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Me, Boo and The Goob: A Southern Adventure
From the beginning in the haunted halls of an old mansion, to the exciting end in a dusty Memphis pasture, “Me, Boo and The A Southern Adventure” is the hilarious story of three boys as they struggle to make sense of the adult world. Filled with only the best of intentions, the boys careen from mishap to mishap in a story that is as endearing as it is funny. Built on the innocence of childhood, the unshakable trust of true friendship, and courage born only of blind optimism, the boys hunt ghosts, avoid military school, survive a tornado, learn to fish, capture a bank robber and become best friends with one of America’s favorite sons. A tale that will have you smiling, maybe laughing every time you see a small boy for days to come, “Me, Boo and The Goob” is a page turner that you will read twice just to laugh again.
154 pages, Paperback
Published February 21, 2017
15 people are currently reading
524 people want to read
About the author
William L. Garner
2 books21 followersWilliam Garner was born in Memphis, Tennessee. Following a disastrous and near tragic house fire at their home in Senatobia, Mississippi on the day after Christmas 1960, his family moved to Jonesboro, Arkansas where his father practiced medicine. William is a 1963 graduate of Miss Macky’s Kindergarten in Jonesboro, Arkansas. Following a devastating tornado that struck Jonesboro in May of 1968, the family moved to Memphis for three years while his father pursued a residency in Radiology before returning to Jonesboro in 1971.
Mr. Garner was asked to graduate as a Junior from Jonesboro High School in 1975. He attended Arkansas State University before being asked to leave both it and it’s branch campus at Beebe, Arkansas. Eventually, despite his best efforts, Mr. Garner was graduated from The University of Mississippi in 1980 where he had enjoyed skydiving, hunting, fishing, water skiing, scuba diving, music, liquor, raw oysters, boiled shrimp, barbecue, football, women and occasionally attended class.
Known for his unique approach to southern humor and memoirs, Mr. Garner now lives quietly on the Gulf Coast enjoying life with his long suffering wife, his grown children and his grandsons.
Mr. Garner was asked to graduate as a Junior from Jonesboro High School in 1975. He attended Arkansas State University before being asked to leave both it and it’s branch campus at Beebe, Arkansas. Eventually, despite his best efforts, Mr. Garner was graduated from The University of Mississippi in 1980 where he had enjoyed skydiving, hunting, fishing, water skiing, scuba diving, music, liquor, raw oysters, boiled shrimp, barbecue, football, women and occasionally attended class.
Known for his unique approach to southern humor and memoirs, Mr. Garner now lives quietly on the Gulf Coast enjoying life with his long suffering wife, his grown children and his grandsons.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
December 13, 2021
The only thing stopping this little gem of a book from becoming a beloved classic and an Oscar-winning blockbuster of a movie, á la Forrest Gump, is a talented editor. Everything else will follow.
This series of hilarious vignettes, set in the South in the late 60’s, is narrated by a wonderfully precocious and self-assured 10 year old named Willie…I think. I’m still unsure about his name and a couple of other things, because structurally, grammatically, and punctuation-wise…this book is just the tiniest bit of a mess.* Again…nothing a talented editor and some rewrites wouldn’t fix. But trust me…get past that, and you are in for a treat! The writer is good, and the bones are solid. You WILL be entertained.
I seriously can’t remember the last time I literally laughed out loud this much while, simultaneously, being so charmed. Part of that charm is the nostalgia for a time and way of growing up that isn’t coming back. If you’re Gen X or older, you know what I mean. The kind of freedom and innocence this kid enjoys (like many of us were privileged to know) just doesn’t seem possible, anymore. It’s a crying shame, too, because there seems to be little room in today’s hyper-structured, Internet-driven childhoods for the kind of lazy, analog days and hard-won growth experiences that lead to great stories like these. Or maybe I’m just biased. Hard to say. The rest of the charm resides largely in the protagonist. This kid is gold. You will 100% fall in love with him. (My inner casting director is demanding a time machine to go snatch a young Lucas Black from the set of Sling Blade or American Gothic).
The writer, William L. Garner, bills this as fiction, but it reads like a series of connected essays that form a first person, non-fiction account of (possibly) his own childhood (albeit with a generous helping of “fish story” creative embellishment, and maybe a flat out whopper or two). His sense of place is strong, his voice is authentic. I enjoyed every minute I spent in his world, and am ecstatic about hearing there might be a sequel coming.
Yes, it breaks down in parts where a good editor would have it flowing smoothly (a particularly puzzling timeline issue comes to mind), but don’t let that keep you from diving into this rough around the edges, undiscovered treasure of a book. If I had to “Hollywood pitch” it (and believe me, my inner producer is dying to option this), I’d probably say something like, “It’s Forrest Gump meets Stand By Me, but without the crying and corpses”. I’m being reductive, and not quite accurate, but it gets you in the ballpark. Just read it. Preferably, not next to a sleeping significant other. You’re welcome.
*I’d like to point out that I read the Kindle version, and as we all are discovering, a lot can go wrong with ebook formatting. It’s possible that some of the problems are due to that. I just ordered the paperback, though, so at some point I’ll read that, and see if there’s an appreciable difference.
This series of hilarious vignettes, set in the South in the late 60’s, is narrated by a wonderfully precocious and self-assured 10 year old named Willie…I think. I’m still unsure about his name and a couple of other things, because structurally, grammatically, and punctuation-wise…this book is just the tiniest bit of a mess.* Again…nothing a talented editor and some rewrites wouldn’t fix. But trust me…get past that, and you are in for a treat! The writer is good, and the bones are solid. You WILL be entertained.
I seriously can’t remember the last time I literally laughed out loud this much while, simultaneously, being so charmed. Part of that charm is the nostalgia for a time and way of growing up that isn’t coming back. If you’re Gen X or older, you know what I mean. The kind of freedom and innocence this kid enjoys (like many of us were privileged to know) just doesn’t seem possible, anymore. It’s a crying shame, too, because there seems to be little room in today’s hyper-structured, Internet-driven childhoods for the kind of lazy, analog days and hard-won growth experiences that lead to great stories like these. Or maybe I’m just biased. Hard to say. The rest of the charm resides largely in the protagonist. This kid is gold. You will 100% fall in love with him. (My inner casting director is demanding a time machine to go snatch a young Lucas Black from the set of Sling Blade or American Gothic).
The writer, William L. Garner, bills this as fiction, but it reads like a series of connected essays that form a first person, non-fiction account of (possibly) his own childhood (albeit with a generous helping of “fish story” creative embellishment, and maybe a flat out whopper or two). His sense of place is strong, his voice is authentic. I enjoyed every minute I spent in his world, and am ecstatic about hearing there might be a sequel coming.
Yes, it breaks down in parts where a good editor would have it flowing smoothly (a particularly puzzling timeline issue comes to mind), but don’t let that keep you from diving into this rough around the edges, undiscovered treasure of a book. If I had to “Hollywood pitch” it (and believe me, my inner producer is dying to option this), I’d probably say something like, “It’s Forrest Gump meets Stand By Me, but without the crying and corpses”. I’m being reductive, and not quite accurate, but it gets you in the ballpark. Just read it. Preferably, not next to a sleeping significant other. You’re welcome.
*I’d like to point out that I read the Kindle version, and as we all are discovering, a lot can go wrong with ebook formatting. It’s possible that some of the problems are due to that. I just ordered the paperback, though, so at some point I’ll read that, and see if there’s an appreciable difference.
January 30, 2018
Wonderful story of childhood in a less technical world, when kids had independence to try play and get into difficult situations often through naiveté. Clean fun and wonderful characters at home in Mayberry or other small towns, Real danger enter into the life of the boys when they encounter a bank robber venting his hatred towards them throughout the story; a truly laugh out loud tale that would be a wonderful movie like "The Christmas Story". The surprise at the ending is superb but I cannot hint because the moment is worth the boys troubles. A keeper of a book!!!
December 22, 2017
This book is an often hilarious story about three young boys trying to make their way in the world of the South. They get themselves into a lot of mishaps, some trouble, and even hunt ghosts in a dilapidated old mansion. They even foil a crime in one of their many adventures. The book will have you reminiscing about your own childhood, when friends hung together, doing what kids do and reaping the consequences.
November 28, 2017
Fast paced story of the trials and tribulations that face a group of young friends growing up together. This book brought back similar fond memories of days long past but not forgotten "playing outside". The twist and turns keep things lively and humorous.
September 7, 2020
Fun southern adventure, quick, enjoyable read. Made me chuckle and downright laugh out loud in parts. Very relatable as a boy who caused his fair share of trouble.
September 21, 2025
Palette cleanser between more intense reads. I echo other's comments about editing issues.
September 3, 2025
Amusing adventures of a young boy in the south in the 60's who seems to keep getting into deep trouble despite having the best of intentions (including burning down the house, destroying the turf at a golf course, and nearly killing the groundskeeper). Worth a few laughs.
September 17, 2025
The only flaw was countless editing errors in the Kindle version. But it's very cute and funny!
October 26, 2016
Boys will be boys!
Great southern boy story with all kinds of adventures! Not for the faint-hearted! Seriously, a good story about a boy who tries to do the right thing, but ends up in a mess!
Great southern boy story with all kinds of adventures! Not for the faint-hearted! Seriously, a good story about a boy who tries to do the right thing, but ends up in a mess!
July 21, 2017
Hilarious!
Never in my life have I laughed so hard out loud while reading a book! With only a few punctuation and grammatical errors, this story literally had me laughing until the tears were rolling!
Never in my life have I laughed so hard out loud while reading a book! With only a few punctuation and grammatical errors, this story literally had me laughing until the tears were rolling!
June 25, 2025
One of best book in a while
Love this book. If you lived in south during the 60,s you will love this book. Took me back to my child hood time. Read it if nothing more than a few The end is worth a lot
Love this book. If you lived in south during the 60,s you will love this book. Took me back to my child hood time. Read it if nothing more than a few The end is worth a lot
July 20, 2025
My wife found this quite funny to the point of laughing aloud. It was just ok with me. Sort of a borderline situation. Had it been nonfiction, some of it was funny. As nonfiction, it was just some far-fetched tall tales. I won’t be reading the follow-up writings.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews