When I was reading the description of this cafe, it made me think of McMenamy's burger place at home. There is all this random memorabilia, kind of like the sign above the register and the hen at the Van Gogh Cafe. It is a tiny place, on the side of a busy road and it used to be a general store, probably around the same time period as when the Van Gogh Cafe was a theater. The people at McMenamy's are always friendly, there are many, many people there from the town, the cook comes out and talks to everyone, and I think it might be magic, too (because you can get a burger, fries, and a soda, all made when you order it, for under $4 and it isn't McDonald's! Now that is magic!)
I thought this was good story. I'm not sure if I would put it on my top 10 list of books, but it was fun and easy and quick to read. The magic in the story made it quick to read, you wanted to keep going through the next chapter. That might be because Rylant left you with the ... at the end of most of the chapters. You couldn't help but want to read more. I guess I can compare that to DiCamillo's language in Depereaux, addressing the reader. Because she sometimes left you "hanging", you just wanted to read on to see what was going to happen.
I enjoyed how short this book was, honestly. It had great stories within a story, and it was quick to read. I love to read, but isn't it nice to find something great in a little package some times? Didn't I just describe something every girl wants... ha ha.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
7 comments:
I think of a place called Smitty's in my home town. Although it's a drive in, it's still around. It looks like a dive, but it has great burgers. I remember how magical I thought that place was when I was a kid, and the girls came out on their roller skates and little coin changing apparatus on their hip (click click), I thought it was really cool as a kid. We would go there before going to a movie, or perhaps on a school holiday, just always when something "magical" to me as a kid was happening for that day. It's sad that there are not as many uniquely magical places around these days. I did also enjoy the book as a light read, even though it made me keep thinking after I closed the book. I really like how diverse Cynthia Rylant is as an author. That makes her talent as an author truly shine.
Your homesickness is showing again. I know exactly what you mean though. We live in Gloucester and there are several little places like that around. It is nice to go into a place where you are not treated like a complete stranger and you feel welcome. I also agree with what you said about the amount Rylant packs into such a small book. I am amazed at her gift for that. I tend to go on and on and say just a little. She packs a huge punch into a few words.
I guess I should have planned a trip home for Spring Break! Oh well, Easter will be here before I know it. Then I can get to McMenamy's and have a burger (or two) and some fries!
I also liked the way this book was a bunch of little stories within one larger story. It reminded me of A Long Way From Chicago by Richard Peck. But I did wish that some of the stories were longer. Right when I was into the plot of the chapter, it seemed it was over. I guess that's what kept up the pace and made me want to continue reading.
I agree with you--a fun, easy, quick read with a little bit of magic. Great! I liked how Rylant focused on hope--similar to many of her other stories.
McMenamy's sounds great!
I did not really care for this book as a whole. There wasn't enough character development for me. My favorite story in the book was the one at the end about the old man from the silent movies waiting for his best friend. I think the novel might have been more engaging if it had focused on the people from the theater's past.
Van Gogh's Cafe reminded me of a hamburger place I hung out in during undergraduate school. I can't go through Waco, Tx and not stop at Kitok's.
That little surprise in a small package is usually a diamond ring, but I agree that small, short, and quirky can be just right sometimes.
I thought of the old television show called Alice where a bunch of wise-cracking waitresses worked. One red-headed waitress wore a beehive hairdo, smacked gum, and said stuff like, "Kiss my grits!"
Great memories!
Post a Comment