What do You think about Old Songs In A New Cafe: Selected Essays (1994)?
I've had this book for a while. Don't really remember when or why I got it but I'm glad I finally got around to reading it. There were a few selections I didn't care for but overall it was an enjoyable read. If you are an animal lover be sure to have a tissue at hand when you read A Canticle for Roadcat...holy crap. I bawled like a woman whose husband just left her & took her jewelry box!! =*( It was probably ten times worse because I've lost pets who were near & dear to me. I'm just glad I read it while everyone was in bed & I had no witnesses.
—Donna
The first few and the last one were my favorites. I loved the first one, about packing up his daughter's room and reflecting on the time that she lived with them. The next one, about his wife, was enough to make me tear up.There were a handful of other essays in here that I thought were great and strong.The ones in between (mostly the ones about sports, animals and so on) didn't connect with me as much, but it was worth it because I loved the others so much. This was a short book and I read in in just a couple of hours, so if you get a chance to read it, I'd say that it's worth it.
—Jacki
Sentimental, absolutely. Between these covers, I decided to suspend judgement and as a result, the story unfolded and transcended for me. This was written in a different time, so keep in mind articles featuring female characters in particular are more accessory and superficial than are the stories about men. I would strongly suggest a small glass of wine, to assist the reader to more effectively pore over the elegance and ease of his description. Waller has an extraordinary sense of the world and it was enjoyable to ride with him through his ruminations and lessons, heartbreak and wonder. Suggested if you need a creative break, if you'd like to step out into another and nostalgic world.
—Liz
