April Fool’s Day

In honor of April 1st I tried to come up with some witty practical joke to play, but sadly, nothing clever enough came to mind. So instead I have decided to recommend two “fool” books that everyone should read...

Nobody’s Fool by Richard Russo
While not the book that won Richard Russo his Pulitzer, it probably should have. A poignant portrayal of blue collar small town life in NY, Nobody’s Fool is one of those books that stay with you for a while. Nobody’s Fool is a book that I recommend taking your time while reading, mainly because I enjoyed it so much - I remember savoring the writing and story in such a deliberate fashion that I often am unable to spend on books anymore (sadly). At times both funny and moving, the range that Russo shows in his writing is impressive. The main character, Sully, is someone who you cheer for, and his story is one that Russo writes extraordinarily well. Besides being a great book, Nobody’s Fool was also a quality movie with Paul Newman playing Sully (awesome casting and performance).

The Fool’s Progress: An Honest Novel by Edward Abbey
When put to the wall and asked what is the best book I have ever read, I often answer “The Fool’s Progress by Ed Abbey” without hesitation (I only say “often” because I do not like this question, and can flip and flop among at least a dozen books). The Fool’s Progress is a great American novel, and in my mind, Abbey’s finest. While Ed Abbey is often known for The Monkey Wrench Gang and Desert Solitaire (both great books), his final novel is the one which I champion above all his others. The story is a journey of discovery of a man who has lived his life at odds with modern times and should be as compelling today as when it was written in the 80’s. A book that is thought provoking, funny, and inspirational - it is bound to bring out that pseudo-luddite/anarchist that may be hiding within you, allow you to embrace it, and then come to terms in a manner of speaking with what modern America has become. Autobiographical in nature, it truly is an honest look at a man’s life.

Both of these books deserve much better write ups than this, but it has been quite some time since I visited with them, and my reading schedule is rather full, so it will sadly be a while before I am able to return to either of them... although, I can say unequivocally, that if you are looking for some quality American Literature, you could do a lot worse than reading these two books. They both belong on your bookshelf (they will certainly be staying on mine for as long as it stands).