Where Asphalt Ends

I figure a book is successful if it makes me laugh or cry. Livesay's book did both. "Where the Asphalt Ends" is a gentle book that brings forward from more than 60 years ago the idyllic summers Livesay spent in Door County, Wisconsin. The viewpoint is a child's or a teenager's, with enough of the adult author's commentary to indicate the woman formed from those Door County experiences. Kids don't--and can't--grow up today with the innocence of time and place Livesay captures. It's a good read and the author's sketches add charm to the vignettes she captures from her past.

"Where Asphalt Ends" brings back the sights, smells and sounds of a bygone era. Anyone who has been in Door County can easily picture what life was like when things were simple. Children could grow up in a world where they could explore the wonders of nature and learn from people they met a bit of what life was all about. Sunday sing-alongs, cherry pies, fishing and picnics were part of the charm that summer residents experienced. Even now one can picture people and places that enriched the life of a child.

Where Asphalt Ends is a child's memories of a time when Door County was a place for summer residents. Everyone knew each other and children could roam freely and discover the wonders of nature and explore the idiosyncrasies of the folks they met. The author tells of summers with two Aunts who shared their love and knowledge of the outdoors with her. Sunday sing-a-longs, cherry pies and picnics were part of the summer fare residents enjoyed.Reading this book allows one to share in a childhood past and to taste the atmosphere still prevalent in Door County.