My Staggerford Journal

I had never heard of STAGGERFORD nor of Jon Hassler till I bought this book today and devoured it in one sitting. Now I'm looking forward to reading the nove, STAGGERFORD. If you can believe the jacket copy and the back of the jacket, STAGGERFORD is one of those beloved masterpieces like CATCHER IN THE RYE that high school students everywhere are assigned to read, and even though they grumble, they eventually fall in love with the book and take it to heart. Even Hillary Clinton, says Mr. Hassler, has read STAGGERFORD. I feel so dumb not having known about it. Maybe I should have read the book before reading Mr. Hassler's 1975 journal describing the year he took off from an oppressive community college somewhere in Minnesota. He took time off to visit historic sites in New England, including the House of the Seven Gables and Walden Pond. He makes an embarrassing faux pas inthe home of Emily Dickinson, in her bedroom, where like any other tourist he whips out his canera and the guide reminds him in a miserable shriek, "Cameras are not permitted in Emily Dickinson's bedroom." You can really feel his abjection as sadly he pockets his camera. He's lucky they didn't destroy it I guess. I had no idea that this house in Amherst is a private home and that you can see only two rooms, this bedroom and a sitting room. Who would want to live there, it would be weird. Once STAGGERFORD gets published, by Atheneum, you get the feeling that finally Hassler gets some self-respect, indeed some balls. He quotes Thoreau to beautiful effect; "If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in the common hours." I didn't like the part where he encounters a colleague who praises him and tells him his own favorite line from STAGGERFORD, which is, "If you wish to befriend an Indian, feed him pie." I don't know, it just sounds a little racist. Outside of that, the book is well worth every penny.

'Loved reading this book; 100-pages that are worthy of gifting to others who love to read and write. With great clarity, Hassler expresses his joy as well as his struggle in capturing thoughts for the reader's enjoyment. And he sprinkles the copy with his down home, chuckle-invoking humor. His Staggerford Journal is as enjoyable as Staggerford itself. Thank you for yet another gift, Jon Hassler!