PATOOIE

by Robert Newton Peck ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 22, 1977

Following what has become Peck's formula for home brew ordinaire, this opens when the whole folksy town of Willetsberg has nothing on its collective mind but the upcoming Annual Willetsberg Watermelon Festival and Seed Spit--and the fact that the town's chief hope has come down with a toothache and can't spit. But Willetsberg's honor and ""the tradition of competitive expectoration"" (Peck's funning phrase) are saved when guest sermonist Bishop Milo Dookit Brimstone ""dee dee"" comes to town and his unholy wife Bertha, disguished as Bert to get around the contest's entry rules, proves a watermelon-seed spitter to beat 'em all--or at least to tie the leading competitor in a mid-air collision of their two long-distance-flying seeds. For distraction between innings there's the bishop's hypocritical daughter who introduces the young narrator to playing doctor; and for filling there's plenty of hayseed badinage: ""If you ask me, I wouldn't put Leek Riley in charge of a cud of used gum."" An apt enough analogy.

Pub Date: Aug. 22, 1977

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Knopf

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 1977

Categories: FICTION