These stories are, simply put, recollections and perspectives on life in a rural county. This second offering by Mr. Holden is another adventure to read, enjoy and treasure, providing a first-person account of local popular culture, living with nature, and perspectives on life. Helpful hints for laundry are also included. This new book by Mr. Holden, Twists and Turns In The Road, is a continuance of his previous book, Son, You Turn A Good Phrase. Culled from his collection of columns written for a small, rural newspaper, some of these stories have been almost completely rewritten, some only reworked a bit and a few as is. All of them are classic Holden…short, to the point, and the absolute truth. Whether recalling an afternoon with a reputed boxer, lamenting the loss of suet to feed the songbirds, or writing about an environmental concern and combining it with a bit of history, Todd’s stories are indeed the twists and turns of life. There is a story of a man who made his living selling soft ice cream, a New Year’s Eve adventure that involves a potato gun, and a musical remedy to solve the problems associated with resident geese. All of these stories are told with a slant on perspective that gets right to the point, is simple and direct, yet describes a wonderful landscape of people, places and things told with a unique insight on how they each weave together. Equally important as are the subjects of his stories, it is the telling of the story that makes this book easy to enjoy. The language and syntax flow along smoothly and it is as though Mr. Holden is in the room with you, telling the story. Also, at long last, Mr. Holden recounts the story of the skunk that was let loose in the Bel Air theatre and the adventure that ensued. Special attention was paid to getting certain facts straight and even tracking down some of the players from that one historical night in 1955. Enjoy Twists and Turns In The Road and Mr. Holden’s other book, Son, You Turn A Good Phrase (www.createspace.com/5166256). ======= 30 =======
