the life and times of the Thunderbolt Kid.

Bill Brysons life in Iowa is very simple and boring, but in his stories he makes life sound interesting. My favorite part in the book is where he and his friend Willoughby are in Bishops diner, I'll show you the passage from the book and you'll see why. "Like me Willoughby was a devotee of Bishop's, but he was more daring and imaginative than I could ever be. He liked to turn on the table light and send the waitresses off on strange quest. "Could I have some Angostura biters, please?" He would say with a look of choirboy sweetness. Or. "Please could I have some fresh ice cubes; these are rather misshapen." Or. " Would you by any chance have a spare ladel and some tongs?" And the waitress would go clumping off to see what they could find for him. there was something about his cheery face that inspired an eagerness to please." This was just an intro so you know wWlloughby's character, he's a charmer. The following Saturday, Willoughby led me into bishops again. this time he drank half his water, then pulled from his jacket a jar filled with pond water; which he used to top his glass. When he held the glass up to the light there were about sixteen tadpoles swimming in it." For me this is my favorite passage because it actually made me laugh out loud! Who would even think about putting pond water in your glass just to get two free sundaes? Not many kids i know and it makes it even better because their so young when willoughby comes up with this plan. In his book Bryson makes you think about what he is saying, sure its funny but at the same time it makes you think it has a deeper meaning he gets his point across by being funny, like in one of his chapters where he breaks his leg on the playground no one really noticed for hours! Yeah it's funny how he says it but it makes you realize it's true when he says you cant trust adults, because come on who in their right mind wouldn't notice a kids leg turned half way around? And don't even get me started on that doctor his cheap dad took him too! The doctor didn't even know the stuff he was telling Bill and his family. After reading this I think the pot was to point out how childhood in the 1950's was much simpler then, than it is now and after reading this it kind of makes me wish I were a kid back then, but i think hes also saying in general life was simple and cheerful back then, now we have to worry about so many things, life just isn't simple anymore and it's a shame. But in my opinion i think we now have greater knowlege and common since then they did.