Nothing like a little holiday to refresh the spirits, right? So George, Harris, and J. all set off for a nice little trip down the river, along with Montmorency the dog, and confidently await nothing but rest and relaxation.
As anyone who has ever taking a holiday can tell you, things don't go quite as planned. The tent, described as so easy a child could set it up, takes all three men, and puts them quite out of temper. Their accommodations are not quite up to par. A tin of pineapple proves especially obstinate. Montmorency is defeated by the tea kettle.
And yet, there are the times on the river which go quite well. They pass through some truly beautiful countryside. They learn to make a hearty Irish stew. And they discover, as again, every traveler knows, that the best part of the holiday is coming back home.
This book was just what I needed! By turns rather philosophical and then suddenly hilarious, it was a quick and fun read. The tin of pineapple had me laughing out loud. I love this passage:
"I like work: it fascinates me. I can sit and look at it for hours. I love to keep it by me: the idea of getting rid of it nearly breaks my heart. You cannot give me too much work; to accumulate work has almost become a passion with me: my study is so full of it now, that there is hardly an inch of room for any more. I shall have to throw out a wing."
Story after hilarious story follows, from the German folk singer to the speaker's experiences with rowing, rafting, and sailing, the perils of sharing a house with a courting couple, all funny and worth reading. I'm so glad I heard of this one.
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