The Junk-Drawers Corner-Store Front-Porch Blues by John R. Powers

The Junk-Drawers Corner-Store Front-Porch Blues Reviews

• 
  Karla

  What good timing to read this book. Found it in my mother's collection when home for her funeral, and to help my father in the initial transition to living without a wife after 48 years. It's an easy read, with silly (and some good) jokes, and some great wisdom about life, loss, and learning to live again.
• 
  Bill

  This is a different kind of story than Powers’ other three novels. Just as entertaining, though, and just as good a read. Donald Cooper, a comedy writer, has to return from L.A. to his hometown of Chicago to see his mother. The novel is a walk through his life growing up with his family. A very touching, very sweet story. Powers is one of my favorite novelists; it’s a pity he only did four of them.
• 
  Jodi

  6-word review: OMG SOMETHING HAPPEN; bad, just bad.
• 
  Donna Barnes

  I enjoyed this book a lot --- it doesn't have an involved story --- the narrator gets a medical scare and while he waits for the results, he is summoned by his mother to come back from california to where he grew up in Chicago to find a box in his former house, that he hasn't been in for 20+ years. That's about it, but what the rest of the book covers is little vignettes with his girfriend and him, lots of stories of his home life, his former neighbors he meets on way to his house (he tries to avoid it for several hours. That's about it, but there are lots of laughs along the way because he is a comedy writer and his father was funny, as well. There is a lot of dialogue so the story speeds along, and I really enjoyed it and recommend it. John Powers is the author of "Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up?" and a couple of other books that I was aware of and read, so it was good to re-experience his work after such a long time.
• 
  Wil A Emerson

  John R. Power's last book is both sentimental and bittersweet. The story of two brothers whose mother attempts to seal the bond between them. Written in reflection, Donny, the older brother is called back to Chicago to tend to his ailing mother. Her demand for him to find a treasured item in the old home, leads Donny to revisit his early years and opens up a huge wound about the past. Donny's struggle in the here and now collide with that past. A warm story, filled with humor and grace. The period is the 60's but thoughts and emotions are as current as this day. If you love older books, Power's first 3 are masterpieces of humor. Catholic upbringing laced with rules and rituals that will make you giggle.
• 
  Rob

  I always loved John Power's books all set in 1960's Chicago about a Catholic kid growing up in blue collar neighborhood. His first three books takes you through grammar school, high school and then college respectively. Although they are different main characters they're basically the same person. This last book deals with the main protagonist in his forties. Sadly this novel isn't the same quality of the stories from the first three. The constant jumping back and forth of the timeline is the major theme and gets annoying. The book doesn't flow like the first three.
• 
  Paulette

  Linda's recommendation was right on!
  
  Humorous but philosophical at the same time. Set in South Chicago in approximately the same era I grew up. As with so many novels these days, the author goes back and forth from current time to long ago.
  Donald is 40ish and hasn't been home in twenty years. Goes back because Mom's in the hospital. He finally faces the past.
• 
  Beth

  I read this so long ago that I can't fully remember the details, but the impressions I'm left with tell me this is a great book. And it takes place in my old neighborhood on the south side of Chicago!
• 
  Kshydog

  Enjoyed reading about all the goofy things Donald did with his brother during his childhood. Kept wondering what had happened to his brother that made it so hard for him to go back to his house. Thought that it was a nice way to show how important time spent with family is to life.
• 
  ThomasAD

  Of all of his books, I consider this one his best. Funny and awesomely moving. I loved this book.
• 
  Kimberly Huffine

  Personally meet John Powers during a governor's convention dinner in Little Rock. Great guy with deep family values.
• 
  Andi

  Meh. I am only halfway through, want to know what happened to Danny and if this guy stops being such a loser.
• 
  Janet

  Fun and philosophical!
• 
  Karen

  This was extremely simple, easy reading, basic, simple message, sometimes very predictable and boring, yet sweet.