Synopsis: Penned by author and local newspaper columnist Sharon M. Kennedy in recent years, “The SideRoad Columnist: Observations from an Upper Michigan Author” presents a very special collection of her newspaper columns.
To delight the reader, each installment tells a complete story in miniature. “The SideRoad Columnist” showcases Kennedy’s own particular mixture of nostalgia, humor, shared experiences and sundry observations. The featured stories are short (under two pages) making “The SideRoad Columnist” an ideal choice for readers who have limited time or are passengers on a journey.
Readers will smile as they recall a time when boys slathered hair cream on their locks, women sported a bouffant hairdo and barnyards were a common sight.
Whether recovering from her many domestic and kitchen disasters, navigating the U.P.’s notoriously bad roads or trying to properly celebrate a lifetime of holidays, Kennedy’s adventures will bring groans of recognition.
Critique: A combination of nostalgia, humor, insights, and representations of the human condition and experience, “The SideRoad Columnist” is certain to delight and amuse — especially mature readers as they remember the old days. Younger readers will laugh as she describes the way things were, her struggle to understand technology and the green dot following everyone on Facebook. Kennedy’s ability to entertain, while simultaneously writing terse columns, is undeniable. She’s a writer for our times — both past and present. While highly recommended and a guaranteed popular addition to community library rural life humor and American Midwest biography collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that “The SideRoad Columnist” is also available in a paperback edition (9781615997367, $18.95) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $6.95).
Editorial Note: Sharon M. Kennedy (https://www.authorsharonkennedy.com) lives in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula on the land of her youth. As an opinion writer for Gannett Media, her newspaper columns reflect a keen observation of people and their experiences. Whether humorous, serious, or poignant, she records events and situations relatable to individuals of various ages. Kennedy has the remarkable ability to communicate with readers as if they were sitting at her kitchen table, sharing a cup of coffee and a laugh with her.
