Jan
15
Truck: A Love Story, by Michael Perry
Filed Under Books
People make their living reviewing books. I am not one of these people. I don’t have the literary chops for in-depth critical analysis, but I’m not beyond praising a book I really enjoy. Consider yourself warned.
Some of the best books I’ve read have been gifts. Truck: A Love Story by Michael Perry is one such book. My dad gave it to me as a Christmas present. He’s been talking about the book since he read it, so I knew it would be good, but I was honestly surprised how much I enjoyed it.
Truck is not a great literary tome. It is a good read. Perry uses a conversational style that sucks you in from the first page with its familiarity. The book itself reads like a collection of essays as Perry restores his 1951 International pickup while courting a new girlfriend. In his humorous voice, he also describes his shortcomings as a gardener, exploits at the fire department, and run-ins with locals in his small Wisconsin town.
You could read the book quite pleasurably at face value, but I think the true nugget here is in the overarching theme: Nothing in this world is perfect and the world is a better place because of it. Consider the truck itself. A 1951 International isn’t the most sought after old truck for restoration. And Perry isn’t restoring it to trailer queen show quality. The truck means something to him because it reminds him of his roots. Perry just wants to be behind the wheel of his old pickup for deer hunting season.
Stepping further, Perry jokes about his long-time bachelor quirks as he becomes more and more involved with his girlfriend. The author, like his truck, isn’t the most sought-after model on the show circuit. The same could be said for most of us. The point to life is to try and take advantage of what we are made of. Sometimes we have to restore ourselves a little bit to grow. Maybe we don’t have to strip down to our frames and begin again, but it’s never to late to expand our minds a bit to share our lives with others. Life is about interacting with people more than how we look on the showroom floor–or the dance floor.
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