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The Big Garage on Clear Shot: Growing Up, Growing Old, and Going Fishing at the End of the Road
The Alaskan author presents fresh stories from the Big Garage on Clearshot, as romances run rampant and everyone copes with the oil spill disaster
299 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 1990
About the author
Tom Bodett
37 books119 followers Tom Bodett is an American author, voice actor and radio host. He is also the current spokesman for the hotel chain Motel 6 and is famous for popularizing the phrase, "We'll leave the light on for you".
A native of Sturgis, Michigan, Bodett had previously provided commentary for National Public Radio's All Things Considered, and was a regular columnist for the webzine Mr. Showbiz. He also did the voiceover for "Mime Time" and the "Good Idea/Bad Idea" segments on Animaniacs.
As a broadcaster, Bodett hosted two radio programs. The End of the Road from 1988 to 1990 and Bodett & Company in 1993. He also hosted the public television program, Travels on America’s Historic Trails.
He is currently a regular contributor to The Bob Edwards Show on XMPR and a member of the stable of panelists on Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!, a National Public Radio news quiz show.
A former resident of Seattle, Washington and Homer, Alaska, he now lives in Vermont.
A native of Sturgis, Michigan, Bodett had previously provided commentary for National Public Radio's All Things Considered, and was a regular columnist for the webzine Mr. Showbiz. He also did the voiceover for "Mime Time" and the "Good Idea/Bad Idea" segments on Animaniacs.
As a broadcaster, Bodett hosted two radio programs. The End of the Road from 1988 to 1990 and Bodett & Company in 1993. He also hosted the public television program, Travels on America’s Historic Trails.
He is currently a regular contributor to The Bob Edwards Show on XMPR and a member of the stable of panelists on Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!, a National Public Radio news quiz show.
A former resident of Seattle, Washington and Homer, Alaska, he now lives in Vermont.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
January 16, 2016
Another Tom Bodett masterpiece. This is a continuation of "End of the Road" where you hear more stories of the characters you came to love from the first book, plus you meet a couple new ones. Who knew that Tom Bodett of Motel 6 fame would become one of my favorite story tellers of all time?!
November 28, 2023
An extra star because I finally found this story:
"For as long as he could remember, every time they hit a pothole or other rough spot on the road, his father would cheerfully say, "bumpity-bump-bump-bump."
His mother's head would bob pleasantly like she'd never heard it before, and all the children would giggle with dutiful delight at their father's playfulness. All the children except Norman that is."
The three creepies, forced family fun, and the relationship of a teenager and a father all wrapped up in a few short pages, or, probably twelve minutes running time of Tom Bodett narrating the story on cassette tape, as heard on long car rides in the dark. ♥️
"For as long as he could remember, every time they hit a pothole or other rough spot on the road, his father would cheerfully say, "bumpity-bump-bump-bump."
His mother's head would bob pleasantly like she'd never heard it before, and all the children would giggle with dutiful delight at their father's playfulness. All the children except Norman that is."
The three creepies, forced family fun, and the relationship of a teenager and a father all wrapped up in a few short pages, or, probably twelve minutes running time of Tom Bodett narrating the story on cassette tape, as heard on long car rides in the dark. ♥️
September 22, 2024
"The Big Garage on Clear Shot: Growing Up, Growing Old, and Going Fishing at the End of the Road" by Tom Bodett is a collection of related short stories about fictional characters in Homer, AK. The humor, love, and a gentle moral perspective shone through brightly for me. The stories are well written and the book can be picked up, put down, and picked up later with no loss of continuity. I'm an Alaskan, so much of the book had special meaning for me. But regardless of where you are from, this light-hearted book will warm your heart, highly recommended!
July 24, 2021
As one reviewer put it, "Talking to Tom Bodett...is like drinking a cup of cocoa in front of a roaring fire on a stormy day. Bodett combines a common touch with rare warmth and wisdom." (Jean Godden)
I teared up when it ended. I'll miss these folks from The End of the Road. Well, I do have a couple more of his books to read. Now I feel better.
I teared up when it ended. I'll miss these folks from The End of the Road. Well, I do have a couple more of his books to read. Now I feel better.
April 5, 2021
Fun to follow this cast of characters facing their snapshot in time and place
July 4, 2022
Entertaining to read. I like the forum of a collection of short stories from this small town.
June 7, 2023
good writer but just not my kind of book. If you like small towns and lots of long winded speeches containing no meaning, well you will probably enjoy this book.
November 21, 2016
A Review of the Audiobook
Book version originally published in 1992
Duration: 2 hours, 14 minutes
Published by Random House Audio
I am an unabashed fan of Tom Bodett's cast of characters in the fictional town of End of the Road, Alaska. I first found these stories more than twenty years ago on cassette and was pleased to re-discover them because they had been re-released in digital format.
To be honest, most of the time in these stories not much actually happens except for life just going on as normal. There is no big plot to rob the bathat gets foiled, no crime to be solved. Nothing like that. It is regular life stuff being experienced by some eccentric folks in an Alaskan fishing town - literally the end of the road, thus the name of the town is End of the Road.
But, when Bodett relates the story of middle school student Norman Tuttle being bullied and his first time going hunting and his experience at the big dance - well, we've all been there. Maybe not exactly, but close enough. And, Bodett relates it so lovingly - it is like this really is a town and these really are real people and we can see into their lives and find common ground with them.
In this episode we also meet...
Read more at: http://dwdsreviews.blogspot.com/2016/...
Book version originally published in 1992
Duration: 2 hours, 14 minutes
Published by Random House Audio
I am an unabashed fan of Tom Bodett's cast of characters in the fictional town of End of the Road, Alaska. I first found these stories more than twenty years ago on cassette and was pleased to re-discover them because they had been re-released in digital format.
To be honest, most of the time in these stories not much actually happens except for life just going on as normal. There is no big plot to rob the bathat gets foiled, no crime to be solved. Nothing like that. It is regular life stuff being experienced by some eccentric folks in an Alaskan fishing town - literally the end of the road, thus the name of the town is End of the Road.
But, when Bodett relates the story of middle school student Norman Tuttle being bullied and his first time going hunting and his experience at the big dance - well, we've all been there. Maybe not exactly, but close enough. And, Bodett relates it so lovingly - it is like this really is a town and these really are real people and we can see into their lives and find common ground with them.
In this episode we also meet...
Read more at: http://dwdsreviews.blogspot.com/2016/...
November 16, 2008
Bodett is far more than the Motel 6 voice. His writing is at the very top of what I would call the "clean, funny, informative and funny [again]" genre. His bboks on tape are a must in order to "get it". His characters become your friends. Like people in your neighborhood or old aquantences. Doug McDougan is the guy we all know, hate and love. Norman Tuttle is the new teenager lost in his hormones, Angus, the junk dealer, is the practical guy and Tamara is the greenhead taken to the ultimate degree. Superb reading.
June 20, 2009
Very enjoyable. I actually like Bodett better than Garrison Keillor (and I know I spelled it wrong). His town of crazy eccentrics from his radio show is just more enjoyable to me. I've got to read the rest of the series.
July 24, 2012
Entertaining read reminiscent of Garrison Keillor stories in a different setting - Alaska small town. Argus is an interesting character as are they all, but he stands out. Inviting a lady to dinner - frozen TV dinners. Proposing to her via water tanks!!! All in all a very pleasant read.
December 3, 2014
See my review of The End of the Road for my thoughts on Bodett and his world.
More stories about the wonderful people who people the town of The End of the Road, Alaska. There's a bit of the warm and poignant in this volume.
More stories about the wonderful people who people the town of The End of the Road, Alaska. There's a bit of the warm and poignant in this volume.
August 24, 2015
I so enjoyed this book that I want to find more books by this author. It is LOL funny and also touching (both literally and figuratively). This may be set in small town Alaska but the characters are unique and universal.
Read
August 14, 2008F Bod
January 31, 2011
True Alaska
March 27, 2015
Very funny. Stories make you feel like you know them.
July 25, 2009
Fun relaxing story telling at it's best.
April 7, 2015
Delightful.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews