This wasn't easily available for purchase at the time I signed up for GoryDetails' bookray, but now that it is listed at Amazon, I bought a copy. It's taking the place of the original stalled copy (Gritty Grace bookray, original copy) and GoryDetails's inscribed copy (Gritty Grace, PC copy) on a bookray.

Continuing order of ray:

FancyHorse (Alabama, USA)
bananabrianna (Canada)
Sherlockfan (New Zealand)

(Sherlockfan, please do whatever you choose with the book when you finish. I like the idea of it floating around in the southern hemisphere!)

I have been enchanted with what I read so far. This is the kind of book I try to keep around as an antidote of sorts when I encounter literature that's too violent or nihilistic for my taste.

Newspaper columns have long been a favorite format of mine (writers who appealed to me most: Mike Royko, Rheta Grimsley Johnson, Leonard Pitts, and Charley Reese). Locally, we have Scott Hollifield, who writes in a similarly downhome way but cannot hold a candle to Mr. Rust!

The Ephraim Gluehocker schtick in Gritty Grace is very funny: "How's that again? Aw, you know Ephraim. He's the one I quote when I can't remember who it was that really said it -- or when I made it up myself. You'll be hearing a lot from Eph." (p. 23)

Mechanical engineering is a subject that would ordinarily appear on my top 10 not-interested list. However, Rust, an expert and born raconteur, had me fascinated with the inner workings of airplanes, automobiles, oil wells, and most of all, bicycles. I always wondered why the late-19th-century models had such huge front wheels, and he explained it in one easy sentence (see the book for details, heh heh).

::evil chuckle continuing:: I laughed aloud when he called Santa Claus a "tobacco addict" and Omar Kayyam a "Persian wino".

Thoroughly enjoyed this; will probably pick up another copy for my Army Aviator son-in-law. This title would be an excellent all-purpose wild release for my area as well. The religious and political opinions expressed (how could Slick Willie and Knute Rockne have slipped from memory so soon?) are right in the middle of the road for my neighborhood and workplace. I only found one area of serious disagreement: wearing casual clothes to church (Rust: pro; Megi: con)!

Mailing to FancyHorse after work today.

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Mailed from Courthouse post office.

Received in the mail yesterday, thank you Megi53! I'm looking forward to reading it.

I enjoyed this collection of newspaper columns very much, some of them were almost like mini daily devotionals. Mr. Rust has certainly led a varied life - country boy, cowboy, Air Force pilot, engineer, and prison chaplain. I enjoyed his wit and humor and way of looking at life.

PMing the next one on the list now. I'm sorry I kept it so long.

Mailed from Bon Secour, Alabama on June 1, 2010. I couldn't change the set-up in Steps 3 and 4 for the Release Notes.

I hope you enjoy it, bananabrianna!

Received yesterday, will start reading this week!

Not really my cup of tea just due to the subject matter. But he was a good writer!

Gosh better late than never, on my way to the post office as we speak to get it to Sherlockfan. GAH!

Can't believe this took three months in the post but one never knows. I've had a quick glimpse through and can see that the format is specially interesting and different. Don't remembering encountering such before; sort of like short stories but with a common thread. I'm dealing with a couple of book club books to catchup with after travelling but should be able to get to it reasonably soon.
Thanks Megi53 for replacing the missing copy, and others for posting it onwards.

Caught at the Unconvention, actually it leapt into my hands.
Megi53 you mentioned you like the idea of it floating around the Southern Hemisphere - so do I - so float it shall, after I read it ofcourse.
Great to meet-up with you Sherlockfan and Jack.

A most entertaining collection of newspaper articles from a natural born writer, quite a delightful read it kept my interest as I was always keen to see what his next topic would be - they were so diverse. I guess that's the benefit of having lived such an active life, his interests are many and varied so plenty of material for writing.

Released on to the BC bookcase.

To the finder of this book -
Please let me know it is in safe hands by journalling that you have caught it, you are under no obligation to read it and Bookcrossing is completely anonymous.