June Melby

The title of this book suggests that it is going to be the memoir of a dysfunctional family. A "hazardous" family. But in fact, the hazards are confined to the mini golf course where the author and her family spent summers during her childhood, and this book describes probably the most functional family I've ever heard of. Each chapter (there are 18) identifies a quality or a philosophy, almost, about one of the holes on the course and its corresponding hazard (the thing, usually a structure, that makes it difficult), and then tells the story of a particular summer or situation that parallels the philosophy of the hole. It is a comforting and solid story structure that is not unlike the family itself. The entire narrative builds toward the time when the golf course, and therefore the author's childhood home, is to be sold, an event which causes her to reflect on her own life choices, including the failings that she feels prevented her from "saving" the golf course. And as a reader I found myself feeling very sad and wistful about the end of Tom Thumb mini golf, wishing I could have visited when I was in Wisconsin as a kid.… (mehr)

Was really looking forward to reading this from the reviews. Quirky characters, some life lessons, stories about a tourist attraction in central WI. It sounded like something I would really enjoy. And I did enjoy it - just not as much as I thought I would. Especially the last 1/2 of the book had fewer stories, more introspection, not as fun reading. Numerous sentences I quoted to whomever was in the room with me though.

Summer 2018 update: My family is vacationing in Waupaca this summer, so I read this again. According to Waupaca Chamber, Tom Thumb is still in business and I hope to play there during our vacation. Reading the book again, I really like how Melby discusses local history, the history of Tom Thumb, and her memories of growing up there. But I like that sort of thing :-) I also like how she tries to make each hazard a metaphor for an aspect of life. I don't think the stories she tells always necessarily relate to the metaphor of that chapter, and she runs out of stories during the last few chapters, but I still like the book and I did quote numerous sentences again.… (mehr)