Grand opening is a most satisfying book, a poignant comingofage about a 12yearold and his familys attempt to make a go of a ramshackle grocery store during the waning days of world war ii. Grand opening is like taking a step back in time to 1944 and makes the reader both want to return to a simpler place and time while also being glad that times have changed and we dont have to live in hasslers fictional town. In 1987, hasslers fifth novel, grand opening, a tale told from the point of view of a twelveyearold boy living in the corrupt town of plainview, minnesota, won the best fiction award, given by. After college, hassler became a high school english teacher and taught at public high schools in three different minnesota towns while attending graduate school at the university of north dakota and eventually earning his m. Jon hassler was a minnesota author, teach, and artist. Get your kindle here, or download a free kindle reading app.
Grand opening by jon hassler book cover, description, publication history. Hasslers fifth sentimental novel set in minnesota, like his previous work a green journey, 1984, etc. Hassler s writing style is graceful, yet economical. Then, in 1999, the lyric theater started holding shows at the hassler, and in 2000 the lyric theater moved its. As word spreads of his passing hassler is being remembered both for his writing and his teaching. At the age of eightyeight, agatha mcgee has grudging. Beloved minnesota author jon hassler, 74, died early this morning. Heres an excerpt from an excellent article on hassler. This was released by ballantine books in august 1996. Since 1977, jon hasslers staggerford series has entranced readers with its funny and charming depiction of life in smalltown america. Grand opening by jon hassler benediction by kent haruf hystopia by david means nickel boys by colson whitehead a cosmology of monsters by shaun hamill shantaram by gregory david roberts thin air by richard k. Buy a cheap copy of grand opening book by jon hassler.
Grand opening is the most autobiographical work by famed writer jon hassler, known for staggerford, simons night, and other novels about smalltown life in minnesota. He received fellowships from the john simon guggenheim foundation and the minnesota state arts board. With an active marketplace of over 175 million items, use the alibris advanced search page to find any item you are looking for through the advanced search, you can find items by searching specific terms such as title, artist, song title, genre, etc or you can narrow your focus using our amazing set of criteria parameters. Buy a cheap copy of north of hope loyola classics book by jon hassler. Hasslers writing style is graceful, yet economical. Critics sometimes compared hassler to john cheever and evelyn waugh. John hassler was born in 1933 and grew up in minnesota. Like many concepts in the book world, series is a somewhat fluid and contested notion.
He was reported to have finished a novel just days before his death. It is easy and fun to read, full of interesting characters. While teaching english at three different minnesota high schools, he received his master of arts degree in english from the university of north dakota. Grand opening is a used trade paperback available to purchase and shipped from firefly bookstore in kutztown, pa. Grand opening is like taking a step back in time to 1944 and makes the reader both want to return to a simpler place and time while also being glad that times have changed and we dont have to live in hassler s fictional town. Twelveyear old brendan tells the story, set in 194445, that begins.
The new woman is his latest visit to this minnesota hamlet at the age of eightyeight, agatha mcgee has grudgingly moved out of her house on river street and into the sunset senior apartments. Distinguished author and educator march 30, 1933march 20, 2008 jon hassler, a lifelong resident of minnesota, was born in minneapolis in 1933, lived his first ten years in staples and his next eight in plainview, where he graduated from high school. Hassler autobiography opens at theatre in the round. The story treats us to a wedge of time in the lives of a family whose lives are changed forever by moving to a small town and opening a business. Hassler s fifth sentimental novel set in minnesota, like his previous work a green journey, 1984, etc. A collection of 32 daily doses of radical selfreflection with practical direction.
Im excited to share this 32day collection of stories and lessons with you. Open library is an open, editable library catalog, building towards a web page for every book ever published. There are tourletter vulgarisms but not obscenities but one does not mind them too much. Novelist richard russo, in writing about hasslers north of hope 1996, said hasslers brilliance has always been his. Browse author series lists, sequels, pseudonyms, synopses, book covers, ratings and awards. Hasslers first novel, staggerford, a story of a smalltown school teacher, was chosen novel of the year in 1978 by the friends of american writers. As if retrieved from a time capsule, hasslers fifth novel faithfully evokes a dark vision of midwestern smalltown life in 1944. The author of many widely acclaimed novelsstaggerford, simons night, the love hunter, a green journey, grand opening, north of hope, dear james, rookery blues, deans list, the staggerford flood, the staggerford murders, and the new. Jon, a nationally respected author of novels, plays and nonfiction, is widely considered one of the most insightful, entertaining and authentic voices of minnesota. Grand opening august 27, 1996 edition open library. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
He had a string of novels to his name, many of them examining the intricacies of life in small. Unlike hassler s fabulous textured, thematic novels staggerford, grand opening, and north of hope, this is an episodic work. Twelveyear old brendan tells the story, set in 194445, that begins with his parents decision to buy a rundown grocery store in a tiny minnesota town. Hasslers brilliance has always been his ability to achieve the depth of real literature through such surehanded, nogimmicks, honest language that the result. It was a definite breath of fresh air considering the last few books i read were a complete waste of my time.
By jon hassler grand opening mass market paperback. He had a string of novels to his name, many of them examining the intricacies of life in small minnesota towns. Word by word, typo by typo, page by page jon hassler, at work on his 15th novel, declines to let parkinsonslike illness. Adapted by hassler himself, grand opening recounts the experiences of the foster family, minneapolis natives who. The transformational world of jon hassler america magazine. Each inspired by people, situations or aha moments that offer or remind you of valuable life lessons. Jon hassler was born in minneapolis, but spent his formative years in the small minnesota towns of staples and plainview, where he graduated from high school.
Jon hassler s many fans, as well as all readers interested in seeing the creative process at work, will be spellbound by this wonderful book. Its the story of a week in the life of miles pruitt, a thirtyfiveyearold bachelor. Hassler s first novel, staggerford, a story of a smalltown school teacher, was chosen novel of the year in 1978 by the friends of american writers. Mar 20, 2008 famed minnesota novelist jon hassler has died.
Back in 1985, the lyric theatre was founded by sally childs, who would later become the artistic director of the jon hassler theater. He received his bachelor of arts degree in english from st. Four miles to pinecone by jon hassler, paperback barnes. Opening the book north america is an independent, creative company bringing new ideas and products to libraries and schools. Jon hassler was born in minneapolis, but spent his formative years in the. Nearly 40 years after jon hasslers first novel, staggerford, was. A good rule of thumb is that series have a conventional name and are intentional creations, on the part of the author or publisher. This is the first book ive read by jon hassler and i was pleasantly surprised. Jon hassler march 30, 1933 march 20, 2008 was an american writer and teacher known for. The new woman is his latest visit to this minnesota hamlet.
The classic novel of a small minnesota townand of one school teacher who calls it home this utterly charming, deeply poignant debut remains perhaps the signature achievement of beloved novelist jon hassleronce hailed by the new york times as a writer good enough to restore your faith in fiction. Opening the book north america, williamsport, pennsylvania. In 2006 the jon hassler theater opened up a book store in the lobby of the theater called words and after words. In 1987, hassler s fifth novel, grand opening, a tale told from the point of view of a twelveyearold boy living in the corrupt town of plainview, minnesota, won the best fiction award, given by. Hank and catherine and their son brendan and catherines father. Jon hassler has 25 books on goodreads with 843 ratings. Greeley november 03, 2008 when jon hassler died last spring at the age of 75, he was the last catholic novelist. Jon hassler march 30, 1933 march 20, 2008 was an american writer and teacher known for his novels about smalltown life in minnesota. In 1999 the international harvester implement building was purchased by the rural american arts partnership to become the theater itself. Jon hasslers many fans, as well as all readers interested in seeing the creative process at work, will be spellbound by this wonderful book. He held the positions of regents professor emeritus and writerinresidence at st. Larry kaufmans repertoire book is a great addition to the library of any serious chess player. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read staggerford.
It begins when miss mcgee, staggerfords most revered former teacher, is forced to move from her house on river street to a senior citizens home. Among the buffoons suffered by easygoing if wary miles pruitt. The focus of the novel is the moral comingofage of brendan foster. Twin cities book festival, dog halloween, mn rollergirls. Son of grocers, wants to be friends with popular people grandpa. My staggerford journal affords a rare glimpse into the imagination of one of the bestloved masters of contemporary american fiction. Grand opening by jon hassler, august 27, 1996, ballantine books edition, paperback in english. As one of the premier rare book sites on the internet, alibris has thousands of rare books, first editions, and signed books available. The staggerford series in order jon hassler fictiondb. Series was designed to cover groups of books generally understood as such see wikipedia. By jon hassler grand opening mass market paperback on. The steady running of the hour by justin go money by martin amis. The majority of the books were donated by emilio degrazia, a published author and professor emeritus from winona state university.
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