Synopsis
A nationally syndicated radio raconteur welcomes listeners to The End of the Road, a small Alaska town inhabited by "real" characters--unpretentious, funny, and, at times, quite touching
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
Reviews
Culled from Bodett's syndicated radio show, these 28 interconnected stories are reminiscent of Garrison Keillor's tales from Lake Woebegon. Here, the setting is End of the Road, Alaska. In short sketches we meet Doug McDoogan, town liar, who is enriched when the art world creates an incomprehensible demand for his "whittlin'." Bud Koening, on his 60th birthday, determines to write the poem about Alaska that he's been putting off for decades. Norman Tuttle, a 12-year-old experiencing his first crush, asks his dad about the facts of life; Tamara Dupree, "vegetarian activist," feuds with a stray cat. Contests are held to see who can guess how soon snow will cover up a signpost, and Stormy Storbock and Ed Flannigan drive cross-country in a lime-green firetruck. While the collection is "old-fashioned" and "homespun," it is also unoriginal, flatly written and predictable, and many of the tales are xenophobic and misogynistic. Bodett's blatant sentimentality is expressed with such gusto, however, that his efforts may well have commercial appeal. First serial to Redbook; Literary Guild featured alternate; author tour.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Bodett, a commentator on National Public Radio and spokesman for the Motel 6 chain, has assembled 27 fairly short pieces, call them fragments, sketches or anecdotes, about life in End of the Road, Alaska, "a remarkable little vicinity plugged full of familiar people." He has nothing very startling to tell about the goings-on: some of the boys got together and gave Clara, who runs the only coffee shop in town, a new urn; Ed, "the roughneck road-grade operator," went bowling with Tamara, "our local vegetarian activist"--that sort of thing. The book just chats away, like a garrulous friend whose visit has been expected and who has now come. And the chatter is good, full of news, gossip, and pleasant humor. With this book, superior to its predecessor, As Far As You Can Go Without a Passport ( LJ 2/1/86), Bodett earns himself shelf space alongside Garrison Keillor.
- A.J. Anderson, Graduate Sch. of Library & Information Science, Simmons Coll., Boston
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
Other Popular Editions of the Same Title
Search results for The End of the Road
Stock Image
End of the Road
Seller: World of Books (was SecondSale), Montgomery, IL, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: Acceptable. Item in good condition. Textbooks may not include supplemental items i.e. CDs, access codes etc. Seller Inventory # 00070454642
Seller Image
The End of the Road
Seller: Zoom Books Company, Lynden, WA, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: very_good. Book is in very good condition and may include minimal underlining highlighting. The book can also include "From the library of" labels. May not contain miscellaneous items toys, dvds, etc. . We offer 100% money back guarantee and 24 7 customer service. Seller Inventory # ZBV.0688087019.VG
Stock Image
End of the Road
Seller: World of Books (was SecondSale), Montgomery, IL, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: Acceptable. Item in acceptable condition! Textbooks may not include supplemental items i.e. CDs, access codes etc. Seller Inventory # 00092644924
Stock Image
End of the Road
Seller: World of Books (was SecondSale), Montgomery, IL, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: Good. Item in good condition. Textbooks may not include supplemental items i.e. CDs, access codes etc. Seller Inventory # 00094810543
Stock Image
The End of the Road
Published by
William Morrow & Co (edition ), 1989
ISBN 10: 0688087019
ISBN 13: 9780688087012
Used
Hardcover
Seller: BooksRun, Philadelphia, PA, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Hardcover. Condition: Fair. With dust jacket. The item might be beaten up but readable. May contain markings or highlighting, as well as stains, bent corners, or any other major defect, but the text is not obscured in any way. Seller Inventory # 0688087019-7-1-13_29
Seller Image
The End of the Road
Seller: Austin Goodwill 1101, Austin, TX, U.S.A.
Seller rating 4 out of 5 stars
Condition: good. Book shows general signs of use and handling. May have light wear on the cover or edges and minimal writing or highlighting. Binding remains tight, and pages are clean and readable. Seller Inventory # CTXV.0688087019.G
Stock Image
The End of the Road
Seller: HPB Inc., Dallas, TX, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority! Seller Inventory # S_452024341
Stock Image
The End of the Road
Seller: HPB-Ruby, Dallas, TX, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority! Seller Inventory # S_466012588
Stock Image
The End of the Road
Seller: ThriftBooks-Atlanta, AUSTELL, GA, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Hardcover. Condition: As New. No Jacket. Pages are clean and are not marred by notes or folds of any kind. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less. Seller Inventory # G0688087019I2N00
Stock Image
The End of the Road
Seller: ThriftBooks-Dallas, Dallas, TX, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Hardcover. Condition: Good. No Jacket. Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less. Seller Inventory # G0688087019I3N00