REVIEWS OF TALES FROM THE DAY
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"...extremely well written. Read this book for pure fun and enjoyment. The stories are amazing and incredibly, all TRUE!"
Steven Arenas, Emmy nominee. 21 years, TV animation. Director, major studio TV animation post production, 15 years.
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“In general, memoirs really suck,” observes new author Wayne McFarland in the opening line of Tales From The Day. On the other hand, to savor this self-described “memoir of sorts” that begins in the mid-twentieth century is to feast on a remarkable array of first-person accounts served with the sensibilities of a seasoned novelist. McFarland combines astute observations, skilled storytelling, and a blend of amusement, self-awareness and candor that most of us couldn’t muster even after years of therapy. You may alternate between “I wish I’d been there” and “I’m glad it was him and he lived to tell it.” As the book wraps, McFarland muses that some tales still remain untold. Count me among the eager readers who look forward to the day he tells them.
Bill Lenz, Writer, Producer, Director, Narrator; 4 time Cindy Award winner; 4 time Telly Award winner; 2 time Cine Golden Eagle Award winner; winner Grand Award and others
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McFarland is one helluva story teller - and a good guy to have along when you get thrown in jail
Mike Delaney, Author Cyclone Bobcat
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An apt title for this book would be Adventures of a Young Man. But alas, Hemingway has already gobbled that one up. Wayne McFarland’s rollicking memoir reads like the autobiography of a mature Huckleberry Finn. This series of separate vignettes weaves into a narrative arc, that describes a number of humorous misadventures strewn along the pathway to maturity and ultimate success. The tales are all well paced, brilliantly written, poignant, agonizing, funny and, in places, all-consuming. It is told with great verve, pluck and gusto. The rich metaphors and sometimes self-debasing similes produced peals of laughter in this hardened old combat soldier. Set largely in the 60’s, any reader from boomer to millennial will find meaning in the life lessons imparted by this story. An excellent read.
R.Bruce Logan, Author, Back to Vietnam: Tours of the Heart; Finding Lien, and As The Lotus Blooms
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“Entertaining, funny and well written. Will Rodgers would be proud.”
Ken Bangs, author of Guardians in Blue
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Wayne has a way of telling a true story that captivates and holds your attention. Can’t put it down. Want to know what’s next. This shows what an exciting life you can have if you try hard enough. Exciting, scary, hilarious and poignant.
Richard Bultman, Attached To Army Intelligence (Cold war)
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"Tales from the Day" is a delight! A real gem! But, what really sets these stories apart is the refreshingly honest and unvarnished way in which the author explores both individuals and events. Each story skillfully details the remarkable, unique, and often humorous qualities of each character and how these relate to the circumstances in which they ultimately find themselves. "Tales from the Day" is a joy to read!... tremendously well written... story-telling at its best...I only hope that there is more to come . . .
Steve Schultz, Ph.D., Professor of Chemistry/Chemistry Instructor Minnesota West Community and Technical College
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McFarland takes the reader on a rollicking, freewheeling, often times poignant and scary ride across a landscape few of us have ever seen or imagined. He uses the hidden, off-the-beaten path as a canvas to paint a portrait of a life well lived, full of the triumphs, failures, and introspection that define the human experience. His story telling style lies at the intersection where William Least Heat Moon, Poe Ballentine, Ken Kesey, and Hunter S. Thompson meet and mingle yet it is totally unique in tone and texture. It is an honest and straight-forward read that everyone can enjoy and relate to.
Michael Kaiser Literary Blogger
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"McFarland’s prose is colorful and conversational, filled with sharp details and wonderfully evocative asides…These are stories for…around the campfire…” “… readers…should thoroughly enjoy these feats of boldness, chaos, wit, and luck. A collection of anecdotes in the classic sense: happenings meant to thrill and entertain.” — Kirkus Reviews
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(Kirkus Reviews). "...the review for "TALES FROM THE DAY" was selected by our Indie Editors to be featured in Kirkus Reviews Dec. 1 Issue. Congratulations! Your review will appear as one of the 35 reviews in the Indie section of the magazine which is sent out to over 5,000 industry professionals (librarians, publishers, agents, etc.) Less than 10% of our Indie reviews are chosen for this, so it's a great honor.
MORE REVIEWS
If you wish to see reader reviews to date, just log into either Amazon.com or barnesandnoble.com. In their search bar select "books" and type in Tales From The Day Wayne McFarland. You will be taken to the order page for Tales where you can read reader reviews without actually having to buy a book. Thus far, I am enormously grateful to be able to say the average, reader review rank is the highest rating of 5 star. Here's a sample of recent reader reviews:
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"Kept getting ‘the look’ from my wife due to my constant laugh.This book has nineteen chapters, many with hilarious stories and great turns of phrase. Like the MASH TV series of old, the comedy is occasionally broken with a jarring return to reality. Stories about his work tended to the hilarious. Stories about his family, especially his Grandpa, pass along life lessons in an easy to remember format. The chapter about being shot in Arkansas brought the comedy to an end, but has a great story about his college president’s help during that crisis and his reason for helping his students. Wayne has a way of describing events that will resonate with everyone lucky enough to get this gem of a memoir. I look forward to the next installment."