Patrick F. McManus has garnered legions of faithful fans with his monthly column in Outdoor Life and his many celebrated books, including the New York Times best-sellers The Grasshopper Trap and The Night the Bear Ate Goombaw. The humor and warmth of Kerplunk! put the book right up there with the very best of McManus. A rollicking blend of Dave Barry and Garrison Keillor, with a twist of Mark Twain, McManus is an American classic whose wry, curmudgeonly tales appeal to real outdoorsmen and the armchair variety alike. There are nearly two million copies of his books in print.
The stories in Kerplunk! travel the byways and highways of the Pacific Northwest, bringing to life offbeat, down-home characters who hope their grandchildren can pick the lock on the gun safe because they've forgotten the combination, who know exactly why it costs $500 to make a fly lure that retails for $2, and who aren't afraid to confront the problems of bird-dog flatulence.
©2007 Patrick F. McManus; (P)2007 Tantor Media Inc.
"Everybody should read Patrick McManus." (The New York Times Book Review)
"McManus narrates his woodsy stories with a laid-back style that will earn many smiles." (Publishers Weekly)
"narrator nightmare"
Though I am only 20 minutes into this book I had to stop and put in my first review ever even though I have been an audible customer for many years. I have no doubt I will like the book, I have never been shorted on laughs by Pat McManus. The narrator on the other hand is the worst I have heard to date. Picture if you will a class of first graders learning to read, then picture one with a deep voice. It is narrated choppy and hesitant and I can't quite come up with the words to properly describe. I found it to be distracting and will most likely stop listening to this one and just get the hard copy. I gave 3 stars because the author rates 5 and the narrator 1. I would recommend listening to the sample prior to purchasing this title.
I enjoy mysteries, NOT thrillers, contemporary fiction, especially about diverse cultures, and sometimes history, if it doesn't involve too many dates. I often listen to a book multiple times, discovering unnoticed details in the retelling.
"I love McManus....what else can I say?"
I prefer when McManus reads his own work, but Dick Hill does alright. This series of short stories is one I continue to listen to when I need a laugh. McManus is my role model for learning to laugh at our own foibles and enjoying those of others. He's also my role model for how to write. I hope he continues to do so!
"Kerplunk"
We thoroughly enjoyed this book on one of our road trips. Pat McManus is an old, entertaining friend to all members of our family.
"Great Book, Poor quality Reader."
The book /Story, is great like all Patrick McManus Books. The Reader for THIS book is not fluent, Listen to an exerpt first, before you buy.
Always funny and stiring my imagination!
Norman Dietz, Perhaps Mr. McManus himself, or any of the previous readers.
It has inspired me to further emphasize to my children 'the need to learn to read well.'
I don't mean to be