There are a few authors whose books I’m not allowed to read in bed. Basically because I wake my poor husband up to read him hilarious passages or my loud gaffaws disturb his sleep. Bill Bryson, Fannie Flagg, Garrison Keillor – their books are all relegated to the den. And now I add one more, Wayne Franklin and his wonderful book, Midlife Mouse.
Franklin has filled his book with Southern charm, wry wit and wonderfully quirky characters. His town of Decent Chance, Alabama, on Mobile Bay, has all the realism of a small Southern community with just enough strange characters that really might not be all that odd in any small town.
Franklin has created a loving, eccentric, true to life family in the Durmers, with all the day to day drama that family brings.
Then to top that, we are shown a fantasy Disney World populated with cabals of wonderfully imagined legacies and destinies. And we happily follow Bill Durmer on the summer vacation he wasn’t quite prepared for! It is hilarious, touching and just a darn good read!
I hope that Franklin will bring us more adventures from Decent Chance and the Bill Durmer clan.
This is a perfect summer selection for your vacation reading. But you might not be allowed to bring it to bed!