Hal Reichardt is laugh-out-loud funny, outrageous, delightful, off the wall, ridiculous, wry, droll--a fine writer, in the best Dave Barry-esque sense. Selecting everyday subjects we all can relate to, Mr. Reichardt can find the greatest humor in the details of life, the things we all know but have never discussed or voiced, but the reader will say, yeah, he's right on. All the while, with his inner child working overtime, the author is grounded in good values and decent common sense. His kids/family must have great fun--and we'd all enjoy him at a party. Kudos to the sort of literary Sienfeld for translating his natural humor onto the page.
Hopefully, this longtime and versatile writer (per his list of books), will find (or has found) his audience and will continue to write his humorous columns/essays. In online markets? Local newspapers? Few can write humor as well as this author. (I love The Old Switcheroo.")
Judge's commentary, January, 2007
Hal: On top of all that, Kids, Dogs, Canaries, and Other Curiosities took home the Certificate of Participation award! It's like cousin Eddie says in Christmas Vacation when Chevy Chase asks him if he can get him anything else. This is while Eddie is shifting around the living room by the Christmas tree wearing white loafers and a tight white sweater with a black dickey showing through underneath, holding some eggnog in a glass with moose antlers. Eddie responds by saying: "No, no, Clark. I'm doing just fine. Just happy to be here." I think that sums it up. Happy to be a participant is a good way to go.
You can can check out the contest sponsor at Writer's Digest.
You can can check out the contest sponsor at PubInsider.com.
The author of this wonderful book lives in Beaverton and its wonderfully sideways illustrator lives in Medford. That is more or less fitting, as Whimsy Street is no respecter of pigeon-holing or traditional organization.
It's a brisk collection of essays about the perfectly ordinary (which often turns out to be far from ordinary).
Reichardt's interests and ideas range from the "why didn't I think of that?" to "what kind of person would think of that?" It's all great fun and games contained in a nicely designed and printed volume.
Dan Hays, Northwest Books, Statesman Journal, Sunday, January 19, 2003
Whimsy Street: Humorous Excursions From Daily Life by Hal Reichardt is a collection of humorous vignettes, essays and insights about everyday living and commonplace family life. Lighthearted black-and-white sketches complement the endearing, wry, and highly enjoyable writings in this fun ranging from "How to retire early using nothing but the Beanie Babies in your closet"; to "How to put on your underwear without throwing your back out of whack"; to :How to tell if someone you know is really an alien". Whimsy Street is a very highly recommended compendium of not-too-serious thoughts and wry observations.
The Midwest Book Review, "Reviewer's Choice" in Small Press Bookwatch, February, 2003. James A Cox, Editor-in-Chief.
Hal Reichardt takes us on a whimsical tour of everyday life in this collection of humorous essays. Whimsy Street begins with an essay on Mr. Reichardt's love for things Irish, so much so that he attempts to claim Irish customs as his own, not an easy thing for someone named Reichardt. He takes us through charity donations of $3, matching, or mismatching socks, thank-you notes from and to car salesmen, and computer problems. Whimsy Street covers slices of life with gentle humor. We give it three hearts.
Judy Schuler (Reader), Bob Spear (Publisher and Chief Reviewer), Heartland Reviews, appearing in July/August, 2003 issue.
Updated April 26, 2007