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heathercottledillon's review against another edition
3.0
In 1950s, Mooreland, Indiana, had a population of 300. In the 1960s, it was 300. In the 1970s, 300. You get the picture. It was a small town, and things didn't change much. But for Haven "Zippy" Kimmel, it's a special place. It's where she raised her cats, PeeDink and Smokey, as well as Skippy the Hamster. It's where she sat in church pews with her mother every single Sunday and "went to church" in the woods with her father. It's where her family bickered with the next door neighbor, who wanted to poison their rowdy dogs. It's where she grew up. In this memoir, Zippy shares all the ups and downs of growing up in small-town America.
You know how the most random things stick out in your memories? This is basically Zippy's recollection of some of those moments from her early years. Nowadays there are so many depressing memoirs out there, so it's super refreshing to read one that's about a childhood that was actually pretty happy. There are some downers--the legitimately creepy teacher and Zippy's dad's drinking problem, to name a few--but they make the story feel real. If everything was too perfect, it would seem like Zippy was leaving things out. And, for the most part, the tone is optimistic and upbeat. Even though her family didn't have a lot of money, they all had a good time. There are plenty of funny and heartwarming moments. My one complaint is that it's quite unorganized. The stories are all over the place and not necessarily in chronological order, so I often found myself confused about what happened when. I don't mind the randomness of the stories--as I mentioned earlier, our memories often work that way. I just would have liked to see those random things organized in some sort of order, either chronological or by topic. Still, it's an enjoyable read that made me think fondly of my own childhood.
You know how the most random things stick out in your memories? This is basically Zippy's recollection of some of those moments from her early years. Nowadays there are so many depressing memoirs out there, so it's super refreshing to read one that's about a childhood that was actually pretty happy. There are some downers--the legitimately creepy teacher and Zippy's dad's drinking problem, to name a few--but they make the story feel real. If everything was too perfect, it would seem like Zippy was leaving things out. And, for the most part, the tone is optimistic and upbeat. Even though her family didn't have a lot of money, they all had a good time. There are plenty of funny and heartwarming moments. My one complaint is that it's quite unorganized. The stories are all over the place and not necessarily in chronological order, so I often found myself confused about what happened when. I don't mind the randomness of the stories--as I mentioned earlier, our memories often work that way. I just would have liked to see those random things organized in some sort of order, either chronological or by topic. Still, it's an enjoyable read that made me think fondly of my own childhood.
schofield24's review against another edition
3.0
Quirky. Funny. Sometimes annoying. I'm still processing what I liked and didn't like about this book.
cdjdhj's review against another edition
3.0
This book was a little slow in parts and I expected it to be more humorous but there were some laugh-out-loud funny parts too. Overall, a nice summer read that brought back some memories of my own childhood.
mbenzz's review against another edition
5.0
I thought this was an adorable book. Very funny. Haven Kimmel describes her childhood beautifully. Zippy is such an energetic little thing, it was nice reading about a childhood that was enjoyed (I just finished Running With Scissors not too long ago...wow).
Some of the animal scenes weren't the most pleasant to read about, but then again life isn't perfect, and animals do meet unfortunate ends. If you can't handle it, don't read it. I highly recommend this book, it really was a great read, and I'm looking forward to her newest novel, Something Rising.
Some of the animal scenes weren't the most pleasant to read about, but then again life isn't perfect, and animals do meet unfortunate ends. If you can't handle it, don't read it. I highly recommend this book, it really was a great read, and I'm looking forward to her newest novel, Something Rising.
danib11's review against another edition
5.0
Laugh out loud, milk out your nose, pee your pants funny!
book_concierge's review against another edition
5.0
This is a memoir of a happy, if imperfect, childhood. Kimmel has a gift for putting the reader into the mind of an 8-year-old.
We learn about the evil old lady across the street, the pharmacist who can't be bothered with kids reading comic books in his store, the horrible neighbors with a sadistic son, beloved pets (chicken love), the freedom of riding your bike all over town (without touching the handlebars), favorite teachers, dreaded band leaders, best friends, schoolyard fights and the miracle of Christmas. But mostly we glimpse small-town life viewed from the safety of a loving (if unconventional) family.
I love this girl named Zippy.
We learn about the evil old lady across the street, the pharmacist who can't be bothered with kids reading comic books in his store, the horrible neighbors with a sadistic son, beloved pets (chicken love), the freedom of riding your bike all over town (without touching the handlebars), favorite teachers, dreaded band leaders, best friends, schoolyard fights and the miracle of Christmas. But mostly we glimpse small-town life viewed from the safety of a loving (if unconventional) family.
I love this girl named Zippy.
ampkbe's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
orsuros's review against another edition
4.0
I sort of read this book in bits and pieces over time, but still enjoyed it. It's a fun memoir full of silly moments and lots of character. It definitely captures the feel of childhood and slowly growing up.
travelingkayte's review against another edition
4.0
Fun and interesting. She did a wonderful job of conveying the story through the eyes of a child. I loved her analogies and similes throughout the book. I constantly found myself sharing the stories with whoever was in the room with me.
hnbb's review against another edition
3.0
This was a memoir that was not all about how much the authors parents/guardians were evil. It was written from a child's point of view and seemed to go all over the place, but it was not confusing and worked. There were several parts that made me laugh out loud and I had to read some aloud to my husband. I loved being able to feel parts that could have been my childhood. I also liked that since it was from a child's point of view things were hinted at, but never described graphically. The part that sent up red flags was her take on religion. I could see where it might offend. I preferred to take it as trying to understand.