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Where's My Wand?: One Boy's Magical Triumph over Alienation and Shag Carpeting Kindle Edition

4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 77 ratings

"Gut-splittingly funny...a deeply moving account of a boy's attempt to control his world with his own brand of magic." --People magazine, 4 stars.

Tracey Ullman once described Eric Poole as "the best undiscovered writer I ever met." Now the world can enjoy his achingly honest wit and gift for capturing real life characters in this memoir about growing up in the 1970's with an obsessive-compulsive mother and a crush on Endora from
Bewitched.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Poole’s episodic memoir of growing up in 1970s St. Louis breaks no new ground in this well-mined field, but it is funny, nevertheless, and engagingly large-hearted. The author’s humor is largely character-driven, focusing on his long-suffering father, his older sister, and his cleanliness-obsessed mother, who would be more than a match for Mr. Clean. Poole has his own obsession: Endora from Bewitched. Whenever things get tough, he dons a white chenille bedspread and becomes the Endora of St. Louis, imagining magical solutions to his many problems—bullies, his parents’ arguments, an enforced camping trip with mannish Aunt Jennie, his growing awareness of his homosexuality—with mixed success. Somewhere along the line, Endora is replaced by God, who doesn’t seem much more reliable, though Poole does become a demon trumpet player, which may—by the time he’s in high school—open the door to peer acceptance. Readers will be rooting for him. --Michael Cart

Review

"Oh, I wish Eric Poole had been a Brady, because I would love to have been his mother. This story of a young boy in the seventies who is searching for the 'magic' in his life begins as a hilarious read, and ends as a profoundly touching tale of traumas and triumphs. I adored it!"
-Florence Henderson

"Fragrant as it is of Love's Baby Soft perfume and hormones, Poole's memoir of growing up gay and Baptist in the '70s would be worth reading if it were just gut-splittingly funny (he describes himself as the kind of boy who would only crawl beneath a car "to retrieve a Cher album that had rolled under it"). But Wand is also a deeply moving account of a boy's attempt to control his world with his own brand of magic. That world includes his sometimes terrifying family (his OCD mother makes him rake the shag carpet every night), an armless best friend and a golden boy Poole hoped to anoint with - well, Poole kind of thought it was the spirit of Jesus. It's Poole's mother, though, who is the standout character. Annihilating and loving by turns, she makes Sophie Portnoy look like June Cleaver, yet Poole finds her humor and humanity. We should all have such tenderness toward our parents."
-Judith Newman,
People Magazine (four stars)

"A quirky, irreverent story of growing up odd in the 1970's, when people still wrote letters, loved shag carpeting and used carbon paper.
Fox Television radio-marketing executive Poole grew up in the Midwest in a family, and among an assortment of characters, destined to end up in a coming- of-age memoir. Some of the more entertaining stories include the chaos of his parents' fighting in 1969; the author's befriending of the sarcastic, armless Stacy (who "exhibit[ed] her stumps to the amazement and awe of the gathered fourth-graders"); his magical obsessions with Bewitched, which included an unhealthy attachment to Endora; and his failed exorcism of another bow in Bible school. From his early childhood, when he escaped into his family's basement to chant magical charms to ward off alienation and chaos, through his teenage years, when the normal teenage panic was amplified by the added bewilderment of his awakening homosexuality, Poole shares an intimate, self-effacing chronicle of a unique young boy and the forces that molded him into the grounded, articulate, charming oddball he is today. The real charm of the book lies in the authenticity of the humor. There is not one forced moment in the book, now is there a stitch of disingenuous manipulation to get a cheap laugh or manufacture a setup to a joke. Each entertaining tidbit grows from the characters, their lives, their struggles and their unforgivably shameless honesty. This is the story of growing up as the exception but learning to understand that if you're lucky and have the right mix of crazy people in your life, being the exception can morph into being exceptional.
A witty, observant, deliciously satisfying autobiography."
-
Kirkus

"I loved
Where's My Wand. I wish I had once been a 12-year-old boy so that I could have written it. He's got the right mixture of being unforgivably witty, embarrassingly dorky, endearing without overly being sentimental, and clearly isn't afraid of stripping himself emotionally naked for the sake of a bold laugh. It's a runaway charmer, hands down."
-Laurie Notaro ,BR>
"Eric Poole unfurls his shag-carpeted, Match-Game-lovin', 70's childhood with incredible wit and honesty. Light-up a Winston, open a Tab and tuck in!"
-Simon Doonan, author of
Beautiful People

"It made me jump up and down and holler 'Yummy!', like my grandmother Mary Lucille's red velvet cake."
- Leslie Jordan, co-star of
Boston Legal and Will & Grace

"An absolute must-read book for the outcast in all of us,
Where's My Wand is hilarious and heartfelt. I could not put this book down. It's a rare treat."
-Jim Brickman

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B003L784OS
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Berkley (May 8, 2010)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 8, 2010
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 544 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 306 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 0425241017
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 77 ratings

About the author

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Eric Poole
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Eric Poole’s first memoir received rave reviews and was developed as a television series for ABC. He has written for the Huffington Post, CNN, and The Advocate, and spends more time than he would like penning commercials for everything from McRibs to tampons to TV shows about celebrities boxing.

He lives in Southern California with his partner of 16 years. This is his second memoir. Visit www.ericpoole.net for more information.

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
77 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the memoir entertaining and easy to read. They describe it as a great, captivating read that holds their interest. Readers praise the writing style as well-written and quick. The narrative style is described as vivid and authentic, reminding them of the joy and craziness of childhood.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

19 customers mention "Humor"19 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's humor. They find it entertaining with funny anecdotes and a light touch that leaves them grinning and laughing out loud. The story is poignant and sweet, describing the author's childhood as funny, charming, and moving.

"...He has a wonderfully light touch with his humor: the situations and characters speak for themselves, and his spare writing style keeps the storyline..." Read more

"..."Where's My Wand" is the funniest, most charming, and at the same time most poignant look that you may have regarding that concept...." Read more

"...But for me, it was just ok. There were a lot of really funny anecdotes, but the way he keeps going back to the magic theme felt very "high school..." Read more

"...how his consciousness changes over time and his relationship and understanding of God is interesting as well. I highly recommend WHERE'S MY WAND? -..." Read more

13 customers mention "Readability"13 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's readability. They find it a pleasant, light read with references to childhood memories. Readers describe it as an easy, quick, and engaging read.

"...The read is quick, engaging, and I am definitely interested in hearing more about MR. POOLE'S aliening but magical life...." Read more

"...His wit makes what might have been a "bummer book" a real joy to read...." Read more

"...this is a truly wonderful book, and as a lover of fun reading, i hope everyone who's ever felt like a misfit picks it up and finds their own magic..." Read more

"...I highly recommend this quick and breezy read, especially to those who like well-written personal memoirs of the not-so-famous...." Read more

11 customers mention "Reading quality"11 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging and entertaining. They describe it as an insightful, well-observed memoir of a gay childhood. The book is described as humorous, clever, and refreshing.

"...for cleverness's sake, Eric's shoots straight for honesty and surprises everyone...." Read more

"...the hammock, or, oh yeah, the bed and treat yourself to a very entertaining read. Once you start, you won't put it down...." Read more

"...Insightful lessions and and observations are revealed in an almost nostalgic sort of way, and readers who grew up in the 70's will especially find..." Read more

"...It's highly entertaining with plenty of grins, giggles and laugh-out-loud moments. Buy this book for yourself as a fun read...." Read more

9 customers mention "Writing style"9 positive0 negative

Customers find the writing style engaging and easy to read. They appreciate the author's talent and find the memoir entertaining. The family relationships are clear and sincere.

"...: the situations and characters speak for themselves, and his spare writing style keeps the storyline moving...." Read more

"...Eric Poole's writing is so vivid and visual, that I could actually see the raked shag carpeting and the uncommonly dry kitchen sink, and could put a..." Read more

"In this well written often laugh out loud memoir we find ERIC POOLE sharing facets of life from third grade through parts of high school...." Read more

"...His style is quick and breezy, and yet I had to force my self to put the book down from time to time so I could savor it...." Read more

8 customers mention "Narrative style"8 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the narrative style. They find the story relatable and authentic, portraying a child's coming-of-age journey. The writing is vivid and visual, allowing readers to visualize the events described.

"...He's perfectly nailed the coming of age story for the 1970s generation of gay teenagers who grew up in bible belt towns...." Read more

"...Eric Poole's writing is so vivid and visual, that I could actually see the raked shag carpeting and the uncommonly dry kitchen sink, and could put a..." Read more

"...stories make me laugh out loud and remind me of the joy and craziness of childhood...." Read more

"I enjoyed this book tremendously. Eric Poole paints a vivid image of growing up different and learning to cope in his own "magical" way...." Read more

7 customers mention "Charm"7 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's charm. They find the childhood of the author funny, sweet, and moving. The book is described as entertaining with plenty of grins, giggles, and laugh-out-loud moments.

"..."Where's My Wand" is the funniest, most charming, and at the same time most poignant look that you may have regarding that concept...." Read more

"...It's highly entertaining with plenty of grins, giggles and laugh-out-loud moments. Buy this book for yourself as a fun read...." Read more

"The story of Eric Poole's childhood is funny, sweet, inspiring, and moving...." Read more

"Great pot. Big and beautiful and a great price. My plant loves it so much it's growing from a shrub to a tree. Go figure...." Read more

5 customers mention "Character development"5 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's characters. They find the situations and characters humorous, heartbreaking, and all-too-real. The Baptist family and many colorful characters are mentioned.

"...has a wonderfully light touch with his humor: the situations and characters speak for themselves, and his spare writing style keeps the storyline..." Read more

"...Once you start, you won't put it down. With characters and storyline this rich...i smell series!!!" Read more

"...given a heavy dose of his dysFUNctional Baptist family and many colorful characters and adventures...." Read more

"...the world through his protagonist's eyes, and the character's adventures are consistently real and true-to-life...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on July 8, 2010
    I was delighted to find that Eric had written an autobiography. He's perfectly nailed the coming of age story for the 1970s generation of gay teenagers who grew up in bible belt towns.

    But sure, there's a bunch of stories like this. What makes Eric's story different is that he's not a whiner. Not even in the slightest. In every characterization of his family, there's deeply moving, warm and positive assertions about their humanity and decency. He finds the good in them - what makes them what they are. Instead of the typical, beaten to a pulp sordid tales of the unloved gay kid, instead we get a story that's a lot more timeless. We get an authentic story of a child who was loved.

    The point of it all was that he had to find out for himself what made him different and what he was good at, too. Eric takes a lot of responsibility for himself in his book. I'm not so sure that a lot of us wouldn't perhaps try to put the best possible light on ourselves. After all, how often do we get to control the camera from every angle? He plays it straight up and doesn't cheat the audience.

    Instead of being clever for cleverness's sake, Eric's shoots straight for honesty and surprises everyone. He has a wonderfully light touch with his humor: the situations and characters speak for themselves, and his spare writing style keeps the storyline moving. His affection for his family is sincere and clear. He speaks of them with respect, not contempt. It's refreshing to see family treated well and kindly. Not everything is so Dickensian, and I loved all the details that influenced Eric's childhood.

    Just as much fun as Bewitched, without the confusion of multiple Darrens or the embarrassing fashion faux-pas (what was with those getups Endora wore, anyway?)
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on June 18, 2010
    What do you want to be when you grow up? Sound familiar? Maybe it's what you wanted to be as a child that would most heavily shape your future. "Where's My Wand" is the funniest, most charming, and at the same time most poignant look that you may have regarding that concept. A child growing up in St. Louis, where the west is "waaaayyy mid" is challenged by his family, friends, schoolmates, and teachers amid his own struggle to find who he is (or who he thinks he is). Eric Poole's writing is so vivid and visual, that I could actually see the raked shag carpeting and the uncommonly dry kitchen sink, and could put a tone and tenor to each voice from each character...especially his mother...aaahhh yes, his mother. Love at all costs. His obsession with magic and the ills it could hopefully cure is something that would have come in handy for many of us, wouldn't it have? Very "Sedaris" in feeling, but with boatloads more heart! Summer is upon us, so pull up the porch chair, the beach chair, the hammock, or, oh yeah, the bed and treat yourself to a very entertaining read. Once you start, you won't put it down. With characters and storyline this rich...i smell series!!!
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on July 12, 2010
    I was so excited to get this book after reading all of the terrific reviews. But for me, it was just ok. There were a lot of really funny anecdotes, but the way he keeps going back to the magic theme felt very "high school essay" to me. I would give it 2.5 stars if that were an option.
    5 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 21, 2010
    In this well written often laugh out loud memoir we find ERIC POOLE sharing facets of life from third grade through parts of high school. Here we are given a heavy dose of his dysFUNctional Baptist family and many colorful characters and adventures. Insightful lessions and and observations are revealed in an almost nostalgic sort of way, and readers who grew up in the 70's will especially find all the kooky references to the time terrific fun! The read is quick, engaging, and I am definitely interested in hearing more about MR. POOLE'S aliening but magical life. I also like his long obsession with Bewitched and its charater Endora, which would inspired him to take his own life into his own hands often with often mixed results. He would then create his own magical rituals to influence his own life, and to witness him grow up and to percieves his doings is at times like watching him from the spirit world blossom, while you root for him all the way. Also, how his consciousness changes over time and his relationship and understanding of God is interesting as well. I highly recommend WHERE'S MY WAND? - ONE BOY'S MAGICAL TRIUMPH OVER ALIENATION AND SHAG CARPETING for the humor, the moving drama (yes, there's some of that too), but its the graceful ease in which ERIC"S enchanted life is wonderfully spun to us that is so appealing. I want to hear more from MR. POOLE and his boyhood triumps, troubles, maybe even all about his first kiss, - which you know is going to have a Bee Gees soundtrack, and that fabulous Farrah Fawcett poster hovering overhead!!!! ENJOY EVERYONE !!!!!
    3 people found this helpful
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