Nights in White Castle
A Memoir
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4.5 • 24 Ratings
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- $14.99
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- $14.99
Publisher Description
Picking up where he left off in his acclaimed memoir Sting-Ray Afternoons, Steve Rushin brilliantly captures a bygone era, and the thrills of new adulthood in the early 80s.
It begins in Bloomington, Minnesota, with a 13-year-old kid staging his own author photo that he hopes will someday grace the cover of a book jacket. And it ends at a desk in the legendary Time & Life building, with that same boy-now in his early 20s and writing professionally-reflecting on how the hell he got there from what seems like a distant universe. In between, Steve Rushin whisks us along on an extraordinarily funny, tender, and altogether unforgettable journey.
From a menial summer job at suburban Bennigan's, to first-time college experiences in Milwaukee, to surviving early adulthood in seedy New York City, this deeply touching odyssey will remind any reader of those special moments when they too went from innocence to experience.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Following up Sting-Ray Afternoons, about his 1970s youth, Sports Illustrated writer Rushin explores his 1980s teen years in this humorous, lighthearted collection of anecdotes. Opening with a story about his brother and friend passing themselves off as counter attendants at the local White Castle and handing out free burgers to their high school classmates, Rushin captures the good-natured hijinks that were at the heart of his upbringing in Minnesota. Mixed in the with the relatable dynamic between him and his loving suburban parents, his good-natured siblings, and tight crew of hoops-playing, R&B-listening friends are a slew of pop culture references including Prince, Van Halen, Larry Bird's Celtics, and Fast Times at Ridgemont High that will have 50-somethings nodding their heads. Some sections, such as the origin story of Chi-Chi's Mexican restaurant, can feel out of place, but the thread of Rushin's love of books and guileless hunger to write for Sports Illustrated encouraged by his mother provides a strong backbone for the lighter fare. Even with the fear of nuclear "warheads raining down on Kansas" at any moment, Rushin describes what seems to be a safer, simpler time. For nostalgic baby boomers, this is a joyful romp down memory lane.
Customer Reviews
A joy to read and remember
I’m a few years younger than Steve, but also a child of the ‘burbs (closer to the Softsoap factory than Bloomington) and a proud Minnesotan, so this book really hit home. And even though I knew it was coming, I still let out a whoop when his SI dream came true, and shed a tear when Flip’s story came to an end. Thanks for the memories, Mr. Rushin.