Chicago, 1978. Hank Boyd, a solid B+ student, a good kid,... read full description
reviews
Mar 03, 2009
Sue
rated it: 
I didn't grow up in the seventies; I was already married and a mom. I didn't grow up in Chicago, though I live there now. But I identified with this book for two reasons. First of all, I knew a Ralph a long time ago. In fourth grade, he was the class outcast and I kissed him in front of our principal's office. I don't know why. Secondly, John McNally has this eye for detail that's universal. Details like the smell and whssss of a freshly opened can of beer, the angst of junior high, the emb
More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Feb 20, 2009
Book
rated it:
A celebration of the oddballs who can only live as the oddballs they are. It's about how creepy getting older is; all of us haunted by these children and clueless adolescents we once were and never totally left behind. It's about how amusing it all is, and how some people never really change, and the beauty that co-exists with the tragedy of that.
Then you find yourself a grown-up, after all these odball adventures, and maybe its a little bit hard to believe. Deeply funny, incredibly More...
Then you find yourself a grown-up, after all these odball adventures, and maybe its a little bit hard to believe. Deeply funny, incredibly More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Feb 20, 2009
Brandon
rated it:
A celebration of the oddballs who can only live as the oddballs they are. It's about how creepy getting older is; all of us haunted by these children and clueless adolescents we once were and never totally left behind. It's about how amusing it all is, and how some people never really change, and the beauty that co-exists with the tragedy of that.
Then you find yourself a grown-up, after all these odball adventures, and maybe its a little bit hard to believe. Deeply funny, incredibly More...
Then you find yourself a grown-up, after all these odball adventures, and maybe its a little bit hard to believe. Deeply funny, incredibly More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Mar 19, 2010
Megan
rated it: 
I liked this book perfectly fine up until the end, which is set in a different time decade than the rest of the book and just seems to throw everything off-kilter.
I think basically everybody knew somebody like Ralph growing up. Pretty much everybody knew somebody like a lot of the characters in this book. Even set 30-40 years ago, some things just stay the same with time, and one of those is adolescence - confusion over the opposite sex, a conviction that you must be a pervert becaus More...
I think basically everybody knew somebody like Ralph growing up. Pretty much everybody knew somebody like a lot of the characters in this book. Even set 30-40 years ago, some things just stay the same with time, and one of those is adolescence - confusion over the opposite sex, a conviction that you must be a pervert becaus More...
Dec 19, 2010
John
rated it: 
John McNally's book came highly recommended to me, with most people calling it hilarious. I just found it depressing.
The story centers around a boy named Hank, with most of the story taking place when he is 13 and in 8th grade. He's friends with another 8th grader who is 2 years older and gets into all sorts of trouble and is always scheming on how to make money by extorting kids, or ripping off stores.
Hanks own family is dysfunctional, with an alcoholic father, an unhapp More...
The story centers around a boy named Hank, with most of the story taking place when he is 13 and in 8th grade. He's friends with another 8th grader who is 2 years older and gets into all sorts of trouble and is always scheming on how to make money by extorting kids, or ripping off stores.
Hanks own family is dysfunctional, with an alcoholic father, an unhapp More...
Jun 16, 2009
Rachel
rated it: 
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is hilarious, but on the other hand, the author isn't constantly setting himself up for the next joke. This leaves plenty of room for character depth and even some incredibly sad, and--dare I say it?--heartfelt moments (of the non-cheesy variety, thank god). Also it brings up some social issues through the story telling itself, without it feeling like the author is trying to make some grand statement and disguising it as fiction. The only small complaint I have
More...
Aug 28, 2008
Matt
rated it:
Lent to me by a student, this book sat on the floor (the floor, even!) of my office for almost two years while I puttered around and read other things. And then, finally, I decided I'd read it, and it's pretty good-- it's another coming-of-age story, this time shorter on the music than I usually go for, but invested with some other goodness. Mostly, the book's successes are drawn from the kind of crisp observations that are maybe more often funny than illuminating, but only by a little bit. Ther
More...
Jun 27, 2007
Michele
rated it:
Good Enough to Read Twice
This is a fantastic read--a real page-turner. Congratulations to John McNally for being a gifted storyteller and for putting this collection together in an interesting and creative manner. He has presented a true time capsule complete with scenery, music, language and costume.
Ralph is the boy we all knew--an attention hound dressed in a flannel shirt, who spent a lot of time in the school hallways on his way to the dean's office. Hank, however, More...
This is a fantastic read--a real page-turner. Congratulations to John McNally for being a gifted storyteller and for putting this collection together in an interesting and creative manner. He has presented a true time capsule complete with scenery, music, language and costume.
Ralph is the boy we all knew--an attention hound dressed in a flannel shirt, who spent a lot of time in the school hallways on his way to the dean's office. Hank, however, More...
Jan 18, 2011
Daniel
rated it:
"The Book of Ralph" had me wrapped in a warm glow of good-natured mellowness for most of its length -- content to re-live a specific time and place, surrounded by the soft-focused haze of half-forgotten, golden suburban memories. But this approach is squandered in its final act, leaving an unsatisfying aftertaste to what should have been a sumptuous TV dinner of comfort food.
Jun 26, 2011
Eileen
rated it:
I first heard of this book a few years ago. The Today show had a segment at the time ( I think they were calling it "Today Book Club") where an author of a popular book would choose an unknown author's book to profile. This particular author (I think it was the author of "The Lovely Bones", but I could be wrong) chose "The Time Traveler's Wife" which obviously skyrocketed in popularity after that. He gave this book an honorable mention.
Apr 14, 2009
Jamie
rated it: 
I wouldn't say this book was BAD, but it certainly wasn't my favorite. It's told from Ralph's friend's POV and spans some jr. high time as well as some twenty-something time. I think it had the potential to be really good as the story was not bad. I don't even think the writing sucked, but this book certainly lacked something.
Nov 30, 2010
Matthew
rated it:
I do like this book, don't get me wrong. And the writer is one of my favorites and a super nice guy... But Ralph just annoys me. There's only so much I can take. The stories are well-written and entertaining but I just got annoyed with Ralph. Didn't care for the last story, went on way too long.
Nov 24, 2010
Chris
rated it:
After reading "The Vomitorium" and Troublemakers awhile ago it was fun to get back with Hank and Ralph. I wasn't crazy about the last chapter, but I thought this was funny and sad and pretty much nails these characters. We all knew kids like this. Maybe we were kids like this.
Jan 27, 2009
Jen
rated it:
The main reason I like this book so much is the author is from my home town and most of it is set there. This guy really captured the feeling of that shitty little place and reminded me why I love and hate Burbank. Great story. Kind of quirky.
Jan 11, 2011
John
rated it:
I laughed a lot at this crazy book. Something about growing up in the 70s is downright funny, if that is when you did. Hank and Ralph lived the life. Their worldwide view was unique and sadly entertaining. The author, McNally, is a charming and strange. Plus this book helps me prepare for my son becoming a teenager this year.
Dec 11, 2011
Definitely worth a read, whether or not you grew up in the 70s. Hard to put down for the first half or more. Goes off the rails at the end -- the book, not the protagonist. That was a bit of a let-down for me.
May 14, 2009
Greg
rated it:
Funny as hell. A small excerpt in the New Sudden Fiction anthology wet my appetite. The chapter about working at a record store and the one about a father creating christmas decorations out of junk are my favorites.
Jun 15, 2010
Naomi
rated it:
i wouldn't have picked this book up, just because of the title. but my husband bought it for me and it turned out to be a pretty interesting read. it's set on the southwest side of chicago (and nearby suburbs) and there's mention of many 'landmarks' that i recognized. ralph and hank are interesting characters, too. i think everybody knew a ralph in school and will recognize him in this book. (i identified with hank a bit: "Politeness, I knew, would be the death of me.")
More...
More...
Nov 03, 2009
Erica
rated it:
Hilarious. Young adolescent boys (I grew up with three of them) are just the most funny funny funny, and touching. I loved this book.
Jan 24, 2010
Marla
rated it:
Think "Christmas Story" 1970. Lost a little steam towards the end, but still a funny read.
Apr 11, 2011
Diane
rated it:
I grew up with John so it was fun to read (he changed the FIRST names of several people)
Jul 28, 2008
Sherry
rated it:
I was excited to read this book as I went to school with the author John McNally. What I was knocked out by was the brilliance of his storytelling. He uses such wonderful visuals with his writing that I couldn't put this book down. Using Chicago's South Side during the 70's as his backdrop will have you walking down memory lane while his character's remind you of people you once knew. Definitely a book not to be missed!
Feb 01, 2010
Sarah
rated it:
Incredibly funny! I loved the main character![return][return]Promising eighth-grade student Hank befriends troublemaker Ralph, who encourages Hank to engage in unscrupulous activities in their 1978 Chicago neighborhood that set the groundwork for more serious behaviors in their adult lives.
Aug 07, 2007
Molly
rated it:
Novel in stories that takes place in the southwest suburbs of Chicago during the late 70's. Basically about 2 best friends who get into all sorts of shenanigans. This is a really enjoyable book, and anyone who's ever had a best friend that always got them into trouble can relate.
Jul 06, 2009
Mandi
rated it:
I wasn't that thrilled with this book upon reading; it is lighthearted and fun but not that relatable for me. However, since I thought about the antics in the book just a few days ago (many months after reading), I guess it was good enough to stick with me.
Jan 16, 2008
Julie
rated it:
a funny but sincere story about all the angst and ambivalence that comes along with adolescence; this book is deceptively simple- it's a fast and fun read but there is wisdom under its lighthearted surface
