Book: But Mama Said
Author: Roger Poole
My Rating: 5 Nostaligic Stars
Hey bookworms! It’s my third review of a book by a local author. So far, I’ve enjoyed every book for its own unique reason. This week’s book is a bit different, it’s not necessarily a novel, but more like a hilarious compilation of family stories. I read it cover to cover in a couple of hours and ended with a smile on my face.
Every family has stories, and storytellers. Roger was able to capture some of his family’s stories on the page while keeping the oral history vibe. It didn’t feel like I had read his stories, it felt like I had been sitting in his mom’s kitchen listening to her tell them to me. I can only think of one other book that made me feel that way – Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman.
This is really the ultimate feel good book. And I promise, if you read it, you’ll be reminded of anecdotes that have been passed down in your family, too. Some of my favorites were “Washing Wayne’s Hair” and “Wes and the Hunting Club.” And I also love that each story came with a little preamble, either an estimate on how much of the story is fact or fiction, or maybe a little background info about the story teller. I can also tell you right now that Wayne was definitely the breakout star (I think that’s nicer than saying “the unfortunate subject of lots of embarrassing stories”).
It’s worth mentioning that he has another story you may have read last Christmas. “The Sleigh” was published in chapters on Mysaline, and it was like the book equivalent of a fuzzy blanket. So comforting and so good! Overall, I highly recommend this book! It’s 100% guaranteed to put a smile on your face. Not to mention, I bet it will remind you of your own family’s funny history.
Krystle Goodman is a crazy cat lady, who loves to drink exorbitant amounts of coffee, and read a shocking amount of books. She lives in Benton with her husband Josh, her son Roman, and their two cats Roxanne and Abby. When she isn’t reading, you’ll find her cooking, painting, or watching true crime shows. Watch for Krystle’s book reviews every other Friday. Send fanmail to: [email protected]
See more of Krystle’s reviews at www.mysaline.com/krystle.
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