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CHECK OUT MAX YOHO’S FUNNY BOOK
6-29-10
Today I want to introduce you to a book but, more importantly, acquaint
you with an unusual mind. As you know, I am a people collector. I love
to fill my life with people who have interesting personalities and
perspectives.
Novelist Max Yoho is such a man. To demonstrate
how special he is to me, he is the only novelist in my people
collection. I probably haven’t averaged reading two novels a year during
my life but I met Max online through Topeka columnist Naomi Patterson
long ago and bought his award-winning novel The Revival.
It is the musings of a young boy attending a revival. It was so funny
and thought-provoking that I became a Max Yoho fan,
Then we
corresponded and he told me he loved my song, Missionary Stew
so it is easy to fall into a mutual admiration society at such a time. A
great songwriter once told me, “A song is just a three minute short
story or novel.”
Max’s latest novel is With The Wisdom of
Owls. It will be difficult for anything he ever writes to be
funnier to me that The Revival but I must say that
The Wisdom of Owls appeals more to my “far out funny bone” and
my sister says my far our funny bone is one of my funniest. When she
lived in Florida I devoted a potion of every Saturday to writing her
something too crazy to even show to my more rational friends. She and I
are joined at the funny bone.
One way I checked out the humor of
The Wisdom of Owls was to let her read my review copy one
day when she visited me. She cackled so loud I decided either the book
was funny or she had decided to start laying eggs.
Herre’s the
story: What if there was a boy, Harry, who could remember his own
conception and birth? Harry had a godfather, Wyatt, who was an owl. This
precocious baby could converse in “High Owl” language. Wyatt had two
brothers also eager to contribute to Harry’s education.
The
first sentence in the book is, “Don’t let reality limit your life.” And
this book stands as a testimony that Max Yoho practices what he
preaches. The fun I had reading it proves I have elbowed reality into
its proper place in my life and If reality is disrupting your happiness,
this book is you chance to take your stand for a wild and free
funny bone.
The book covers the first year of his life where he
goes from begrudging the loss of his unbiblical cord and his
circumcision to his efforts to understand all the adults who come and go
around his crib. It is truly a year of hilarity to everyone but little
Harry.
I once said, “So many people hovered over my crib tickling
me under the chin and saying ‘Kitchy kitchy koo’ that I wondered if I
had been born in China.”
If you have ever had similar thoughts,
you will love Max Yoho’s The Wisdom of Owls. To make
contact go to www.dancinggoatpress.com
or write to Max or Dancing Goat at 3013 Quail Creek Drive, Topeka,
KS 66614.
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