Have you ever read the book that inspired A Christmas Story?

 

Many years ago. As you and I both know; the author was standing in line at Higbee's.

Many years ago. As you and I both know; the author was standing in line at Higbee's.

 

Yes, I knew that. What did you think of the book, or do you remember much about it? Close to the movie?

Any good?

 

It was all right. It was all right.

 

Kind of reaffirms an old cynic's belief in what goes on behind the scenes during campaigning. Written by the guy who basically came up with the 2002 NH primary phone-jamming operation; for which he did some time.

Yes, I knew that. What did you think of the book, or do you remember much about it? Close to the movie?

 

Read it many years ago and sadly don't remember much. Although I'm pretty sure it wasn't a novel but was instead a book of short stories.

Read it many years ago and sadly don't remember much. Although I'm pretty sure it wasn't a novel but was instead a book of short stories.

 

I see. I think I'm going to pick it up. I've got a lot on my plate to read right now, but I'll make room for that one.

I wish I had some good offerings, but I don't, unfortunately. Since I do a ton of reading for work, I tend to keep it light when I get home. Just picked up a copy of "Billy And The Boingers" by Berke Breathed that I unearthed at a peddler's mall.

Recently plucked one off of the wife's shelf and read it. "The Secret Life of Bees" by Sue Monk Kidd. Not the manliest of books, but better than I thought it would be.

That's the one. Have you read it? I'd like to get it.

I have not, but have always wanted to.

Read it many years ago and sadly don't remember much. Although I'm pretty sure it wasn't a novel but was instead a book of short stories.

It is a collection of short stories.

"The Twelfth Card" by Jeffery Deaver. Not his best Rhyme/Sachs novel, but not bad.

I see. I think I'm going to pick it up. I've got a lot on my plate to read right now, but I'll make room for that one.

 

Here's an update. I was scanning the wife's section of the "library" (mostly southern fiction - Lee Smith and the like) and what to my wondering eyes did appear but a copy of "A Christmas Story". Published in 2003 on the heels of the movie's newfound success, it is comprised of 5 chapters. The first four were published in "In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash". Chapters deal with Ralphie's Red Ryder mania, the decoder ring, the major award, and the Scut Farcas affair. The last chapter was published in "Wanda Hickey's Night of Golden Memories and Other Disasters" and focuses on the Bumpus dogs.

 

Interestingly, all were originally published in Playboy in the mid-1960s.

 

Randy, if I happen to run into you at, say, the 39th District tournament, I will loan you this precious tome. However, here's a spoiler alert. You are, according to big brother Ralphie, a slow reader; so I will hope to have it back by, say, the beginning of next basketball season.

I just started and finished Born To Run on my flights.. It has me thinking about Ultra's today. Fun read, especially if you are a runner.

"The Twelfth Card" by Jeffery Deaver. Not his best Rhyme/Sachs novel, but not bad.

 

Agreed. Vanished Man & Cold Moon are the two best in the series IMO.

Here's an update. I was scanning the wife's section of the "library" (mostly southern fiction - Lee Smith and the like) and what to my wondering eyes did appear but a copy of "A Christmas Story". Published in 2003 on the heels of the movie's newfound success, it is comprised of 5 chapters. The first four were published in "In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash". Chapters deal with Ralphie's Red Ryder mania, the decoder ring, the major award, and the Scut Farcas affair. The last chapter was published in "Wanda Hickey's Night of Golden Memories and Other Disasters" and focuses on the Bumpus dogs.