From School Library Journal YA-These essays， ostensibly about the author's mother's dating days in Oklahoma in the 1950s， form the heart of Leveridge's commentary on myriad contemporary subjects-everything from panning ads to promoting tattoos. YAs will enjoy sinking their teeth into this quick， clever read. The author's agile wit about dating and slices of daily home， work， and social life have broad adolescent appeal. Sports fans will appreciate the foreword by popular anchorman Bob Costas， which offers insight into the author that coincides nicely with the "Other Mostly True Tales" part of the book. The beginning accounts of his mother's youthful dating have an over-the-fence gossipy tone while still sounding plausible. They serve as a reminder that parents had lives before they married. Photos of his mother's suitors-prospective and dejected-appear at the top of each vignette and add interest. It is easy to imagine why Leveridge used a personal ad to try to find a mate， and funny to learn how he copes in his still-single life. An engaging recreational read.Karen Sokol， Fairfax County Public Schools， VA Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information， Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title. From Booklist The first half of this collection is a series of vignettes about the men Leveridge's obviously charming and attractive mom dated before she married his dad， in the early '50s. How true they may be is a toss-up， but they are engaging， partly for their stripped-down humor and partly for the spectacle of a man writing about his mom's supposed recollections. And she did actually meet Kerouac and Cassady in Amarillo， where she worked as a waitress. The second half is Leveridge musing with rue but without bathos about his life: heterosexual， single， not rich， an Oklahoma boy in New York City. His essay on his first massage is worth the price of admission. Much of this work appeared originally on his Web site [http:// www.brettnews.com]， and his is a voice heard occasionally on NPR. There's a repetition inherent in this sort of collection， and like maple creams， it can make you a little bilious if you consume too many in a row; but he's a nice guy， and you won't regret the company. GraceAnne A. DeCandidoCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title. See all Editorial Reviews