4 out of 4 stars
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Footloose In America - Dixie To New England by Bud Kenny is a tale about two people (and their mule, Della) who got to live the American dream.
Bud Kenny had one big goal: to walk on foot across America. Back in his younger years, in the 1970s, he had already made a similar journey between Pennsylvania and Arkansas across some 8,000 miles, and now he got the travel itch again. This time, however, he wanted to take his new bride, Patricia, along. The excursion would start in Arkansas and end in Maine. Leaving everything behind, businesses, homes, and belongings, they began their new adventure and never looked back.
As Bud, Patricia, and Della were strolling towards their destination, they knew they would have a long way ahead. They would spend their nights in a tent on the road and their days walking. Along the way, some people would offer them lodging for the night. Others would give them money for Della’s carrots and apples. Yet others would swear at them and even threaten them verbally for all sorts of trivial reasons (usually because they would occupy the most part of a narrow road).
I had never before experienced so many emotions while reading a single book. I was at times laughing, crying, smiling, and frowning. Bud’s sense of humor shined through his writing. When some kind people gave them a room for the night, I burst out laughing when each party would ask about the other, “What if they are homicidal ax murderers?” On the other hand, when Lilly, a young girl with cerebral palsy, and Della came face to face, I had a few tears rolling down my cheeks. This scene was so emotional that I had to put the book down for a bit.
Bud and Patricia were on the road when September 11 happened. Before that day, Bud would describe how friendly and trusting everyone was towards strangers like them entering their town. After 9/11, Bud noticed with some sorrow, “Since this terrorist thing, being on the road is a lot different … People aren’t smiling and waving at us like they did before.“
I’ve learned a lot about the American history through Bud’s book. Folks they met would share stories about their towns. I got to experience the Amish people differently from the way TV programs and movies would depict them. One of the Amish explained why they don’t love modern technology. It has nothing to do with hate towards those gadgets and everything to do with the need to keep their families close not only physically but also mentally. When you’re constantly on the cell phone, you lose touch with the folks around you. When you have your own car, you’re always away from home and family. And when you’re watching TV all night long, you no longer have conversations with the people you love.
The descriptions of some places took my breath away. Landscapes with gorgeous waterfalls, “rugged high bluffs, steep valleys, lush wood lands and long breathtaking views of the shimmering Ohio” would forever be etched in my mind.
Della was pretty much the star of the whole trip. Everyone wanted to pet her and she was adorable to children and adults alike. You could tell that she was enjoying the outing as much as Bud and Patricia were. When they saw a band marching across the field and playing their drums and cymbals, Della was enthralled just like a small kid. If you ever thought animals have no souls, now would be the time to reconsider.
The writing style is clear and enjoyable. Bud uses simple and direct words, the way he would speak when telling you a story around a campfire. The book looks professionally edited, as I haven’t found any grammatical or spelling errors. At some point, I got so engrossed in the narrative that I even forgot to look for them. I’ll give Footloose In America - Dixie To New England 4 out of 4 stars. Whether you like memoirs, love stories, and books that make feel a whole range of emotions, read this story. You will be that much richer for it.
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Footloose In America - Dixie To New England
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