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The man was stubborn, says Calvin Trillin -- the second most stubborn member of the Trillin family -- to begin his fond, wry and affecting memoir of his father. Abe Trillin had the western Missouri accent of someone who had grown up in St. Joseph and the dreams of America of someone who had been born in Russia. He was given to swearing off things -- coffee, tobacco, alcohol, all neckties that were not yellow in color. Presumably, he had also sworn off swearing, although he was a collector of curses like May you have an injury that is not covered by workman's compensation. Although he had a strong vision of the sort of person he wanted his son to be, his explicit advice about how to behave didn't go beyond an almost lackadaisical You might as well be a mensch. Somehow, though, Abe Trillin's messages got through clearly. Admirers of Calvin Trillin's unerring sense of the American character will be entertained and touched by this quietly powerful memoir.… (more)
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Calvin Trillin, Abe’s son and the
Growing up in Missouri in the 1950s, Calvin absorbed traits of common sense, integrity and responsibility from his father. The traits that have followed him through his life. This book is an affectionate look back at those years and the man who taught the author those traits.
There is humour, sensibility, caring and appreciation in the author’s perspective of his father. Also a visit back to a time where common sense, responsibility and integrity were a part of everyday life. For me this was a very enjoyable read.