It's the summer of 1945, and Dadoo and Mamaw Jones are moving from central Texas to Galveston Bay. With them is their grandson Billy-Bob, whose father is serving on an aircraft carrier in the Pacific. They encounter several likeably, and not-so-likeably, eccentric characters, and Billy-Bob gets involved in a can-collection competition. The person who collects the most cans for melting down will have his or her name inscribed on the bomb made from the recycled metal--hence the book's title.

Many decades ago I read a short story of the same name in the Antioch Review, and it stuck with me. With a quirky voice and quirkier characters, it was like the Beverly Hillbillies with a slightly serious overtone. So when I recently saw this title on the spine of an actual book, beckoning from a lower shelf in a used book store, I had to buy it.

I don't remember the original story in detail, but it seems that it was not an excerpted chapter from the novel, but rather that short story was expanded into this novel. And it doesn't work. While the short story had focus, zip and zing to its prose, the novel is merely a succession of sweet, mildly amusing incidents which provide no additional depth or insight into its mildly appealing characters.

It's too bad. The author has talent. I'll still remember the original short story with fondness. ( )