In this often humorous true story, two homeowners go head to head with their tenant, Earl, a quiet old loner and military retiree from the South. Sometimes just an amusing curmdgeon, Earl confounds them with his obsessive hoarding and miserly habits. Always dignified, nonetheless he retained an air of secrecy about his past, keeping his distance from the people who saw him every day along the streets of Plattsburgh, a small city nestled above the Adirondacks.Truly, he was a man that everyone saw and no one really knew. Did you see Earl? A story never revealed before, Strictly A Loner is not merely the true account of a retired Air Force NCO, reclusive hoarder and secret millionaire. With the drama, suspense and poignancy only a true story can evoke, Strictly A Loner also serves as a vehicle to examine society's attitudes toward money, family, mental illness, and aging. LOCATIONS: Monroe, LA; Scott AFB, ILL.; Vandenberg AFB, CA.; Keesler AFB, MS.; Burlington, VT.; Boulder, CO.; Australia, Northern NY towns of Ausable Forks, Champlain, Dannemora, Ellenburg, Mooers Forks, Peasleeville, Swastika and Saranac. And of course, Plattsburgh AFB, NY and nearby Skyway Plaza. PLEASE NOTE: The author maintains an extensive website for this book, with reader's comments, photos, bio and reader's forum at ww.strictlyaloner.com

Product Details

• Paperback: 102 pages
• Publisher: Studley Printing & Publishing Inc.; 1ST edition (2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0971392897
• ISBN-13: 978-0971392892
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,496,855 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Strictly a Loner: My Life and Times with Plattsburgh's Poorest Millionaire, May 27, 2008

By 

Richard B. Tefft Jr. (Plattsburgh, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Strictly A Loner: My Life and Times with Plattsburgh's Poorest Millionaire (Paperback)

To say "Strictly a Millionaire" is an enjoyable read,(though it is) would be limiting the value of this book. What makes this worthy reading, is an intimate look into the final chapter of a lonely, tragic life,largely influenced, decades earlier, by a careless parental remark.
Another interesting aspect of this book, is the interaction between the author, and her family, with their parsimonious roommate in his twilight years.
Kathy Baumgarten's narrative and flowing writing style makes this a difficult book to put down.

5.0 out of 5 stars Too Much Stuff, January 6, 2011

By 

ErikG - See all my reviews

This review is from: Strictly A Loner: My Life and Times with Plattsburgh's Poorest Millionaire (Paperback)

It's no accident that I chose to read "Strictly a Loner" in the weeks following Christmas, when I struggled with the decision of where to put all my new gifts amidst a house already filled with stuff. "Strictly a Loner" details one man's obsession with acquiring stuff and his refusal to dispose of anything. And not simply a refusal to replace an outdated gadget with the newest model, like a toaster received at Christmas, but an obsession with hording sugar packets and half-used napkins, even stray gloves found on the street. Earl was a strict loner, hoarder, miser, and stranger when the author, Kathy, and her husband purchased their house on Elm St. It was a boarding house with eight bedrooms and Earl its only tenant. He was like the stuff he collected: He came with the house and was difficult to get rid of. In fact, Earl and his stuff continued living with the Baumgartens for five years. "Strictly a Loner" is a folksy tale of their lives together and the big secret that Earl kept hidden away like boxes of holey socks. It is a fascinating memoir, at times both humorous and tragic. This is definitely one book worthy of keeping its place in any home for a very long time.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great reference for research paper, December 28, 2010

By 

JennyLovesApples - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Strictly A Loner: My Life and Times with Plattsburgh's Poorest Millionaire (Paperback)

I read this book as part of a research project for a writing class. I decided to write about Compulsive Hoarding Disorder and approach the topic of this disease from a more personal view. I had been watching the various reality shows about hoarding and found them to be disturbing in the sense that they focus on the "stuff" instead of the person. I stumbled upon this book "Strictly A Loner" during my research and it quickly became a major focus of my paper. Kathy Baumgarten does such an excellent job of giving her first hand account of life with Earl as she addresses not only the issue of hoarding, but on Earl's life and the isolation he created for himself as a result of his hoarding. Kathy Baumgarten beautifully and poetically describes her family's time with Earl in his last years and though his condition is tragic in many ways, she gives respect to the man that he was behind the disease of hoarding. I would strongly recommend this book, whether for enjoyment or for research purposes. I also contacted Kathy Baumgarten for an interview via email for my research and she was gracious enough to provide me with additional information which was extremely helpful.