Good Evening Mr. & Mrs. America, and All the Ships at Sea

by Richard Bausch

Book Overview

The critics have been effusive in their praise for Richard Bausch's Good Evening Mr. and Mrs. America and All the Ships at Sea. His hardover sales have also never been higher. Taking its title from... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060173327
• ISBN13: 9780060173326
• Release Date: September 1996
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Length: 342 Pages
• Weight: 0.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.5" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

A Sentimental Journey into the Past

Good Evening Mr. and Mrs. America, and All the Ships at Sea was a joyous romp in the past, when people -- especially the young -- still had ideals. The age of innocence was already over, but the hero of this novel just didn't know it yet. But he would find out, painfully; and when he does, he opts for an ironic way-to-forget change of plans. Read Bausch's coming-of-age tale for the pure entertainment of it, but when you finish laughing, quietly consider what it says of our nation's changed morality. Perhaps those of us who lived through it wonder: were we really just naive, or were we better then than what we became? P.S.: This would make a great movie!

Everything in one story!

This is a coming-of-age story of a young man who is lost in the idealism of the early 60's, and having lived the era, I feel the pathos of this character, as well as the humor in the life he leads. The protagonist Walter Marshall,is nineteen years old,innocent,a devoted Catholic with a reverence for his struggling mom, a deep patriotism,and a lingering insecurity about his place in the world. The book is laced with great, laugh-out-loud humor. The characters are rich and believable.And the book has a very surprising ending. And believe it or not, some of us really were that innocent back in those days!This was a nostalgic look back for me. But this book is an enjoyable way to transport yourself to the uncertainties of this era if you weren't around to experience them. Get it, and enjoy!

a great novel

I had to read this novel for my Us History class, and I'm not the most interested reader when I have to force something upon me to read. My teacher gave us a choice of about 30 books and as I read the brief synopsises of the books she said that this book had humor, love story, and about a man who was just learning about himself in the early 60's. My teacher seemed to enjoy it and so I said what they hey! I read the book and it just took me with this poor young 19 year old kid who was not sure what he's doing but he was doing it quite fast and was just trying to please everyoen in the process. Just to see was transpired it was so interesting and I couldn't put it down. The funniest parts I thought were when he was in confession with the priests. I really recommend this book to anyone! I'm reading another one of his books because I was so impressed but his style of writing I had to read more! I'm reading "In The Night Season" so far so good! This is just one of the many books I've read this past year that I chose that have been so good. I just feel I'm on some type of streak! Hah!

Bausch's best gets better

This novel mixes an innocent protagonist, an older and socially-inept girlfriend, organized crime, radio personalities, and "love at first sight" to become one of the funniest books I've ever read. In the tradition of his story, "Aren't You Happy For Me?" Bausch really throws the reader a curveball. The hero wants to grow up to be President. In the meantime, he's taking radio broadcast classes at the local community college while trying to make time with an attractive German student. The hero's girlfriend is a wealthy girl, slightly older than him, overbearing and obtuse and totally insensitive. When Our Hero's school gets into trouble with the local loan shark, he steps in to save the day. This novel was my introduction to Bausch and still my favorite of his long fiction. Read it.