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.
I really liked this book!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds great. I'll have to look for this one!
ReplyDeleteI thought this book was a lot of fun too! Felix is such a great character.
ReplyDeleteThis was a terrific holiday read; glad u enjoyed it as well.
ReplyDeleteI have this one and I can't wait til I get a chance to read it!
ReplyDeleteI'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!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this one as well. I appreciated the lightness and humor. Perfect book to read at the holidays.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the Wally Lamb novels that I've read; I'll keep this in mind to read before Christmas 2010.
ReplyDeleteWally Lamb, IMO, is one of the most gifted novelists of our time. I haven't read this one yet but I will.
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