Jerry Reilly is on the road for an impromptu book tour, last seen at the Newton Highlands Winter Soup Social, with poster and a box of for newly printed volumes of the King’s Handbook. It is not clear how sales went as the books are offered at $20 compared to free soup but Jerry snagged a prime space at the head of the soup line.
With proceeds destined to the Upper Falls playground fund, we hope that he will be invited to more book events throughout Newton.
I’ll have to write a whining account of the grueling rigors of a 13-villages-in-13-days book tour.
“If this is Wednesday I must be in Waban.”
“By the time I got to Oak Hill these villages all began to blur together.”
“If I’m asked one more time, in one more interview, about why Thompsonville is not included – I’LL SCREAM!”
I am reading this book. Love it, so many terrific details about each of the original 7 villages. The writer carefully details some aspects of life in early Newton. The schools were already developing a sound educational experience. Many of the prosperous residents help to set a wonderful foundation for Newton’s successful future growth.
It’s true Collen there’s lot of interesting details but the best thing about this book is it HILARIOUS! Newton clearly was the Lake Woebegon of the 1800s.
So far, I have read the Newtonville chapter. However, I didn’t read anything that I thought was hilarious. The people of the times built churches, joined regiments for the civil war conflict, established a variety of associations and paid enormous sums to equip soldiers. Most worked hard to build businesses and sustain their farms. What did you find funny?
In the Newtonville chapter, I thought the tale of Tom Bulloughs the ne-er-do-well bandit of the Newtonville woods was pretty funny.
I grew up here when there were still a lot of old eccentric Yankees living in my neighborhood. We respected and liked most of them, but they were a barrel of laughs and didn’t know it. I suppose younger people feel the same about my age group. Always keep humor front and center unless it’s cruel or boorish to do so.