The Life And Times Of The Thunderbolt Kid: Travels Through my Childhood (Bryson)

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In this, and for all that a considerable amount of his affection for the manners of the period is justified, not to say infectious, I suspect that there has been some unseen modification at work. It's as if he's always describing his year-old self, even when he is writing about his teenage years. In other words, he seems to compress time. He tells the story of how he and his friends would sneak up to one Mr Kiessler's window to watch the only colour TV set in Des Moines, while Mr Kiessler blithely masturbated to the sight of Julie Newmar in a show called My Living Doll.

I will now meanly spoil your enjoyment by pointing out that My Living Doll didn't air until , at least three years after Bryson seems to claim it did.

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Not the most radical undermining of authorial trustworthiness, but a sign that there has been some manipulation, and not just by Mr Kiessler. Which is a good sign. Bryson's books are as comfy as your favourite chair; one joke glides serenely into the next.

But beneath the surface, there is some hard paddling to keep things going. The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid: He spent his childhood growing up in Des Moines, Iowa , part of the baby-boom generation born in the post-war years. He describes his early life and his parents, Bill Sr.

The Life And Times Of The Thunderbolt Kid

He recounts many things that were invented during his childhood that fascinated him, which include frozen dinners, atomic toilets, and television. His middle-class, all-American lifestyle is shown constantly throughout the book, and the influence of his depression-era raised parents rubs off on him. He also remembers his adventures as "the Thunderbolt Kid," an alter ego he made up for himself when he felt powerless. He was able to vaporize people with his heat vision and thought that he came from another planet.

He tells amusing stories of his misadventures as Billy Bryson, including his first days in school when he figured out that when the entire class was running drills to protect themselves from a bomb, he would simply read comic books instead. However, when the principal and a police officer came in one day to supervise, he got in trouble. Trouble was something fairly common for "the Thunderbolt Kid", as throughout his childhood his teachers were unamused by his activities.

In fact, Bryson recounts how he really was uninterested in getting up before noon, thus not even going to school very often. Though Bryson focuses mostly on his childhood, he tells of many of the events that were happening at the time, including the development of the atomic bomb, and the beginnings of the civil rights movement. He met Stephen Katz in junior high school, when they were both in the school's audio-visual club. Thanks for telling us about the problem. Return to Book Page. The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid 3.

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 s Bill Bryson was born in the middle of the American century——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 funni 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 s Bill Bryson was born in the middle of the American century——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 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.

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.

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.

A boy's tale of comfort and joy

It will enchant anyone who has ever been young. Hardcover , pages. Published October 17th by Broadway Books first published United States of America. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

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I'm looking for books for year old school children to read. Carrie I would opt something for young teens, there are quite a few references to inappropriate things I think this book is geared towards baby boomers to …more I would opt something for young teens, there are quite a few references to inappropriate things I think this book is geared towards baby boomers to go down memory lane Lists with This Book.

Mar 29, Drew rated it it was amazing Recommends it for: Anyone who enjoys humor and Americana. I'm a big fan of Bill Bryson's writing, but this one was both uplifting and saddening at the same time. The premise of the book is how Bill learned to see a country be wooed by the siren song of prosperity through the guise of his own internal superhero persona, the Thunderbolt Kid.

This is an engaging book which takes the reader back to simpler times, with plenty of Bryson's characteristic laugh-out-loud funny moments to go around. The Thunderbolt Kid persona is really a subtitle to the main id I'm a big fan of Bill Bryson's writing, but this one was both uplifting and saddening at the same time. The Thunderbolt Kid persona is really a subtitle to the main idea of the book - a fond trip down memory lane to revisit America in a more innocent state.

Review: The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid by Bill Bryson | Books | The Guardian

That was the saddening part of the book as well - the inevitable loss of innocence that prosperity and productivity brings makes one yearn for the days when going downtown was the highlight of the week, where people dressed up to go out, and where things were just more fun because people didn't know any better.

Bryson's insightful commentary on how the American people used their newfound free time due to labor-saving devices to work ever harder in order to earn more money to buy yet more labor saving devices. The vicious cycle of not only keeping up with those cursed Joneses but rather outdoing them was born, and in the process simple pleasures like matinee movies, the corner drugstore with a soda fountain, and specialty stores were swept off of the face of North America. Reading this book is like sitting down with a grandparent or elder family member and just listening to them tell stories of the "good old days" and in Bryson's perspective, they really were good and we should all be sorry that they are gone forever.

So take a read of this book, and see where we've been because it will put a whole new perspective on where we're going. View all 9 comments. Jul 02, Jason Koivu rated it it was amazing Shelves: Bryson played my funnybones like a xylophone! The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid is about growing up in the '50s.

It's the sort of coming of age tale that educates along the way. God, I love this stuff! It very much reminded me of the classic movie "A Christmas Story". Here on Goodreads, amongst all you worthy readers, I'm ashamed to say I haven't yet read the short stories by Jean Shepherd that the movie is based upon. But if they're anything like the movie then they're filled with remembr Bryson played my funnybones like a xylophone! But if they're anything like the movie then they're filled with remembrances of how things once were, which is the path Bryson takes.

It's a nostalgic road at times. At others, it is sarcastic. Almost always it is humorous and engaging.

Bryson has a way with words and a talent for feeding you history without making you gag. He also has my kind of sense of humor, so together these things are bound to deliver at least a very enjoyable read. You read that right, Bryson often, intentionally writes over-the-top when describing outcomes and consequences of his many childhood tales.

This is how a kid would tell the tale and it sets the perfect tone, creating a book that really draws you into those heady kid days where summer vacations lasted years, simple joys or disappointments were end-game emotions, and anything seemed possible. View all 6 comments. Nov 26, Mara rated it liked it Shelves: Welcome to Des Moines, Iowa and the s! There are some things you should be afraid of mainly Communism, teenagers, and comic books not approved by the Comics Code Authority. But, no need to worry! The Thunderbolt Kid aka Bill Bryson will be your trusty tour guide.

Ah, the 50s—a time when cigarettes made you healthy, your daily dose of amphetamines came in morning cereal, soda was the elixir of life, and prominent doctors defended a boy's right to be dirty. He lets us enjoy the humors of hindsight, but manages to do so without sounding glib.

The same holds true for technologies. The launch of the USS Barbero was thought to be just the first among many deliveries made by Missile Mail spoiler alert: Need to buy a new pair of loafers? We'll just use this handy X-Ray Foot-o-Scope to find you the perfect fit though, as Bryson mentions, this handy gadget was already on the way out as he was making his way into the world.

How was your trip? I had a great time, thanks for asking. Three stars is a good rating by my measure. This wasn't the best time I've had with Bryson, and children of the 50s will likely have an added layer of nostalgic enjoyment that I just can't appreciate. Well, I'm off to turn on my breakfast—I can't be late for the family reunion in our self-flying car! View all 11 comments. Bill Bryson's travel writing is often hilarious and usually perceptive. In remembering and sharing his past, Bryson takes his readers to another place and time, both of which he vividly evokes in the narrative.

I laughed a lot while listening to Bryson read the audiobook version of his memoir. At times I laughed so much that there was a risk my bus commute would be embarra Bill Bryson's travel writing is often hilarious and usually perceptive. At times I laughed so much that there was a risk my bus commute would be embarrassing and my driving commute would be dangerous. Bryson has a wonderful ability to find the ridiculous in most situations, as well as in himself, his family and everyone around him. He also has the gift of humorous exaggeration: This is not just a memoir, it is also a domestic history of the United States of the s and s: While Bryson has unashamed nostalgia for some aspects of that history, his criticism of other aspects of US history is pointed.

Nevertheless, his childhood experiences — particularly the experiences of his early childhood — speak to me. In recounting his history, Bryson has the ability to get readers to reflect on their own past. It may be that some early childhood experiences are universal — for example, first days at school and relationships with siblings and friends.

For me, Bryson's early childhood experiences are the most interesting part of that part of the books which is a personal memoir. Even though I have sons of my own, I find the shenanigans of teenage boys of limited interest, particularly when those shenanigans involve view spoiler [looking for porn and stealing beer hide spoiler ]. I have no doubt that Bryson is sincere when he states that he did not witness racist behaviour. However, I wonder whether his African American high school contemporaries would share that view. Overall, listening to this audiobook was a great way to spend a few hours.

Funny and at times moving, it is more than a series of anecdotes.

In a relatively brief book, Bryson manages to cover a lot of territory, from family holidays, to parental eccentricities, to s toys, to cigarette advertising, to atomic testing, to the building of Disneyland … and lots more. Sep 18, Chrissie rated it liked it Shelves: My first Bryson book. I will be reading more by the author. I enjoy the humor. I spot-checked the validity of the historical details thrown in and found them to be correct. Pseudonyms are used for the characters, except for his agent Jed Mattes.

This seems perfectly reasonable. So what kind of book is this? What is it really about? I think the best way to describe it is as a book of snapshots of a kid's life in the fifties in Mid-America, rather than either a biography of Bryson My first Bryson book. I think the best way to describe it is as a book of snapshots of a kid's life in the fifties in Mid-America, rather than either a biography of Bryson or a history book. Bryson was born in Des Moines, Iowa, in the year I felt right at home, myself being born in Milwaukee the same year. It felt like going home.

I felt this through the author's choice of words, the food we ate, the toys we shared, the movies we saw and the jokes and gadgets and life of a kid then and there. It is an enjoyable read. Bryson narrates his own book. I liked his narration. He simply talks, rather quickly in fact, but I never had trouble following. This isn't a performance; he is simply telling his story. He doesn't, through intonation, point out the jokes. Either you catch them or you don't. I liked this too. Zero dramatization is fine by me.

Bill Bryson on his most personal journey yet: into his own childhood in America's Mid-West.

A friend told me he found the reading whiny. I didn't perceive it that way at all. I wonder why we differ.

Everybody I ask has a different favorite by the author. So how do I pick the next? View all 30 comments. Mar 29, Tom Carrico rated it it was amazing. There always seems to be a certain smugness that someone must possess to have the audacity to think that their story is better than, well, mine.

This memoir, however, is different. Like Halberstam, Bryson touches on the many social and cultural events and changes of the s including the space race, the development of the nuclear bomb, the evolution of the suburbs coupled with the decline of the inner cities and the emergence of television. This author, however, takes great pride in pointing out the absurdities and ironic inconsistencies of that era. He describes his refusal to participate in the required civil defense drills, pointing out to his elementary school teacher the absolute irrationality of thinking that crawling under a desk could protect a child from a nuclear explosion.

I remember thinking these same thoughts as I toted bottled water and canned goods to St. Unlike Bill Bryson, I did get under the desk when told to. I feared for my life, not from an A-bomb, but from the wrath of Sister Mary Angelus.

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