Wishin’ and Hopin’ audiobook

Omg one of the funniest and most endearing stories. Truly a Christmas classic! My full review will be up on my booktube channel at http://Youtube.com/peterlikesbooks

This was absolutely delightful!If you ever went to Catholic school (as I did for 13 years!), enjoyed the movie "A Christmas Story", or laughed til you cried while reading the Christmas pageant scene in "A Prayer for Owen Meany", then this book is for you.This wonderfully nostalgic book was the perfect way to close out my year. Surprisingly, this was only my 2nd book read in 2015 that I deemed worthy of 5***** stars! I knew I was stingy with my 5 stars, but that's just sad.

Wally Lamb proves he can be damn funny. This short novel is filled with event after event that will leave you laughing out loud. It is 1964 and Felix Funicello, the distant cousin of Annette, is a Fifth Grader in catholic school. Lamb tells the story through Felix's eyes and if you have ever been a fifth-grade boy you know Lamb just nails this. For you fans of A Christmas Story, there are scenes where Felix out Ralphies Ralphie.

This is a book that I think only those who lived through the era of the 60s as a child can relate to. I loved this book as many of the events and people Felix mentioned I remember...Annette Funnicello was and still is one of my favorite movie people and was a great role model for those of us growing up during that time and in recent years when she announced she had MS! What a brave, strong lady! I remember going to the St. Brieux theatre to see her movie "Beach Blanket Bingo" with my cousins Joan and Dianne when I was staying with them. I remember the Betty Davis movie "Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte" and the bouncing head of Joseph Cotton (I, like Felix, had nightmares about it!). I remember attending Elementary School where we had nuns as teachers and all the experiences that he described I could relate to! I especially remember in Grade 5 doing a play about the Saints...in particular St. Ursula...with teacher Sr. Mercedes. This book was a wonderful nostalgic trip back in time for me. I laughed and giggled throughout this book! Thank you Wally Lamb!!! Loved it! And I would read it again!Dec 26/2020 In this year of many changes and covid restrictions this was a great escape back to when times were simpler. Very nostalgic and fun to read again!Jan 5, 2022 Reading this book during the holidays is becoming a tradition. Each time I read it, I find something else to love and appreciate about it. The importance of family and tradition are definitely at the heart of this story...and of course humor! Loved this book as much this time as before. I'm excited to share my thoughts with book club!

Probably a 3.5, but my guffaws and laughing out loud tell me to round up. Reading Wally Lamb's Wishin' and Hopin' brought to mind Ralphie Parker in Jean Shephard's The Christmas Story (actually a combination of stories from In God We Trust); Wishin' and Hopin' takes place in the 60s rather than the 50s, same age youngsters, bullies, friendships, life lessons learned, a parochial school and all the memories that will conjure up. It feels as though Lamb is reflecting on memories past rather than a made up tale. Very entertaining.

This book is hysterical! A snapshot of America in a more innocent and hopeful time and set at Christmas. What could be better?

really good for the holiday season and anyone who grew up in the '60s. Also a very quick read.

My first Wally Lamb and as I understand a number of his works have been touted by Oprah...Not necessarily a type of book I read, but at the urging of my wife I did so as its dressed up as a Christmas book...The story of a 5th grader growing up in a Connecticut working-class, Catholic family...Kind of a 60s version of John Powers' "Do Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up" that follows Felix Funicello as he moves through his 5th grade year at St. Aloysius Gonzaga Parochial School...Nostalgia tempered with both humor and heartwarming sentimentality...Not Bad!!!

This book is narrated by a 10-year-old Catholic boy in 1964 who attends parochial school. Humorous happenings ensue. If you are Catholic and have a sense of humor you will enjoy this. If you aren't Catholic you may not understand all of the humor but worth listening to anyway.Similar to The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt which I really enjoyed.