Truck: A Love Story (P.S.)

I found this book in a small bookstore in Wisc. with a sticker that said "Staff Pick." I bought it thinking it would be a novel, with a plot, conflict, character development, and so forth. In fact it is simply Michael Perry's journal, composed of a loose stack of vignettes and character sketches that are included only because they actually happened, not because they're related or create any dramatic momentum. Instead of plot he relies on "snappy" one-liners and sugar-coated descriptions of the locals, who are frequently seen grinning. The book is structured as chapters named for months, but each month is burdened with a tedious, overreaching theme: September is "Womanhood," October is "Mortality." The thing that bugged me the most was his fake self-deprecation: He tells you right off the bat that he knows nothing about car repair beyond "lefty-loosey, righty-tighty." Then a couple chapters later he's removing the steer wheel, pulling the bearings (?), and describing in obsessive detail the workings of the fuel pump. Turns out he used to drive a truck full-time, and has been fixing farm equipment since his teens, and there was that time when he removed the front seat of the truck and replaced it with another seat that didn't fit so he had to alter it... Michael, you doth protest too much.

I have to admit Michael Perry is a pretty cool guy. This book would be hilarious if he read it out loud. But it's not a novel; it's a stand-up monologue.

This book was fun. I laughed out loud at some of the situations and/or verbage. The author has the ability to laugh at himself, give credit where it is due, and make the best of most situations. Thumbs up!!

Book was humorous on one level. However, it contained deeper truths about ouselves and our world than we sometimes like to admit. I heard Mr. Perry speak and he has some gritty and resourceful insights on the way individuals respond to incidents and others.

I could go on and on about this book, but let's let the man speak for himself. "The amateur study of philosophy," Perry writes, "is like taking a few laps with a NASCAR driver. You're not qualified to do it on your own, you have no business behind the wheel, but for a few laps or paragraphs, you're right in there with 'em, and when it's all over, you've learned something. Or," he adds, "as my local fire chief once said, you've simply exasperated the situation."

Perry hasn't exasperated his situation, in this book a year during which he rebuilds his 1952 International Harvester pickup, plants a garden, and falls in love, in between tangential forays into brother-in-lawhood, deer hunting, being a professional author, sexism, and all the other bits and pieces that make up a whole life in rural America. At times a little wordy (you wish his editor had leaned on him a little more toward the end) mostly it's just one of the best word pictures of life today, funny, sad, smart. It's not given to everyone to be perceptive and a good writer. Perry is, and it is a pleasure to be along for, literally, the ride of his life.

Some of my favorite Perryisms:

"The world of American culture and commerce functions like a combination of sponge and sandpaper, absorbing everything and smoothing it down so it slides easily into a designer shopping bag." (For years I've been railing against the Pepsi-ization of America. Comrade!)

[describing the village junkman's trailer] "Fully loaded, it has the appearance of a postapocalyptic Costco on wheels." (I expect Mel Gibson as Raggedyman to come walking down the street right behind.)

[A man who has spent way too much time worrying about his hair says this of his do when he graduated from nursing school] "...mousse spikes on top, a mullet in back, and a moustache up front. The bad hair trifecta." (Kinda sorta want to see a picture of that.)

"...a rictus of dither."

"...an epic snit."

I could spend all day thumbing through Truck: A Love Story (P.S.) and coming up with these nuggets, but there's one on practically every page so better you read the book yourself. You'll feel like you've made a friend when you're done. And you'll have laughed a lot, and maybe even learned something, too.

"Truck: a Love Story" is a sweet and simple tale, filled with rich observations of life in a small rural town, told by the sort of man you always hoped would marry your sister. Perry comes across as kind and unassuming. He is in love with his town, his truck, and his simple way of life. There is more than meets the eye, however, as Perry's writing and style are articulate and erudite without being anachronistic. Perry manages to walk the difficult balance between being an easy going man and a deep-thinking philosopher of life. When all things are considered, "Truck: A Love Story" is a profound exposition on a way of existence that we have perhaps lost touch with in some parts of America.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in remembering how to feel good about people, small towns, and life's simple pleasures all while having a few laughs at the same time.