Wishin' and Hopin': A Novel

Author Wally Lamb and Wishin’ and Hopin’: A Christmas Story takes the reader back to December 1964 during a pinnacle time in history but through the eyes of 10 year-old Felix Funicello many perceptions arise as a 5th grader at St. Aloysius Gonzaga Parochial School. The novel is set around the Christmas holidays but beyond Felix’s and his classmates’ minds of the gifts that they await from Santa Claus, a greater symbolic meaning resonates. For baby boomers, the numerous references of popular culture weaves within every chapter of the book that paints an extremely vivid and detailed memory of Felix’s childhood past that centered upon TV, music, and movies, and for good measure, a brief mention of Lyndon B. Johnson and Barry Goldwater; one name that is rarely mentioned is John F. Kennedy, somewhat ironic since the story occurs a year after Kennedy’s passing. But what may be obvious is the title of the book named after author Wally Lamb’s favorite singers Dusty Springfield and actress Annette Funicello that is fictitiously Felix’s cousin.Within the first few passages of the first chapter, the novel is a blast from the past for Felix as he recalls Sister Dymphna, classmates Zhenya Kabakova and Rosalie Elaine Twerski, as well as other memorable individuals in his life. One may say, the day in the life of Felix that is similar to another Christmas Story by Jean Shepherd. However, 20 years or so in the future to the mid-1960s where television and music and material goods were all the rage that children clung to rather than the radio and movies; regardless, each story were not forgotten but retold with immense detail. And one of the most interesting parts of the book is the symbolic element that Lamb plays out in the chapter “Drama,” which most Christmas stories tend to possess surrounding the season, the Christmas pageant that St. Aloysius Gonzaga presented to remind the children what Christmas really means. Students in the class Ernie, Geraldine, and Marion and Rosalie performed and narrated as Felix exerts Rosalie’s stupid play “Jesus is the Reason for the Season.” This part of the book adds more humorous moments in the story in a tongue-in-cheek style, especially the concluding lines of the play read by Saint Martin Porres played by Marion.In essence, Wishin’ and Hopin’ is a delightful read during the Christmas season.

"A Wishin' and hopin' " is a small novel by Wally Lamb. I almost missed it since it fell under the shadow of his materpiece, "The Hour I First Believed" and Richard Russo's "The Bridge of Sighs" but I found it because I've learned to search for Wally Lamb. Like watching the film work of Dustin Hoffman (Compare "Pappillon" to "Kramer vs Kramer") or Meryl Streep (compare "Sophie's Choice" to "Silkwood") and then think how Wally Lamb has not written a book that isn't charactrer driven yet. Like Stephen sondheim, every single work stands on it's own and only through intense study can someone recognize the author. Every single word in what is turning into a master of the first person has adopted a specific character and each character is so spot on that one would never know that Wally Lamb wrote "She's Come Undone" as well as "I Know This Much Is True." His characters are so well developed that the detail is akin to an actor preparing for a role. This man's Russian dialect is as good as Streep or Shaloub would do it.This most recent novel is from the mind and heart of a fifth grade boy at a parochial school in 1964 as he comes to an understanding of the world and how he fits into it. We learn along with him; we remember and we relate so strongly to this young man, appropriately named Felix, as he is forced to view elements of the outside world from within the frame work of a changing Catholic Church. We also see the start of a changing America, how fifth grade is a time when friendships begin to change and, if we're lucky, we begin to establish understanding and compassion.Mr. Lamb is a master of plotting and not since John Irving has anyone managed to create literary plots that are so outlandish that they are head on with real life; most truth isn't believable to the reading public. Wally Lamb uses history, nostalgia and real characters to get at our soft underbellies so that this small and beautiful book is just as satisfying as "The World According To Garp" or "The Poisonwood Bible." As my previous reviews have said, Wally Lamb is headed for historic posterity; a man who is destined for the Pulitzer or Nobel and a man who has managed to chronicle American history with truth and humanity, just as it was lived.This small piece of literature is a gem; it's not a huge loud explosion but rather a delicate bit of the finest pate on a thin cracker with a few drops of the finest Caviar atop. Eat it slowly and press that flavor against the roof of your mouth.And remember when he wins the Pulitzer and joins the ranks of Shirley Jackson, William Styron, Charles Dickens and Bernard Shaw, that you heard it here first.

I would read anything by Wally Lamb and have read all of his books to date. He is so clever at characterisation and you very quickly want to know how his characters move on. This is very different from anything of his I have read previously but am enjoying the simplicity and looking forward to it developing as not yet completed it.

I love Wally Lamb and his books are often dark and challenging, but this was light enough to read over the festive season, yet still had enough challenge to be worth reading. I loved the "american graffiti" style epilogue too. The New England setting is fun and the Christmas play scenes are vividly rendered.

A good seasonal read from Wally Lamb. I have enjoyed some of his other novels which are deeper and more challenging but if you like to immerse yourself in a light, nostalgic read around Christmas time this is ideal.

I have loved most of Lamb's novels so really looked forward to this . However it was about the lives of teenagers and did not hold me. Lovely edition of the book though.

having read wally lambs previous 3 books i decided to buy this too.totally different and prob wouldnt have bought it had i not already read other books(all of which were absolutely fantastic)