[.ca] The Grasshopper Trap (ISBN 0805001115)

Strange Encounters of the Bird Kind:
The title of these comments is from one of the tales in this third collection of short stories I have read by Mr. Patrick F. McManus. The author has been writing the yarns and his versions of his childhood "true" stories for decades, and has now produced 12 collections of these essays in book form. Many of the stories are about being outdoors and failing miserably as a hunter and fisherman, but one gets the impression that to the extent he fails, he does with seeming intent. It's the outdoors he loves, not harming it or its inhabitants. When he does speak of a successful outing with his friends he complains so much about the "success" that again you can tell coming home empty handed is his real goal. A collection of stories is what he is after. The best stories here range from his childhood when speaking of why an 8 year old is perfectly competent to own his first knife, while even one day short of the 8th anniversary would be nothing less than a felony were a knife to be given to such an infant. He goes on at length as to how men delude themselves in to their thinking they have convinced their wives how their gun collections multiply without a single purchase. And in a story entitled, "A Hunker Is Not A Squat", he explains how with the correct posture, a stick and a dirt floor, The United Nations would be unnecessary, and world conflicts would end. Mr. McManus writes for everyone who enjoys a good laugh, uncontrived humor, and just simple observations about human nature. He does not preach about the solutions to world problems, claim a cure for the common cold, or how to get rich. He just gives the reader the gift of laughter, an invaluable gift.

Laugh-o-rama:
I really like these kind of books. I had so much fun readingabout his weird shenanigans, I liked it almost as much as"Everything I Need to Know About Life I Learned in the Bush" and I liked it more than "Life is a 'Transit'-ory thing". It's really fun to read stuff like this on a rainy day, or even on a sunny day. What else can I say? I just really enjoyed this book.

If you don't like laughing, DON'T READ THIS BOOK!:
This is just one of those books that's great when, well, anytime

Awesome! Classic McManus:
This book had me laughing so hard my wife was gonna call the paramedics. Brought back memories of childhood escapades and the freedom of youth. Thanks, Pat.

A Delight!:
A book filled with humorous stories, this compilation of experiences was a treat to read! The Grasshopper Trap is only the second book I've read by Patrick McManus but now I want to track down all of his stories. McManus writes humor without the obscene, offensive language that seems so common everywhere these days. It's a refreshing, fun read with stories that entertain as well as remind us of a simpler, less frantic way of life.