Gloria Norris’s KooKooLand is a memoir written on the edge of a knife blade. Chilling, intensely moving, and darkly funny, it cuts to the heart and soul of a troubled American family, and announces the arrival of a startlingly original voice. Gloria Norris grew up in the projects of Manchester, New Hampshire with her parents, her sister, Virginia, and her cat, Sylvester. A snapshot might show a … A snapshot might show a happy, young family, but only a dummkopf would buy that.
Nine-year-old Gloria is gutsy and wisecracking. Her father, Jimmy, all dazzle and danger, is often on the far side of the law and makes his own rules–which everyone else better follow. Gloria’s mom, Shirley, tries not to rock the boat, Virginia unwisely defies Jimmy, and Gloria fashions herself into his sidekick–the son he never had.
Jimmy takes Gloria everywhere. Hunting, to the racetrack, to slasher movies, and to his parents’ dingy bar–a hole in the wall with pickled eggs and pickled alkies. But it is at Hank Piasecny’s gun shop that Gloria meets the person who will change her life. While Hank and Jimmy trade good-humored insults, Gloria comes under the spell of Hank’s college-age daughter, Susan. Brilliant, pretty, kind, and ambitious, Susan is everything Gloria longs to be–and can be, provided she dreams big and aces third grade like Susan tells her to.
But, one night, a brutal act changes the course of all their lives. The story that unfolds is a profound portrait of how violence echoes through a family, and through a community. From the tragedy, Gloria finds a way to carve out a future on her own terms and ends up just where she wants to be. Gripping and unforgettable, KooKooLand is a triumph.
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KooKooLand is not a book for the faint of heart…as someone who also writes from the perspective and viewpoint of a child old beyond her years, I greatly enjoyed Norris’ wry, dry, wickedly funny delivery and description of life with her scary, unpredictable father. Her courage and resourcefulness are inherent in the challenges she undertakes to earn his approval. I found much to relate to in this bare-knuckle punch of a story.
Reminded me of my childhood in the Deep South even though it takes place in the northeast.
I loved this book! It remains on my top 10 best reads!
Great read, went so fast!
Gloria Norris, the author and main character, writes about her upbringing in the projects of Manchester, New Hampshire. Much of the book chronicles her life in the 1960s with her mother, Shirley, father, Jimmy, and half-sister, Virginia.
Norris’s prose is hilarious and poetic. Though some may find some of it offensive, it captures the slang of the 60s and her deadbeat dad who’s a well-read but deeply disturbed, volatile, ex-merchant mariner, of Greek descent. A low-level criminal, he threatens to kill people and degrades every person, no matter their race, creed, sex, or heritage.
Gloria pals around with him on hunting and fishing expeditions to put food on the table. They visit the race track to bet on nags hoping for the big payout, and she rides along with him when he goes to manicure the lawns for the rich people across town.
He refers to Gloria as Dummkopf, Pipsqueak, Dracula, because of her crooked teeth, Slowpoke, because he challenges her to a race and never let’s her win, and Egghead, because she’s smart and makes straight As.
Gloria fantasizes about becoming rich and getting out of the projects like her father’s friend, Hank, who owns a gun shop. Hank’s daughter, Susan, bright and beautiful, becomes Gloria’s idol. Susan wants to be a doctor and move to KooKooLand, says Jimmy about California, to save poverty stricken, children. Gloria sets her sights on becoming a doctor too, “to get the hell out of the projects.”
Violence reaches the climax half-way through the book when two people are murdered. Against the odds, Gloria manages to persevere and create a life void of poverty—a life in KooKooLand.
I was only mildly disappointed in the last several chapters. Norris’s voice from her childhood was replaced by her adult voice. Though appropriate for the pacing of the book, and her age, I missed the verbiage she through around as a child.
This was a steal at $0.99! The book is riveting, dark, and hilarious, I couldn’t put it down! I have a Book Hangover!
You just can’t believe the way this family lived! OMG! Quite remarkable in itself and the way the author writes is terrific.
I loved this book. Quite the story. And it’s true! Gloria, what an incredible life you have lived. Thanks for sharing with us. Makes people think their lives aren’t so bad after all.
Wonderfully entertaining although sad. My childhood was so stereotypical of the perfect family it’s hard to read about the other side. It is also hard to read the at time racist language but it is a memoir so it’s about real life.
Unique. Survivors of narcisstic parents, codependency, and domestic violence can relate to this story.
Many novels focus on dysfunctional families. This family was not fictional, but definitely dysfunctional! Fortunately the author survived to tell her family’s sordid tale.
This memoir of a girl, looking back on her 1960s childhood spent trying to earn the favor of her alcoholic father, is both funny and heart-breaking. It reveals the subtle but powerful effects of psychological abuse and manipulation of paternal power.
I enjoyed KooKoo Land. Although, I found myself wondering when it would “get to the point” or reach the clima. I knew this was a memoir and I kept rooting for Shirley to get those girls away from her husband. It seemed like the character building never ended.
I was satisfied with the ending but it felt a bit rushed after getting through Gloria’s early years.
Couldn’t believe this was a true story as I was reading; oh my what a life!
I was pleasantly suprised how funny it was!
Strangely, darkly, entertaining
Sad childhood and yet main character survived.
I didn’t really enjoy the characters and wasn’t drawn in so I cared about them. I was disappointed.
AWESOME BOOK; EASY TO READ
Very interesting memoir. Holds your interest.
Loved it. Interesting verbiage! Greek family’s daughters realize how disfunctional their lives are. Time and distance is needed for their perspective. I found it totally relatable.