Days Like Smoke: A Minnesota Boyhood

by Jon Hassler, Will Weaver (Foreword), Peter A. Donahue (Afterword)

The memoir of a small-town childhood by one of Minnesota’s favorite writers, now published for the first time

I’ve always thought of the Red Owl Grocery Store in Plainview, Minnesota, as my training ground, for it was there that I acquired the latent qualities necessary to the from my dear German father, endurance, patience, resilience, and sound working habits, and from my dear Irish mother, the fun of picking individuals out of a crowd and the joy of finding the precise words to describe them. No one took more nourishment away from that store than I. Beloved Minnesota novelist Jon Hassler, who chronicled small-town Midwestern life in such popular novels as Staggerford, A Green Journey, and North of Hope, left the manuscript for one important story unfinished when he his own. Days Like A Minnesota Boyhood is Hassler’s previously unpublished memoir of his youth in rural Minnesota during the 1930s and 40s, giving us his memories and experiences through a writer’s acute and detailed observations. He remembers piano lessons, small-town secrets, his passion for movies, and his holy duties as the only altar boy at St. Joachim’s.  He imagines how Sylvia Pofford spent the night of the prom that they did not attend together, and he recalls Miss Glaswitz, his unmarried neighbor “who kept . . . a neat, overfurnished house on Broadway, in each room of which was a glass-covered dish filled with hard candy,” who “surprised us all by selling it and marrying a cattle buyer from St. Paul.” With chapters organized by simple themes such as houses, lessons, and groceries, and ever attuned to the idiosyncrasies of the people around him, Hassler reviews his early years and occasionally reveals when a particular neighbor, teacher, or friend inspired a character or scene in his writing. Will Weaver, another successful writer devoted to rural Minnesota, first met “Mister Hassler” as his older sister’s English teacher in Park Rapids. Weaver gently edited Hassler’s unfinished manuscript and contributed a moving foreword that gives readers biographical information about the author as well as describing the literary connections with his life and, above all, his empathy for the real residents and imagined characters of small-town Minnesota.

Genres: Memoir

128 pages, Hardcover

First published September 28, 2021

About the author

Jon Hassler was born in Minneapolis, but spent his formative years in the small Minnesota towns of Staples and Plainview, where he graduated from high school. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in English from St. John's University in 1955. While teaching English at three different Minnesota high schools, he received his Master of Arts degree in English from the University of North Dakota in 1960. He continued to teach at the high school level until 1965, when he began his collegiate teaching career: first at Bemidji State University, then Brainerd Community College (now called Central Lakes College), and finally at Saint John's, where he became the Writer-in-Residence in 1980.

During his high-school teaching years, Hassler married and fathered three children. His first marriage lasted 25 years. He had two more marriages; the last was to Gretchen Kresl Hassler.

In 1994, Hassler was diagnosed with progressive supranuclear palsy, a disease similar to Parkinson's. It caused vision and speech problems, as well as difficulty walking, but he was able to continue writing. He was reported to have finished a novel just days before his death. Hassler died in 2008, at the age of 74, at Methodist Hospital in St. Louis Park, Minnesota.[1]

The Jon Hassler Theater in Plainview, Minnesota, is named for him.

Reviews

[Linden · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a lovely memoir set mostly in the small Minnesota towns where Hassler grew up. His novels are certainly inspired by his background.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this. I’ve read a few of Hassler’s books including Staggerford. Perhaps now I’ll read the rest of them. He was such a great author. His memoir filled with humor and love was such an enjoyable read.

[Sherri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Biography of 1930's and 1940's small town Minnesota of author Jon Hassler. A few photos scattered in when he was young. However, in the chapter titled Photos there are none included. A small volume that lets you feel you're sitting on the front porch reminiscing.

[Colleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jon Hassler died in 2008 but now we get to read one more of his books. He left behind an unfinished memoir. Will Weaver, who knew Hassler well, edited it and now it is out. It's a short little book but brings together Hassler's boyhood experiences and how they became parts of the books. It really makes me want to read all of his novels again.

[Koren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read a few John Hassler books a while ago. He's been gone for 12 years. This is a memoir he wrote and never published, maybe didn't intend to publish. It's short, at just 120 pages. I think fans will like it.

[Ann Jonas · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick read chronicling the childhood of one of my all-time favorite authors Jon Hassler. He writes of his memories of growing up, mainly in Plainview, MN, in the 30s and 40s. This book makes me want to re-read his novels.

[Cathie · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a sweet little memoir of one of my favorite authors. Makes me want to go back and reread all of his books.

[Betsy Seymour · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m so happy this memoir has been published. After decades as a beloved novelist, Jon Hassler wrote this when he was fighting the cruel and fatal disease, Supra-nuclear Palsy. These are his memories of growing up in a small town in the 30s and 40s. This was a joy to read because I realized how much I’ve missed the quality of his honest, succinct and touching prose. This is a welcome read decades after his passing. Reading Jon Hassler’s work is like sitting at the kitchen table,listening to an elder tell the stories of the old days. You’re lulled into a different time and there are moments of laughter and wisdom that stay with you forever. Now Many years since his death, it’s a gift to hear his lovely account of growing up with simple moments that carry beauty and great love.

[Marylyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved all of Jon Hassler’s books. Such a gifted writer. Fun to learn if his childhood.

[Jill Crosby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jon Hassler’s magic gets me every single time. I miss his voice

[Stephanie A. · Rating 3 out of 5]

With the exception of Four Miles to Pinecone, I've never read Hassler's work, but CSB/SJU is my alma mater so although it was before my time, the fact that he was a professor/writer-in-residence at the latter makes me look fondly on him. And when I stumbled upon this at the library and saw how tiny it was (110 smaller-than-average pages, fore/afterwords excluded), in combination with my fondness for MN history, I wanted to give it a read.

(I also loved that the foreword was from Will Weaver, from whom I've read a couple of YA novels; said foreword definitely added helpful context to the work.)

As promised, the memoir confines itself strictly to his childhood and teen years. It is mostly a series of rambling recollections, loosely organized by chapter theme but lacking chronology, and with events occasionally mentioned more than once. I'm not sure his writing style is for me; even this often feels dry at times.

Nevertheless, I enjoyed the glimpses into both public and parochial school as a boy in the '30s and '40s, the various "characters" of his small town, and especially the details of working at the grocery store. The part in which he recalls formative movies of his youth was one of my favorites. There are also a few mentions of specific experiences and people who would later be recreated in his novels, which I'm sure would be fun to a seasoned reader. There are even a few photos, including of his parents, a childhood home, and a shot taken inside the grocery store.

I also really liked what he has to say about his faith as an adult and why he steadfastly remained a Catholic, despite the church's dwindling popularity, which he watched spiral in real time over the course of his life.

Overall: I'm glad this manuscript was resurrected and posthumously published.

[Naomi Helen Yaeger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like this book. It offers a glimpse into his rural Minnesota upbringing during the 1930s and 40s. The first-person narrative establishes a connection as if Hassler himself is personally sharing his stories with me. He detailed observations of everyday life, from his first day of Kindergarten to piano lessons and playing softball to working at the grocery store.
I enjoyed the 15 photos.
Hassler's vivid depictions of Minnesota's small, rural communities, businesses, and schools resonated with me. His accounts, particularly those centered around the movie experiences and walking around in neighborhoods learning who his neighbors were, struck a chord, mirroring relatable family stories and enhancing the book's believability and enjoyability. Notably, Hassler being an only child brings an added layer to his narrative, manifesting a certain wariness of friendships. Edited by Will Weaver, acclaimed for "Sweetland," this memoir successfully captures the essence of Minnesota and the collective experiences that endure across generations. The first-person storytelling, set against the backdrop of the 1930s and 1940s, incorporates reflections on lessons learned and is presented in easily digestible vignettes covering various activities and encounters.

[Mary Aalgaard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is for Jon Hassler fans (North of Hope, Grand Opening, Staggerford, A Green Journey, to name a few) to learn more about the author and his inspiration for his novels. Jon Hassler (1933-2008) wrote 14 novels, several short stories and other works of non-fiction. He’s a Minnesota native and lived in Minneapolis, Plainview, Staples, Brainerd (where I now live), and taught at Brainerd Community College and St. John’s University. He was well known and loved in the area. I’ve read most of his books. North of Hope being one of my favorite novels that I’ve read three times, once a decade since I took a workshop with him in the summer of 1998. His stories and settings hold a special place. Will Weaver, another MN author that I follow and have learned from, wrote the foreword and did the editing for Jon’s memoir as it was published posthumously. It was a nice read, a walk down memory lane, and a glimpse into life in earlier times, and Jon’s views on the world and what/who influenced him.

[John Benson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thirteen years after Jon Hassler's death, a memoir that he had written shortly before his death and found in his material comes out. Jon Hassler was one of Minnesota's most well-loved novelists until his death in 2008. My mom and I collected almost all his novels. The notes for this book were considered almost, but another Minnesota author, Will Weaver, did some "light editing" on it and felt it was complete. I did I did find one geographic mistake in reference to his mother that stood out for me as the place was important to my mother. He mentioned that his mother was able to get a teaching position just south of the Twin Cites in "Lakefield." Lakeville is what he meant; my mother grew up near Lakefield in far southwestern Minnesota. Nonetheless, I enjoyed reading this short memoir of his boyhood days. His power of observation and dry humor come through very well. I enjoyed the surprise of seeing a new book by Jon Hassler, long after his death.

[Sheila Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I'm still a catholic because I believe this message is the most powerful revolutionary, and sensible cure for human strife and anxiety ever conceived. It's a message so simple that no mere human being could have thought of it, a three-word message so all-encompassing that the Son of God had to come to earth to utter it: "Love one another."

[Terry · Rating 4 out of 5]

As good as an autobiography of Jon Hassler that we’re going to get. I hadn’t heard of this one and just happened across it in the library. Probably due to it being published during the COVID years. A must read for the Hassler fan. Some parts seem unedited and probably not up to Hassler’s standards, but a great read none-the-less.

[Sherry Myers · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Jon Hassler's work. This is a short autobiography of his younger years - vinyets to give you a glimpse. I wanted more, and I guess that's where the saying comes from...always leave them wanting more. But I don't think they'll find more. Just glad to keep him part of Minnesota forever.

[Jeff Gallagher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Getting to know Jon Hassler

I have been looking for local Minnesota authors for some time. I stumbled upon a book by Jon Hassler. This book introduced him personally to me and I read it with great joy. I related with his faith and life experiences.

[Laura Valenziano · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick enjoyable read. The descriptions of people, places and things in 1940s & 1950s Minnesota is interesting and a lighthearted memoir.

[Cyndy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read so many of his books but it has been a very long time. It was fun to read this and remember why I liked his books so much.

[Bexter · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sorry I read it. He sounds soulless.

[Nancy Holden]

Have read other books of his and liked them