Patrick F McManus - The Bear in the Attic

Fans of humorist McManus (I Fish Therefore I Am) will enjoy this latest compilation of stories and recollections about camping, fishing, and home life. Combining a knack for outdoorsy storytelling with a clever sense of humor that has a slight curmudgeonly edge, these witty anecdotes will please a broad range of readers. The title story is skillfully written as a yarn being spun for his granddaughter. The banter between her and McManus about how much she enjoys going to the library is good for a few bonus laughs. McManus also regales the reader with tales about growing up, including one titled "Sling Bleed" about the consequences of using a homemade slingshot. He shuttles back and forth between childhood and adulthood as he describes early attempts at culinary magic while camping, contrasted with the current state of roughing it while watching videos and eating canapes in a recreational vehicle. Successfully capturing the everyday foibles that make up our lives, McManus's latest is recommended for humor collections in public libraries.

- Joe Accardi, William Rainey Harper Coll. Lib., Palatine, IL
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.