Grand opening by jon hassler

The characters are weirdos for the most part, and i did not think they were well or realistically drawn. It was labor day of 1943 when we moved to plainview. Jon hassler march 30, 1933 march 20, 2008 was an american writer and teacher known for his novels about smalltown life in minnesota. Brendan was twelve when he and his family moved in september 1944 to plum. Jon hassler books list of books by author jon hassler. Page 289 hardcover these expressions best portray dodg. Grand opening by jon hassler 19870505 jon hassler on. Hassler grand opening beautifully limns each character, from the curmudgeonly parish housekeeper touched by a sweet and funny older priest, to a stepfather sick and selfish enough to. 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.

By jon hassler grand opening mass market paperback. I think you said you were ten, but what year was that. His most autobiographical novel, grand opening remains one of hassler s bestknown and most popular works. Grand opening by jon hassler 1987, hardcover for sale. Each interview had been taperecorded and then later transcribed by a secretary. Jon hassler march 30, 1933 march 20, 2008 was an american writer and teacher known for. Grand opening by jon hassler abebooks passion for books. Hank and catherine and their son brendan and catherines father. A copy that has been read, but remains in clean condition. How long did you and your family live in plainview. 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. Twelveyear old brendan tells the story, set in 194445, that begins.

To purchase items from the shop, please call 320 2559052. Hasslers fifth sentimental novel set in minnesota, like his previous work a green journey, 1984, etc. His most autobiographical novel, grand opening remains one of hasslers bestknown and most popular works. What they discover about small town idealism, bigotry, and good old american values. 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. He stole in order to keep his body and soul together and he gave away the rest. What they discover about small town idealism, bigotry, and good old american values will change them and the town. This was released by ballantine books in august 1996. Short stories stories teachers tell with gretchen kresl hassler and jerry fearing. Grand opening by jon hassler and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Grand opening by jon hassler 1996, paperback for sale. Random house publishing group, aug 12, 1988 fiction 326 pages.

Cover may not represent actual copy or condition available. All is apparently sweetness and light in this little town late during world war two, but look out. Jon hassler biography york, james, novel, and agatha. The novel is set during the waning days of wwii and is told in third person through the eyes of the 12yearold son. 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 the society of midland authors. He held the positions of regents professor emeritus and writerinresidence at st.

Jon hassler in 1944, the foster family members move to plum, minnesota, to start a supermarket, but first they have to overcome the townspeoples prejudice against outsiders. Jon hassler biography york, james, novel, and agatha jrank. Pages can include limited notes and highlighting, and the copy can include previous owner inscriptions. Mar 20, 2008 famed minnesota novelist jon hassler has died. He received fellowships from the john simon guggenheim foundation and the minnesota state arts board. Characters are rich, especially the grandfather figure, who is beginning to have memory problems yet still comes across as a gallant and mischevious man. 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. His novels staggerfordand grand opening won prestigious literary awards. The focus of the novel is the moral comingofage of brendan foster. A television version of a green journey starring angela lansbury and denholm. 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. See all books authored by jon hassler, including staggerford, and a green journey, and more on.

I just finished reading it for the third time in a row this morning. Linkpage citation jon hassler and joseph plut met at central lakes college then brainerd community college, brainerd, minnesota, in 1968, where both taught english hassler 19681980 and plut 19652001. Jon, the year before grand opening was published, 1986, proved to be a watershed in your literary career. Twelveyear old brendan tells the story, set in 194445, that begins with his parents decision to buy a rundow. Grand opening by jon hassler reading guidebook club. Simons night, just like staggerford before it, is a novel that is literally alive. Mar 20, 2008 jon, a nationally respected author of novels, plays and nonfiction, is widely considered one of the most insightful, entertaining and authentic voices of minnesota. Hassler s writing style is graceful, yet economical. Grand opening by hassler, jon and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. By jon hassler grand opening mass market paperback on. The only character he has created that is even remotely autobiographical is the young protagonistobserver of grand opening, brendan foster, whose father, like hassler s, owns a grocery store in a small, rural minnesota town called plum. This is sinclair lewis without the deep, deep bitterness. The fosters husband hank barely too old for the war, wife catherine, 12yearold son brendan.

Grand opening a play produced by the lyric theater and performed in the jon hassler theater plainview, minnesota in july 2000. As if retrieved from a time capsule, hasslers fifth novel faithfully evokes a dark vision of midwestern smalltown life in 1944. Hassler lived his life in minnesota, in small towns, mostly, and created staggerford, which i think is as important a place as faulkners world, and a whole lot more accessible to catholics. My 85yearold mother and i just discovered jon hassler by way of reading grand opening. 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. Hassler and plut hope that the essence of their conversation remains. Grand opening views one familys move to a minnesota small town and their attempt to make a go of a ramshackle grocery store. Grand opening by jon hassler book cover, description, publication history.

Interestingly, hassler dips way out of time for this one. Nearly 40 years after jon hasslers first novel, staggerford, was published. May 10, 2012 added to my satisfaction is that jon hassler is a new author to me. Books go search best sellers gift ideas new releases deals store. He stole out of need and he stole out of generosity. The book has no character or locale from his previous books, which i regretted. An analysis of grand opening, a book by jon hassler pages 2. An analysis of grand opening, a book by jon hassler kibin. I think grand opening is the lone hassler book set in a far earlier time 1944, to be exact.

Johns university, collegeville, minnesota, until 1997. Hasslers writing style is graceful, yet economical. Grand opening by jon hassler 1988, paperback for sale. Grand opening recounts a year in the life of the foster family, beginning on the day in fall 1944 when they uproot themselves from minneapolis and move to the country village of plum, where hank and catherine have invested their hopes and their lifes savings in a ramshackle. Uncommonly good collectible and rare books from uncommonly good booksellers. Grand opening is a used trade paperback available to purchase and shipped from firefly bookstore in kutztown, pa. Hassler s presence is subtle, quiet, and apparently unobtrusive. Jon hassler, a nationally respected author of novels, plays and nonfiction, is widely considered one of the most insightful, entertaining and authentic voices of minnesota. Hassler s gift was making print theres only been a handful of times in my reading life where ive dreaded finishing a novel because i couldnt bear not having certain characters in my daily life. There is no order in which to read great novels, of course, but start perhaps with grand opening.

Hassler novel, 1987s grand opening, was chosen as best fiction of the year by the society of midland. For this reason, north of hope is unlikely to replace the flawless grand opening as jon hassler s masterpiece. Both wallace and paul were successful in high school. Join the leading website for book clubs with over 35,000 clubs and 20,000 reading guides. They show the qualities of a good person, a bad person, and qualities that both types of people have. The transformational world of jon hassler america magazine. Hassler seems to follow frank and libby out of affection and duty.

Family moves from the big city minneapolis to small town with the dream of opening a grocery store. Jon hassler this is sinclair lewis without the deep, deep bitterness. He did not steal to accumulate the goods of this world. After the gentle satiric humor of a green journey, grand opening. Buy grand opening by jon hassler online at alibris. Someone at the grand opening of the jon hassler theater mentioned there had been a fire in the building. Jon hasslers grand opening the imaginative conservative. 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. Added to my satisfaction is that jon hassler is a new author to me. Some editing has been done to eliminate repetitions and certain awkwardnesses.