Book Menu for Townie: A Memoir by Andre Dubus III
ISBN of the edition I read: 9780393064667 (hardcover)
I finished reading this book two days ago. It's my first book by this author and I've never read any of this father's work. But I intend to do so. This is another title I've assigned my book group. We will discuss it next week. This is a very touching, honest and riveting memoir with many suspenseful scenes. Readers familiar with the towns Dubus grew up in, Haverhill and Newburyport, Massachusetts, will appreciate the author's 1970s memories of them. I had the pleasure of meeting the author last night at a library event. He is a warm, funny and charismatic speaker. He answered EVERY question from the audience. If you have the chance to see him speak, do. His schedule: http://andredubus.com/tour.html.
Food mentioned in Townie: A Memoir:
This is a selected list of food and drink. Email me for a complete list.
Cucumber and carrots with horseradish dip, 16-17
Coffee, 19, 105, 106, 365
Vegetable soup in French bread bowls, 23
Frito Pie, 28, 57
Coca-Cola, 28, 37, 45, 56-7, 75-6, 108, 233
Potato chips, 56, 75, 108
Willy Wonka Bars, 75
Doughnuts, 105, 365
Cheese and crackers, 108
Blackberry cobbler, 258
Blackberry pie, 258
Blackberry muffins, 258
Books/Authors mentioned in Townie: A Memoir:
Kurt Vonnegut, 15
Ernest Hemingway, 16
Anton Chekhov, 16, 53
William Faulkner, 53
Honore de Balzac, 53
Edgar Cayce, 84
Andre Dubus II
"Killings"
"Leslie in California", 212
"The Pretty Girl", 323
Max Weber, 185, 196, 232
E.F. Schumacher, 185
Karl Marx, 185, 196, 232
The Grapes of Wrath / John Steinbeck, 152
Friedrich Engels, 185, 196, 232
Vladimir Lenin, 185
The Hair of Harold Roux / Thomas Williams, 201
Jack Kerouac, 217
The Stories of Breece D'J Pancake / D'J Pancake, 291
My Son's Story / Nadine Gordimer, 291
John Smolens, 316
Cultural Literacy / (E.D. Hirsch, Jr.?), 325
Magazines mentioned in Townie: A Memoir:
Playboy, 80
Hustler, 80
Swank, 80
Muscle Builder, 81, 92, 97, 181
Library Journal, 372
Movies mentioned in Townie: A Memoir:
Joe, 36
Who is Harry Kellerman and Why is He Saying Those Terrible Things About Me?, 36
Billy Jack, 37, 311, 332
Walking Tall, 44, 332
Dirty Harry, 44, 332
Television programs mentioned in Townie: A Memoir:
Gilligan's Island, 9
The Partridge Family, 9
Batman, 15
The Waltons, 28
All in the Family, 28
Merv Griffin, 69
Music mentioned in Townie: A Memoir:
There is a ton of music in this book, including lots of jazz. This is only a partial listing. If you would like a full list, feel free to email me and I'll send it along. I think the paperback version should be packaged with a soundtrack CD!
Dave Brubeck, 18, 111-114, 150, 333
Gerry Mulligan, 8, 111
Buddy Rich, 18, 111
The Beatles, 23, 25
The Doors, 25, 26
Alice Cooper, 46, 71
Lep Zeppelin, 46, 71
Rolling Stones, 63, 71
Aerosmith, 63, 71, 130
Pink Floyd, 63, 119
Andres Segovia, 76, 216, 238
J.S. Bach, 238, 262
Hank Williams
"I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry", 281
Ella Fitzgerald, 324, 363
W.A. Mozart
Requiem, 337, 367