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Cats, Bats and Thrashing Machines: a guide to surviving childhood

Based on 3 reviews
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At a glance

Condition
New
Dimensions
6 x 0.72 x 9 in
Weight
1.1 lb
Publication date
March 30, 2017
Language
English
Print length
318 pages

Description

Memories of a Minnesota farm boy: Cats, Bats, and Thrashing Machines is a loving and humorous chronicle of a boy’s life on a small farm in Northern Minnesota in the 1950’s. Hines revisits the games he and his sisters played and describes the chores he tried to avoid. He celebrates the simple joys found in a shady meadow or a mound of newly mowed hay and warns readers about the dangers found during any expedition to the deep woods or to the nearby barn. His world is filled with wild and not-so-wild animals and all are potential playmates. He lives during a time when neighbors gather as a community to thresh a crop of wheat and celebrate the harvest with feasts of fried chicken, biscuits, roast beef, cake and coffee – lots of cake and coffee.Although the boy’s stories embrace the specific traditions, hardships, and joys once common in his Minnesota farming community, one cannot ignore the universal appeal of celebrating a time and a way of life now gone. Read more

Specs 8

Publisher CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Publication date March 30, 2017
Language English
Print length 318 pages
ISBN-10 1542888867
ISBN-13 68
Item Weight 1.1 pounds
Dimensions 6 x 0.72 x 9 inches

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If you place your order now, the estimated arrival date for this product is: Tuesday, Nov 3

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Top Amazon Reviews

More than a Memoir
Cats, Bats, and Thrashing Machines first appears to be a simple collection of memories written by Thomas G. Hines for his grandchildren, but the book is so much more. It’s a loving and humorous chronicle of a boy’s life on a small farm in Northern Minnesota in the 1950’s. The child in the story doesn’t know he’s writing a memoir, he thinks he’s writing an instruction manual for living on his family’s farm. He suggests the book should be called, “Farm Life: a guide for surviving childhood,” or “What can hurt you and what can kill you.” He envisions the book as a collection of lessons learned by a child who is supposed to successfully run a farm of his own one day, like his father and his grandfather before him. But these lessons, and the book, end when his family leaves the farm in 1963 to begin a new life – one without cows, forests, field chores, deadly beasts, and wood-burning stoves. The author writes from the point of view of his childhood self who is proud of his ancestors and amazed by his discoveries: “You don’t necessarily die if bitten by a bat!” He cautions his listeners that who he became might not have happened if the farm had killed him – “it was not necessarily a child-friendly place.” But more importantly, he speaks of distant yet vivid memories; “The aroma of pine needles blended with wood smoke, and the only sound came from a ticking mantle clock and the crackling of fire from the furnace below.” Hines revisits the games he and his sisters played and describes the chores he tried to avoid. He celebrates the simple joys found in a shady meadow or a mound of newly mowed hay and warns readers about the dangers found during any expedition to the deep woods or to the nearby barn. His world is filled with wild and not-so-wild animals and all are potential playmates. His lives during a time when neighbors gather as a community to thresh a crop of wheat and celebrate the harvest with feasts of fried chicken, biscuits, roast beef, cake and coffee – lots of cake and coffee. Hines describes times, traditions, hardships, and joys that once were common in farming communities in the 50s. His memories are specific to his family's farm in northern Minnesota, his extended family, and to his community, but one cannot avoid appreciating the universal appeal of a time and way of life now gone. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on August 21, 2017 by Grandview
A Joy to Read and To Read Aloud!!
Fond memories of a young boy growing up on a farm in northern Minnesota. Skillfully written and filled with humor and love. This book would be a wonderful addition to any family library and would be perfect for reading aloud. Librarians and Elementary teachers, here is a new one for you!!
Reviewed in the United States on October 1, 2017 by Kathryn F. Larsen
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