The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid: A Memoir

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From one of the most beloved and bestselling authors in the English language, a vivid, nostalgic, and utterly hilarious memoir of growing up in the 1950s

Bill Bryson was born in the middle of the American century—1951—in the middle of the United States—Des Moines, Iowa—in the middle of the largest generation in American history—the baby boomers. As one of the best and funniest writers alive, he is perfectly positioned to mine his memories of a totally all-American childhood for 24-carat memoir gold. Like millions of his generational peers, Bill Bryson grew up with a rich fantasy life as a superhero. In his case, he ran around his house and neighborhood with an old football jersey with a thunderbolt on it and a towel about his neck that served as his cape, leaping tall buildings in a single bound and vanquishing awful evildoers (and morons)—in his head—as "The Thunderbolt Kid."

Using this persona as a springboard, Bill Bryson re-creates the life of his family and his native city in the 1950s in all its transcendent normality—a life at once completely familiar to us all and as far away and unreachable as another galaxy. It was, he reminds us, a happy time, when automobiles and televisions and appliances (not to mention nuclear weapons) grew larger and more numerous with each passing year, and DDT, cigarettes, and the fallout from atmospheric testing were considered harmless or even good for you. He brings us into the life of his loving but eccentric family, including affectionate portraits of his father, a gifted sportswriter for the local paper and dedicated practitioner of isometric exercises, and OF his mother, whose job as the home furnishing editor for the same paper left her little time for practicing the domestic arts at home. The many readers of Bill Bryson’s earlier classic, A Walk in the Woods, will greet the reappearance in these pages of the immortal Stephen Katz, seen hijacking literally boxcar loads of beer. He is joined in the Bryson gallery of immortal characters by the demonically clever Willoughby brothers, who apply their scientific skills and can-do attitude to gleefully destructive ends.

Warm and laugh-out-loud funny, and full of his inimitable, pitch-perfect observations, The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid is as wondrous a book as Bill Bryson has ever written. It will enchant anyone who has ever been young.

What Customers Say About The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid: A Memoir:

From a writer's point of view, Thunderbolt is a master's course in how to capture readers and keep them wanting more. [http://ritastories.wordpress.com/2010/02/09/bill-bryson-and-the-thunderbolt-kid-hit-the-mark/]While the story is not unique, the way it is told makes this a must read book.

I guess I need to read more Bill Bryson books now, since the reading group assured me this wasn't his best. I love the childish viewpoint and humor, the innocence of simply zapping the bad guys then carrying on.

In my case that means non-fiction and memoir, and I felt my heart sinking (unless I'd just eaten too many of my friend's delicious snacks) when the choice was made to read Thunderbolt Kid. Then I bought the book.

Our reading group has this strange idea that we should read outside our comfort zones. More to the point, my family found me laughing out loud and wondered what was wrong.I love this book.

Then I left the book on a bookshelf, uninspired by the ancient sweater hung out to dry on the front cover and reluctant to believe in the "laugh-out-loud" promise of Tom Brokaw's praise on the back.Still, duty called. I started to read and found myself laughing out loud.

Okay; bad guys / teacher / unwelcome strangers not gone, but then, that's life.Bill Bryson, Thunderbolt Kid, comes to life in the writing, as does the world of 50s and 60 America; not the same world as mine, then or now, but a recognizable one; sad in its errors, innocent in its enthusiasms, pure in its childlike, zany heart. It was plenty good enough for me.

A great book, especially for those of us about 10 years of age in the 50's

Such a joy to read. Even though I wasn't around during that time it makes it real. "The State Senate of Illinois yesterday disbanded its Committee on Efficiency and Economy. "for reasons of efficiency and economy"" :) Just delirious and hilarous. The timeline of the 50s and beyond so vivid and amusing. Loved the book.

Life is how you perceive it. If you are from the 1950's you will relate.

A chortle is to laugh and if laughter is the best medicine, then this book far exceeds all expectations.How does Bill Bryson do it. The man is in a class of his own.

What is a chortle. The list goes on.

With clever, brilliant turns of the pen, his witticism is the stuff literary legends are made of.So, let's jump into the time machine and go back to 1950's Des Moines, Iowa and see how he launches into growing up. Stories of why to avoid poison sumac; Uncle Dee and cottage cheese; how to bleach Lincoln Logs; different kinds of candies, toys and comic books of the `50's; Getting in trouble at Saturday matinees; rascally schooldays; best friends such as Milton Milton, Buddy Doberman, the resourceful and prankish antics of Doug Willoughby and not to forget the nubile Mary O'Leary; Pot-luck dinners with all the Mom's called Mabel (and of course all the dishes were various concoctions of meatloaf); atomic toilets and rocket mail; the toity jar; state fair and the stripper tent;Downtown as a kid, and how it slowly disappeared.

If not from this time period, you are still guaranteed to laugh. And Bill Bryson perceives it just fine.