I was just wondering what other fans of Shep thought of this book. I just got it out of my library and was looking for feedback as to what other readers felt about it .
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Date
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04-25-2006 ( Reply#: 469 )
diskojoe
I read the book several months ago (I found a used ex-library copy through Amazon.com). I thought that it was pretty good and I could see why Shep thought highly of George Ade.
04-26-2006 ( Reply#: 470 )
Paramedic
I went to the library and got a copy much to my surprise they had one. I loved the book and found a lot of the morals to the stories were the same thing I heard from my grandmother, who grew up in Kentucky from 1895 to 1985. The stories had such home spun tone it is amazing. I maed a list of my favorite morals to the stories. Reading George Ade is a bit like listening to Jean Shepherd and I too fully understand why he thought the way he did about George Ade. The only down side was that Jean Shepherd only did the introduction or the Prologue it would have been nice to have a comment for each piece.
Don't rush the book read it and enjoy. Also read "Excelsior, You Fathead" but Eugene Bergmann it is excellent with Jean Shepherd quotes and his story. A must read for any Jean Shepherd Fan.
ENJOY[:)]
04-26-2006 ( Reply#: 472 )
cgn37vet
Ok Shep love is a given , OK. This book is DATED and hard to understand in many instances . I only have read it partially (ok the first 1/3) but I am losing interest and only persist due to the Jean recommendation . I consider myself fairly literate but this is a difficult go .Antiquated jargon and a fundamentally different viewpoint makes this a difficult viewpoint for reading / humour . Jean's age must have made this more accessible as he found it easier to understand the jargon of the perod or perhaps it was his learning . Some bits of wit are sharp but those moments are too few . I have found Geo Ade while perhaps a fine historical reference a difficult modern age pill to swallow COMMENTS......?
04-27-2006 ( Reply#: 473 )
cgn37vet
I've read and unfortunately I must disagree with the crowd . It is undecipherable as far as the average reader is capable . This does come with this disclaimer perhaps 20% is relevant . Not to discard Ade's contribution to humor , but timeliness as far as understanding is half the battle . I preface this with the fact that I love and enjoy Jeans' work in print and on the radio .Simply most fans will read it and go WTF ?
09-27-2008 ( Reply#: 2360 )
seagirt
Hello everybody. I am a new poster from New Jersey ( the most American of all States !). I have the George Ade book and did a paper on George Ade in college. Posters have said its dated and it probably is-- but Ade was a real talent and had many insights into the human condition; just like our Shep. Shep's intro is still worth reading.
I met Shep several times and will be posting more in the future.
Excelsior, you fatheads!
