Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Book 11: How the Bee Got Inside my Bib Overalls

Harry Macomber: How the Bee Got Inside my Bib Overalls & other Farm Stories from the 1940s and 1950s. For the Pittsfield Township Historical Society. Published 2005. 144 pages (incl. photos).

I have found this interesting sounding book (by standard keyword search) and received it today. This is a collection of short stories (similar but also different like the books from Jim Heynen, see Book 3).

This book describes real experiences and also even has many, partly small b/w photos from author's childhood in Michigan.
I have only read some few chapters, including the bee title story, which is interesting. Also confirming, that they didn't wore underpants then.
Seems to be a very good book. Stories seem to be continuously and also should be like a coming-of-age plot as well as describing the "technical revolution".

As I'm still reading my other book (See book 10 Papa Was A Preacher, now half finished and it's not so good as the film and different),
it will take some more weeks or months to finish them both. Probably this will be my favourite bib book. He also has sisters, but probably not in bibs. At least dad and 3 sons in bibs.

Book is obviously not very common and limited available in new condition.

Update: Now I have read 2/3rd. The title story was the best by now. Lots of farm terms which might be hard to read for non native English or non farm people. However interesting farm life including the pics. One brief suggested coming-of-age scene.

Quite good plot of washing cows in boots and "worst pants". Not sure if bibs as he also wore standard jeans. This story is set in 1959.

I marked following pages (for now):
-3 title story
-31 (long underwear)
-34 brief mentioning of coming-of-age (hayloft)
-116 washing cows in worst pants
-125 met gay farmer at age 19
-133 Athlethe's foot and crabs

Finished. Some quite interesting description of experiences and statements concerning racism and homosexuality at the end. 
In total rather very few bib scenes, though interesting storys of farm life. Quite food, especially the pics. But could be better. I have few "bib books" yet and this is maybe (one) of the best yet.

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