The Neddiad: How Neddie Took the Train, Went to Hollywood, and SavedCivilization

Daniel Pinkwater is a unique writer with a singular voice. His books are populated by lovable, incredibly funny characters and engrossing stories which culminate in surprising and completely satisfying conclusions. Reading Pinkwater has always made me feel instantly better about being alive on the planet, and I am grateful to him for hours of lightness, tenderness, wisdom and hilarity.

I like Mr. Pinkwater and I like Ned's adventures. I just couldn't get into the rhythm of the book and anticipate the next page. In all fairness I decided to take Mr. Gaiman's suggestion to read the book aloud and that did increase the hilarity of the prose quite a bit.There is no city of Illiad, and Achilles wrath comes from Sandor Eucalyptus and Sholmos Bunyip. And I didn't count but I'm pretty sure that there were not 15,693 lines or dactylic hexameter. And I'm not skilled enough in dactylic hexameter to pinpoint hexameter when I see it. And instead of beginning our tale at the end of the Trojan War we begin at the end of World War II.The story is told in short chapters almost episodic or episodial (if those are words). So you will have 79 episodes in Neddie's journey.Anyhow the nuts and bolts are that Neddie is going to take a train, he'll go to Hollywood and he will save civilization. And you will meet Iggy (otherwise thought of as Odysseus). So Iggy's journey will be continued in the Yggyssey.Oh - and you should read it aloud - it does have a rhythm, and all great epics were meant to be read aloud - even to music.

What's the book about? Mr. Pinkwater states we haven't yet figured it out and he isn't going to tell us what it's about either.The Neddiad and the sequel The YggYsseY = The Iliad and The Odyssey. I really wish I could say I figured this out all on my own. But nope. I'm not quite that smart yet.We were trying to indoctrinate 9 year old Milla as a future new member into our book club of long-timer babes. She came well-prepared to her first book club. Had a list of questions to ask us all (really good and thought-provoking questions). We were trying to act all adult and everything but I think she saw through us.Then as we were all leaving, Milla sort of whispered to me: "It's about The Iliad and The Odyssey." I was gobsmacked. Why hadn't I figured that out? Why did it take someone fifty [mumble mumble] years younger than I to figure it out? I'm thinking she's too smart to be a member of our book club.She wants to borrow my copy of The YggYsseY. I don't know. Maybe I'll have to make her teach me a few things in return.BTW - Lizard Music is one of the best books ever written - past, present, and of course, future. The Neddiad is standing right up there along side it.

The Neddiad is the first book in an ongoing series about adventures of a group of young children.The stories are well written with the innocence and curiosity of the young in mind. The stories move along at a nice pace and the complexity is kept to a minimum. There is danger lurking about, but there is no violence or bloodshed.The characters are well developed and will become imaginary friends for the children who follow their adventures.I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to start their child on a series of reading adventures (some what like Nancy Drew of an earlier era).

In a word, charming. In two words, charming and smart. This doesn't read like a typical children's book. It usees big words and big ideas that 10- or 11-year-olds are justt starting to discover. I really enjoyed the fact that Pinkwater doesn't "dumb it down" for kids. And to those who think it's "boring" or "too slow", it's exactly the right pace, steady like a turtle -- a sacred turtle.

I have not read all of it yet, but like it.

Daniel Pinkwater writes for the young and young at heart. I would recommend this book except for the part where they shoot and old horse to provide food for the zoo's big cats. Otherwise, it is engaging, supernatural and funny. I like it!!

What a refreshing memoir! It's written with a child's innocence and an adult's perspective. If you read it with Pink's voice in your head it's like being tucked in by a favorite uncle.

Another great book from the brilliant Pinkwater!

基本的には子供向け。でも大人も本気で笑える。私もこの本を電車の中で読んで声を出して笑いそうになったことがあります。ストーリーはくだらないけど最終的には壮大。LAが舞台なのに南部のほら話の匂いがします。本書によれば、ネイティブアメリカンの神話では、世界はカメの背中に乗っているそうですが、ネッドは父親の思いつきでLAに引っ越しをしている途中で、ネイティブアメリカンのシャーマンから貴重な石のカメを譲り受けます。その直後から、彼は石のカメを狙う悪者につけねらわれることになります。というのが話の中心になるのでしょうが、それだけではなく引っ越しの途中で幽霊のベルボーイを拾ったり、電車に乗り遅れて家族とはぐれたり、有名な俳優の家族と知り合いになったり、ドタバタの連続です。終わり方が個人的にはちょっと残念な気もしますが、もっと残念なのは話が終わってしまってつづきが読めないことですね。