2 out of 4 stars
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With My Papa at Cowboy Pond is an autobiographical book written by R. K. Lindsey, Jr. The author is a Hawaiian man who wishes to leave his thoughts and memories for his grandsons. He begins the book by reflecting on his childhood, especially the place where he spent many happy days: Cowboy Pond. For his seventy-fourth birthday, Lindsey decides to visit the pond once more. He’s surprised by the arrival of his second grandson, Lalamaika’i, who wants to interview him for a school project.
The book’s first half consists of the author’s narration of past events, while the second half is mostly the interview. Since a huge portion of the book is dedicated to the grandson’s questions, the reader might experience some fatigue halfway through. It might’ve been better to alternate between the past and the present to lessen the interview’s monotony. This would also make it easier for the reader to care about the answers, as they would be followed by Lindsey’s memories.
One of the book’s most notable aspects is its prose. The sentences are all very short, often ending unexpectedly. The writing feels like a mix between a conversation and an unfiltered stream of consciousness. For example, this is how the author describes his childhood: "Then. Kid days. Those Fun times. Filled with laughter. Reckless horseplay.” It's a unique style, but some readers might find it distracting.
Despite using choppy sentences, the author manages to capture beautiful images and metaphors throughout the book. My favorite moment is when he’s watching some dragonflies and describes them as actors who script their own lines and write their own music. Later on, he continues appreciating the beauty of nature and its unique symphony. Lindsey can also deliver some surprisingly witty lines. This is his description of a childhood bully: "Albert was no Albert Einstein. Einstein discovered the Theory of Relativity. Albert discovered the Theory of Obesity."
Sadly, there are many typographical errors: lack of spacing, misplaced punctuation, “to” being used instead of “too”, improper capitalization, and many others. Moreover, some of the paragraphs are exceedingly long, spanning an entire page. These issues can make for a frustrating reading experience, so the book needs extensive editing.
With My Papa at Cowboy Pond is a fairly niche book. Its subject matter won’t interest everyone, and its writing style can be hard to get used to. Regardless, it provides a vivid picture of Lindsey, his values, and his culture. I would rate it 3 out of 4 stars if it weren’t for the poor editing, so my final rating is 2 out of 4 stars.
The book deliberately censors vulgar language, making it suitable for all audiences. It can provide valuable insights for readers interested in Hawaii and its history, but I don’t recommend it to those who dislike experimental writing. Also, though the author never does any excessive proselytizing, he has strong opinions on several topics; in particular, he makes his distaste for the current government quite clear. You might want to avoid this book if you don’t want to engage with the author’s political views.
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With My Papa at Cowboy Pond
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