Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Wishin' and Hopin' - Wally Lamb


Continuing with Christmas tales this week....

Wally Lamb is perhaps best know for his novels The Hour I First Believed, I Know This Much is True and She's Come Undone.

Lamb also has taught creative writing in a women's prison. Two anthologies of the women's writings have been published - I'll Fly Away and Couldn't Keep it to Myself. I've really enjoyed these two books.

Wishin' and Hopin' is just a great, fun Christmas read. Felix Funicello (yes - he's related to 'that' Funicello!) and his family live in Three Rivers, Connecticut in 1964. Felix is twelve. We follow Felix into his school - St. Aloysius Gonzaga Parochial - and get to relive the agonies of elementary school and the sixties ( remember the Pillsbury Bake-offs?) Lots happens in Felix's life on the way to the pinnacle - the Christmas pageant.

I found myself nodding along, emembering, sympathizing and laughing out loud with Felix. Lamb presents a Christmas message in a wonderfully entertaining manner. Perfect with a cup of cocoa and easlily devoured in one sitting.

Read an excerpt of Wishin' and Hopin'.

9 comments:

Mary (Bookfan) said...

I really liked this book!

Patti V. said...

This sounds great. I'll have to look for this one!

bermudaonion said...

I thought this book was a lot of fun too! Felix is such a great character.

(Diane) Bibliophile By the Sea said...

This was a terrific holiday read; glad u enjoyed it as well.

Jo-Jo said...

I have this one and I can't wait til I get a chance to read it!

Laura's Reviews said...

I've loved all of Wally Lamb's fiction and I love Christmas books. I'll definitely have to check this one out. Thanks for the great review!

Bonnie said...

I enjoyed this one as well. I appreciated the lightness and humor. Perfect book to read at the holidays.

Dawn @ sheIsTooFondOfBooks said...

I enjoyed the Wally Lamb novels that I've read; I'll keep this in mind to read before Christmas 2010.

Gina (Prim and Polished) said...

Wally Lamb, IMO, is one of the most gifted novelists of our time. I haven't read this one yet but I will.