What do you think?
Rate this book
This humorous tale re-introduces the character of Peter Leroy, who traces the lifelong romance of his grandparents, Herb and Lorna. Eric Kraft has also written "The Personal History...", "Adventures...", "Experiences..." and "Observations of Peter Leroy".
402 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1988
11 people are currently reading
168 people want to read
About the author
Eric Kraft
53 books28 followersEric Kraft grew up in Babylon, New York, on the South Shore of Long Island, where he was for a time co-owner and co-captain of a clam boat, which sank. He met or invented the character Peter Leroy while dozing over a German lesson during his first year at Harvard. The following year, he married his muse, Madeline Canning; they have two sons. After earning a Master’s Degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, Kraft taught school in the Boston area for a while, moonlighting as a rock music critic for the Boston Phoenix. Since then, he has undertaken a variety of hackwork to support the Kraft ménage and the writing of the voluminous work of fiction that he calls The Personal History, Adventures, Experiences & Observations of Peter Leroy. He has been the recipient of a fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts; was, briefly, chairman of PEN New England; and has been awarded the John Dos Passos Prize for Literature.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
April 29, 2011
I found Peter Kraft's book Herb 'n' Lorna under my feet on my way to my Grandmother's funeral when I was 14. I was in the back seat of her white Honda Accord, sitting behind my mother who was driving us to the Mormon church where my mother's mother's service was being held later that day. The front of the dust jacket was torn a little on the top, right of center. Kind of like my Grandmother. I carried Herb 'n' Lorna around that day, and took it home with me that night. It gave me something to stare at, but I dared not open it for fear of being rude. Then I forgot about the book for a few years, until I was in my early twenties and suddenly found myself pregnant and abandoned and looking for escape from my troubles for a few hours.
Herb 'n' Lorna hit me hard. I read it from cover to cover with breathless speed at least three times in as many days. The dust jacket was gone by then, and the exposed, royal blue hardcover with blood red spine had been chewed by a dog. Whose dog, I'll never know. But it was my Grandmother's book, of that I'm sure, and my shock that she would have owned such a naughty story with her pristine (and, I thought, prudish) reputation made the story even more tantalizing.
My favorite passage is early in the book and describes "Lorna's elusive beauty" with such poetic articulation it made me want to learn how to use words as perfectly as Kraft did to capture the essence of emotional responses. I'm a professional writer now, and I consider Herb 'n' Lorna as the catalyst that made me one. I highly recommend reading this romantic, silly, beautifully written book.
Herb 'n' Lorna hit me hard. I read it from cover to cover with breathless speed at least three times in as many days. The dust jacket was gone by then, and the exposed, royal blue hardcover with blood red spine had been chewed by a dog. Whose dog, I'll never know. But it was my Grandmother's book, of that I'm sure, and my shock that she would have owned such a naughty story with her pristine (and, I thought, prudish) reputation made the story even more tantalizing.
My favorite passage is early in the book and describes "Lorna's elusive beauty" with such poetic articulation it made me want to learn how to use words as perfectly as Kraft did to capture the essence of emotional responses. I'm a professional writer now, and I consider Herb 'n' Lorna as the catalyst that made me one. I highly recommend reading this romantic, silly, beautifully written book.
July 7, 2011
I read a review that said this book is basically a love story. A guy tells the story of his grandparents and I liked not only the idea what seemed like a great love story with a couple for whom it wasn't always smooth sailing but to see an elderly couple as the young people they once were. Although the odd ingredient here is that the Herb and Lorna both made erotic jewellery I was assured this wasn't an erotic book.
True it's not erotic but there is sex. Sex which doesn't seem to add much to the story on the whole. Seems to be there for the sake of it. And it's an epic book - in that it begins right at the beginning with their forefathers, their birth and growing up. Or in other words it's slow. Very slow.
Early on, while Lorna is still a child, she wintesses her 16 year old sister have sex with their Uncle (their father's brother) in the barn. The sexual relationship continues and if I remember rightly he also has sex with her other sister. Later he tries to have sex with Lorna who is willing until his physical deformity of missing fingers stops her sealing the deal. The way in which this Uncle and niece sex is written about is rather matter of fact, no big deal. I was starting to wonder if I had the wrong idea but later in the book Lorna gives her Uncle a veiled threat to tell her father about what her Uncle has been doing with her sisters which wins her the argument. So there does comes a hint that the author understands the morality. It just doesn't sit comfortably with me at all and coloured the whole book for me.
I struggled on, wanting to know what would happen. But the review that promised me a non-erotic love story was misleading. It does touch on the love between the two but it doesn't seem a great feature - the author seems more pre-occupied with the keeping of the secret about the erotic jewellery than building my empathy with the characters or even making them three dimensional. The sex as I said is a little lurid for my taste. And it's slow. Very slow.
At first it reminded me of World According to Garp (which I love) in the writing style - a work of literature - so I kept going. And I can see why Amazon are championing this to be republished, it certainly had the makings of a classic in the beginning). I kept going but I found myself looking for a reason to stop. Waiting for my sensibilities to be offended again. In the end I just lost my will to read on after about half way through. I didn't care enough about the characters to want to find out about the rest of their lives. The pace, the writing, the story - all made me apathetic.
Perhaps I am too sensitive, or not intellectual enough to appreciate this book. But it wasn't what the wite up had lead me to expect. It hadn't promised some massive literary work but seemed pretty accessible. So for me it was a disappointment. I wanted to like it and I tried very hard but it's not for me.
True it's not erotic but there is sex. Sex which doesn't seem to add much to the story on the whole. Seems to be there for the sake of it. And it's an epic book - in that it begins right at the beginning with their forefathers, their birth and growing up. Or in other words it's slow. Very slow.
Early on, while Lorna is still a child, she wintesses her 16 year old sister have sex with their Uncle (their father's brother) in the barn. The sexual relationship continues and if I remember rightly he also has sex with her other sister. Later he tries to have sex with Lorna who is willing until his physical deformity of missing fingers stops her sealing the deal. The way in which this Uncle and niece sex is written about is rather matter of fact, no big deal. I was starting to wonder if I had the wrong idea but later in the book Lorna gives her Uncle a veiled threat to tell her father about what her Uncle has been doing with her sisters which wins her the argument. So there does comes a hint that the author understands the morality. It just doesn't sit comfortably with me at all and coloured the whole book for me.
I struggled on, wanting to know what would happen. But the review that promised me a non-erotic love story was misleading. It does touch on the love between the two but it doesn't seem a great feature - the author seems more pre-occupied with the keeping of the secret about the erotic jewellery than building my empathy with the characters or even making them three dimensional. The sex as I said is a little lurid for my taste. And it's slow. Very slow.
At first it reminded me of World According to Garp (which I love) in the writing style - a work of literature - so I kept going. And I can see why Amazon are championing this to be republished, it certainly had the makings of a classic in the beginning). I kept going but I found myself looking for a reason to stop. Waiting for my sensibilities to be offended again. In the end I just lost my will to read on after about half way through. I didn't care enough about the characters to want to find out about the rest of their lives. The pace, the writing, the story - all made me apathetic.
Perhaps I am too sensitive, or not intellectual enough to appreciate this book. But it wasn't what the wite up had lead me to expect. It hadn't promised some massive literary work but seemed pretty accessible. So for me it was a disappointment. I wanted to like it and I tried very hard but it's not for me.
June 30, 2011
It is difficult to describe Eric Kraft's novels, wherein he explores the life and times of his alter ego, Peter LeRoy, who grew up in Babbington, Long Island, the self proclaimed clam capital of America. But that's not the point.
Often, in fact usually, the episodes in Peter's life - whether in novel or short story form - are told out of sequence. Sometimes way out of sequence. Herb 'n Lorna is the story of how his grandparents met, married, and lived life together. They also have a MOST interesting hobby (passion) that continues even after they settle down, have a family, and Herb sells Studebakers. That's not the point either.
This book is funny and romantic and sexy and strange and if you have trouble sleeping you could be up all night reading it cover to cover.
Eric Kraft is an amazingly inventive writer whose particular take on the time space continuum requires that you suspend your disbelief and...just go with him. That is the point...and it's well worth it. Read this one first. Then choose from among 'Where Do You Stop...' 'Little Follies' 'What a Piece of Work I Am', or 'At Home With the Glynns.' All quite good to excellent, but Herb n Lorna is my favorite.
Often, in fact usually, the episodes in Peter's life - whether in novel or short story form - are told out of sequence. Sometimes way out of sequence. Herb 'n Lorna is the story of how his grandparents met, married, and lived life together. They also have a MOST interesting hobby (passion) that continues even after they settle down, have a family, and Herb sells Studebakers. That's not the point either.
This book is funny and romantic and sexy and strange and if you have trouble sleeping you could be up all night reading it cover to cover.
Eric Kraft is an amazingly inventive writer whose particular take on the time space continuum requires that you suspend your disbelief and...just go with him. That is the point...and it's well worth it. Read this one first. Then choose from among 'Where Do You Stop...' 'Little Follies' 'What a Piece of Work I Am', or 'At Home With the Glynns.' All quite good to excellent, but Herb n Lorna is my favorite.
June 10, 2010
This was a pretty enjoyable novel, but I didn't like it as much as Kraft's prior work (a series of short novellas collected under the name "Little Follies"). Maybe I didn't like it so much because it was his first full-length novel; perhaps this isn't the best form for this author. Parts of it were sort of infuriating to me, like his spoof of the Marx Brothers (since I'm a Marx Brothers fan, I didn't find it very amusing). There were too many moments/characters in the story that were just too hard to believe. I think I'm going to stick with non-fiction for a while. Even Proust (who is obviously one of Kraft's models) created believable characters.
January 10, 2008
a hilarious and sexy story about the creators of the erotic art jewelry industry. Herb and Lorna are wonderful characters, I wish I could meet them. this was a great airplane read, i couldn't put it down. except that it's a pretty sexy book and airplane bathrooms are small and just not all that sexy.
March 28, 2024
Well written, humorous novel following a couple's relationship and family history. A fun read, with a very "British tongue in cheek" point of view. Parts are silly, but worth getting through. Glad I read it.
August 9, 2018
Who knew jewelry could be so fun!
May 7, 2019
Love story circling a a secret held by both people- the same secret. Very enjoyable.
August 21, 2019
Reading this book, for me, was a mistake. A huge one.
Funny? Poignant? Hilarious? Sexy and erotic? Noooo….
(Too) sweet and cute. Maybe...
Love story. Definitely.
June 28, 2010
I think Eric Kraft wrote this novel before "Flying." Herb and Lorna are the maternal grandparents of "Flying's" hero, Peter Leroy.
Again, the voice was quick and witty; the story often very funny, romantic and strange.
It begins with the Lorna's death, which prompts Peter to tell about his grandparents' life together starting from their births early in the 20th century. The country and climate feel faraway but the characters and their activities are so enduring and inescapably true to USA culture, I sometimes read it more as recent past until war and Depression and technological advances pulled me into the correct era.
"Herb 'N' Lorna" is one uninterrupted novel and so presents a smoother narrative than "Flying" (perhaps: smooth narratives not being my first concern as a reader.) Certainly, it presented a consistent story with no leaps or loops like "Flying." Technically, perhaps, this made the book more widely attractive: the roundtable discussion of "Flying" found some readers complaining at so much cunning.
"Herb 'N' Lorna" offers much cunning, too, but it takes place on the ground. Realities are never confused, which may make it more popular. The prose and wit are just as wild but never strain natural law or science. Every sentence was a pleasure. The characters are skillful, admirable, and rich with human faults, talents, and tendencies for misunderstandings. The book reads very quickly but Kraft writes so clearly here, I doubt his readers miss anything he reveals.
Again, the voice was quick and witty; the story often very funny, romantic and strange.
It begins with the Lorna's death, which prompts Peter to tell about his grandparents' life together starting from their births early in the 20th century. The country and climate feel faraway but the characters and their activities are so enduring and inescapably true to USA culture, I sometimes read it more as recent past until war and Depression and technological advances pulled me into the correct era.
"Herb 'N' Lorna" is one uninterrupted novel and so presents a smoother narrative than "Flying" (perhaps: smooth narratives not being my first concern as a reader.) Certainly, it presented a consistent story with no leaps or loops like "Flying." Technically, perhaps, this made the book more widely attractive: the roundtable discussion of "Flying" found some readers complaining at so much cunning.
"Herb 'N' Lorna" offers much cunning, too, but it takes place on the ground. Realities are never confused, which may make it more popular. The prose and wit are just as wild but never strain natural law or science. Every sentence was a pleasure. The characters are skillful, admirable, and rich with human faults, talents, and tendencies for misunderstandings. The book reads very quickly but Kraft writes so clearly here, I doubt his readers miss anything he reveals.
November 17, 2015
This is the first Eric Kraft book I have read. I was intrigued to find out what it would be like after finding out that all his books form part of the Peter Leroy saga - this book being about Peter's maternal grandparents.
The book is written as if it were a historical essay. It delves into family trees and sources evidence from books, films etc. (all fictional evidence I believe) and also includes quotes of a good friend of the title characters too. This made it different in style to any other fiction book I have read but didn't detract from the story.
The story itself is just that of an ordinary American loving couple going through life from the beginning of the 20th century, through 2 world wars and into retirement. The only difference being that they have a secret.
But apart from that secret there is little to differentiate this couple from any other couple of the period (the author admitted his aim was to make them ordinary but for their secret) so it makes for a pleasant story but maybe not a spectacular one.
The book is written as if it were a historical essay. It delves into family trees and sources evidence from books, films etc. (all fictional evidence I believe) and also includes quotes of a good friend of the title characters too. This made it different in style to any other fiction book I have read but didn't detract from the story.
The story itself is just that of an ordinary American loving couple going through life from the beginning of the 20th century, through 2 world wars and into retirement. The only difference being that they have a secret.
But apart from that secret there is little to differentiate this couple from any other couple of the period (the author admitted his aim was to make them ordinary but for their secret) so it makes for a pleasant story but maybe not a spectacular one.
August 3, 2025
This is at least the third, or perhaps the fourth time I have read this sweet, wonderfully funny, idiosyncratic book. And it is as much of a pleasure as it was the first time. Peter Leroy tells the story of his grandparents, whose secret he does not discover until after their death. They were the inventers and masters of the art of creating animated erotic jewelry - Lorna the sculptor, Herb the fabricator, each working separately,keeping the other from knowing about it for years for fear of embarrassment.
The book is as intricately crafted as one of their pieces. There are wonderful vignettes - Herb in WWI, and sorting clams, Lorna in the slide rule factory, the whole saga of the Studebaker company and the Great Depression, nostalgic but not corny details of life in a simpler era. For a book that is essentially all about sex (and love), it is amazingly innocent and open hearted. The Times review says it all much better than I can.
http://www.nytimes.com/1988/05/29/boo...
The book is as intricately crafted as one of their pieces. There are wonderful vignettes - Herb in WWI, and sorting clams, Lorna in the slide rule factory, the whole saga of the Studebaker company and the Great Depression, nostalgic but not corny details of life in a simpler era. For a book that is essentially all about sex (and love), it is amazingly innocent and open hearted. The Times review says it all much better than I can.
http://www.nytimes.com/1988/05/29/boo...
June 9, 2011
Don't read this book. I know, it's going to draw you in by promising to be a quirky tale about two people who love each other and don't realize that they're both secretly involved in an illicit folk craft: producing buttons, snuff boxes, and other gentlemen's accessories that depict sexual acts. Lorna is the skilled carver that can bring things to life, Herb is the mechanician who engineers the tiny moving pieces. But outside of this pretty small part of the book, this is your standard, boring, "span of the century" love story.
Herb and Lorna meet, fall in love (various trials ensue), Herb pulls himself up by his bootstraps, serves in WWI, they survive the Great Depression, they deal with WWII, they have kids, they have wacky neighbors, they move to an artist colony, the end. Kraft is exploring the lives of his maternal grandparents here, but he forgot that other people might not be as interested in his family history as he is.
Herb and Lorna meet, fall in love (various trials ensue), Herb pulls himself up by his bootstraps, serves in WWI, they survive the Great Depression, they deal with WWII, they have kids, they have wacky neighbors, they move to an artist colony, the end. Kraft is exploring the lives of his maternal grandparents here, but he forgot that other people might not be as interested in his family history as he is.
August 23, 2011
Presented as the biography of the grandparents of a fictional character, this lovely novel is a strangely engaging read. Though the book starts off slow and is a little difficult to really sink into, once the story takes off, it is difficult to put down. Well-written, sweet, funny, and a little naughty, this novel was an unexpectedly enjoyable offering. Herb and Lorna are wonderful characters that I found myself totally invested in- the grandparents any of us would love to have. This story of an ordinary family, its place in history, and its quirky secrets offers hours of enjoyment that you will want to share with your friends and family. 4 stars (would have been 5 if I hadn't started and stopped a couple of times before I finally got hooked).
November 15, 2009
I like this book very much.
Liz recommended it to me, handed me her copy, in fact, and said I should read it.
It's a love story, written as if it were a work of nonfiction, a biography of the narrator's maternal grandparents. It's a story of love and sex and aging and love and sex and secrets and love.
The writing style is a perfect balance of challenging and accessible. There were even some words I would have looked up, had there been a dictionary at my side.
Some bits were funny, and some bits were poignant, and one bit even made me cry.
I recommend this book to anyone looking to read a piece of fiction.
I want to read more by Eric Kraft.
Liz recommended it to me, handed me her copy, in fact, and said I should read it.
It's a love story, written as if it were a work of nonfiction, a biography of the narrator's maternal grandparents. It's a story of love and sex and aging and love and sex and secrets and love.
The writing style is a perfect balance of challenging and accessible. There were even some words I would have looked up, had there been a dictionary at my side.
Some bits were funny, and some bits were poignant, and one bit even made me cry.
I recommend this book to anyone looking to read a piece of fiction.
I want to read more by Eric Kraft.
November 29, 2010
Funny how few really different ideas there are for current novels...here's a topic I'd never heard before. On the day of his "Gamma's" funeral, a 30-something grandson is given a packet she'd left for him.
As he looks at the documents and enclosed items, he discovers that both his beloved grandparents have been creating coarse goods (tiny hand-crafted erotic figures -- most mechanically worked to be moveable. Some are arranged to be moved by winding the stem of a pocket watch case.
How these totally "normal" loving, conservative grandparents came to be involved in this unusual trade is the story of the book which is also a tale of love, truth, perspective and sharing.
As he looks at the documents and enclosed items, he discovers that both his beloved grandparents have been creating coarse goods (tiny hand-crafted erotic figures -- most mechanically worked to be moveable. Some are arranged to be moved by winding the stem of a pocket watch case.
How these totally "normal" loving, conservative grandparents came to be involved in this unusual trade is the story of the book which is also a tale of love, truth, perspective and sharing.
September 20, 2011
Since reading this book in maybe 1987 (??) I have never walked out of a used bookstore without taking every copy to be had.
These I have given to many a friend over the years. Some have been puzzled by it, but most have gotten it, and a few have completely fallen like me. I can't recommend it highly enough.
Who it's not for: if you tend to read mostly for plot, definitely skip it.
If, like me, you read for style, for nuanced, multi-dimensional characters and passing details that fascinate and ring true and make you smile, find a copy.
These I have given to many a friend over the years. Some have been puzzled by it, but most have gotten it, and a few have completely fallen like me. I can't recommend it highly enough.
Who it's not for: if you tend to read mostly for plot, definitely skip it.
If, like me, you read for style, for nuanced, multi-dimensional characters and passing details that fascinate and ring true and make you smile, find a copy.
January 15, 2013
I found this tongue in cheek story charming. It has a fanciful quality about it, but at the same time nails the way that real couples interact (a code word for sex, or using an inside joke so much that it accidently slips out with other people who are very confused.) I love reading about sex and this story doesn't disappoint; confronting American prudishness head on.
March 19, 2008
Not my favorite Eric Kraft, but definitely worth reading. A young man learns that his grandparents have scandalous pasts.
October 11, 2009
A fun and entertaining read!
June 12, 2010
more like 3.75. good, but i kept wondering about the plausibility
October 2, 2010
A wonderfully quirky take on America during and in between the war years! I love the portrayal of Herb and Lorna's marriage.
January 31, 2011
Couldn't put this one down! Be warned: while it is about a couple who creates and sells erotic goods, it is NOT an erotic novel.
April 5, 2011
Delightful! Thanks for the recommendation, Nora!
July 24, 2011
A young man delves into the life of his grandparents and discovers the secrets they kept from one another for many years. Great book.
December 25, 2011
I didn't hate this, but it wasn't compelling, and I almost quit @ 86%. I rarely abandon books, certainly not that far into them, but I almost did.
January 10, 2012
This was a cute, funny story in the vein of John Updike. This story deal with the secret of the married couple but is also the story of a marriage. A cute fun read.
Read
June 21, 2013Couldn't finish this book.... lost interest
June 5, 2013
One of my favorite books. A wonderful, funny, quirky love story.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews