I get plenty of emails from authors promoting new books, but rarely one as wildly enthusiastic as Peter Robin’s.
This Kelowna writer was as exuberant as a boy coming home with a new puppy. The excitement was infectious.
In Tales from the Grub ‘n’ Rub, Robin has penned a series of hilarious vignettes about growing up in Fort St. James during the ‘60s.
“I grew up in a breath of time where old school trappers and loggers rubbed shoulders — and sometimes more than just shoulders — with flower children, draft dodgers and end-of-the-roaders,” explains Robin. “A curtain of isolation and innocence was beginning to fray, but the North Country still belonged to the little guy and kids enjoyed the freedom and fun of learning the hard way. It was an absolutely haywire, wonderful period in a small northern community.”
Back then, Robin’s elementary school teachers seemed to spend more time hitting kids than having them hit the books. Naturally, Robin’s curious mind turned from school to more delinquent activities.
As a result, stories in the Grub ‘n’ Rub come from real life, hard scrabble experience.
Although the subjects are lighter, Robin’s witty observations reminded me of writers such as Roddy Doyle and David Mitchell. He has the same ability to conjure the hilarity, the innocence and the stupidity of childhood adventure.
“I thought it was a little gem from the first look,” said publisher Laurie Carter. “I remember reading sections aloud to my husband and both of us just cracking up.”
Robin’s voice is fresh, irreverent and loaded with hilarious adjectives.
In his own words: “The essays range across raggedy-ass friends; freedom to test the bounds of juvenile stupidity; hurts treated with a dose of that’ll learn ya’s and a dummy-up knuckle to the melon; a flatulent camel; camp-outs that lasted all summer; flying drunk; and a grizzly bear rodeo with an immigrant boy and a dog named Jink.”
While editing the book, Carter realized she shouldn’t do much more than correct punctuation and grammar.
“We did have a couple of discussions on expletives,” she said. “But I thought it essential to let his voice speak for itself.”
Just in time for July 1, the Grub ‘n’ Rub gives readers insight into a bit of off-the-beaten track, small town Canadian history.
For more information about the book check it out online at www.PeterRobin.com. Robin will also be signing books at Hooked on Books in Penticton, July 7 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Heather Allen is a writer and reader living in Penticton
