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

John Kelso (Author)

Book Description

Series: Curiosities Series | Publication Date: February 1, 2000

Texas Curiosities is your round-trip ticket to more than 225 of the wildest, wackiest, most outrageous people, places, and things the Lone Star State has to offer. Humor columnist John Kelso has traveled thousands of Texas miles in search of the one-of-a-kind gems that make his home state truly unique. You'll meet a man who hammers nails up his nose, a woman who dresses her car like a cow, and a family of champion bubbleblowers. You'll discover the best places to savor fried rattlesnake, chicken-fried bacon, the world's largest fruitcake, and other Texas delicacies. You'll visit faraway places such as Paris, Graceland, Los Angeles, and even Stonehenge...and you'll be home in time for dinner! Whether you're Texas born and raised or a recent transplant, John Kelso's home-grown humor will have you laughing out loud as he introduces you to the neighbors you never knew you existed-right in your own backyard. So sit back in your easy chair, put up your feet, and get ready for a road trip you'll never forget!

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Kelso, a columnist for the Austin American-Statesman, has toured the great state of Texas, discovering its many oddities. The several hundred descriptive entries, many accompanied by photographs, range from the world's smallest skyscraper (in Wichita Falls) to the Jacksonville Tomatofest to Paisano Pete, the world's largest roadrunner (in Fort Stockton). Items are grouped by rough geographical region. Not all the oddities of Austin are listed together, nor are all the attractions along a particular highway listed in the order in which a tourist would encounter them. This makes the book more useful as a celebration of Texas culture than as a tour guide. Recommended for specialized collections, particularly those with an interest in Texas.
-Gwen Gregory, New Mexico State Univ. Lib., Las Cruces
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"Texas Curiosities is proof that the Lone Star State is a mother lode of goofy stuff. Kelso shines as a guide to the weirdly wonderful."
--Kimberly Brown, Travel Editor, Amazon.com

"Texas Curiosities is proof that the Lone Star State is a mother lode of goofy stuff. Kelso shines as a guide to the weirdly wonderful."
--Kimberly Brown, Travel Editor, Amazon.com
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Globe Pequot; 1st edition (February 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0762706007
• ISBN-13: 978-0762706006
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,743,207 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars buy it and drive, December 19, 2003

By A Customer

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

This is a simple book. You buy it, put it in the glove compartment and drive around Texas. When you get to a town, get out the book and read. simple.

An encyclopedia of Texas strangeness. It will go down in history!!

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars great info on texas wonders, November 22, 2000

By 

"froglily" (Texas) - See all my reviews

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

Texas curiosities and Roadside oddities is a great book if you want to go all over texas and stay right at home. Whether you are country folk or big city people you'll love to read this deep hearted texas book