“This book is a bonbon for any baby boomer. . . . Lamb gets Felix’s voice just right, and he does a spot-on job of evoking the special joys and trials of parochial school in the ‘60’s…Put a bow on this book and warm somebody’s heart.” — St. Petersburg Times
Wally Lamb, the beloved #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Hour I First Believed, I Know This Much Is True, and She’s Come Undone, delivers a holiday treat with Wishin’ and Hopin’—an unforgettable novella that captures the warmth and joy of the holiday season.
It's 1964. LBJ and Lady Bird are in the White House, Meet the Beatles is on everyone’s turntable, and ten-year-old Felix Funicello (distant cousin of the iconic Annette!) is doing his best to navigate fifth grade—easier said than done when scary movies still give you nightmares and you bear a striking resemblance to a certain adorable cartoon boy. But there are several things young Felix can depend on: the birds and bees are puzzling, television is magical, and this is one Christmas he’s never going to forget.
Poignant and hilarious, in a vein similar to Jean Shepherd’s A Christmas Story and David Sedaris’s The Santaland Diaries, Lamb’s Christmas tale focuses on a feisty parochial school fifth grader named Felix Funicello—a distant cousin of the iconic Annette!
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"Solid 3.5 stars - great story. Nostalgia, humor, coming of age in the 60s - what's not to love. Nothing spectacular or too original, but the middle school Catholic school dynamics were delightful - particularly the Russian new girl. I wasn't a Wally Lamb fan but I really liked this book - touching good fun, humor, heartwarming, nice easy holiday read with a bit more depth and better writing than most of that genre other than Dickens. For 2.99 on Kindle a real steal."
— Jes (4 out of 5 stars)
“A celebration of life—flawed, goofy, wonderful life…Felix makes a hilarious guide through a story that whirs right along.”
— Washington Post“In this short comic novel, the delights of a 1960s Connecticut Christmas come cutely wrapped in period cheer…A dose of well-crafted mayhem and tomfoolery.”
— Independent (London)“Lamb’s rich panoply of details…render this novel first-rate escapism just begging for a comforter and a cup of tea.”
— Minneapolis Star Tribune“A charmingly nostalgic tale for the holidays…Sweet and old-fashioned, Lamb’s Christmas yarn will appeal to readers wistful for more-innocent days.”
— Booklist“This is a heartwarming slice of life in 1964 as seen through the eyes of ten-year-old Felix Funicello, distant cousin of reigning teen queen Annette. Having the narrative filter through the pop culture of the day gives the story an authentic feel. The entertaining characters will bring back youthful memories.”
— RT Book Reviews (4 stars)" Ugh, Wally Lamb! I am so disappointed in you. You have been so esteemed in my mind with masterpieces such as "She's Come Undone" and "I know this much is true." And then you publish two books in less than a year, one about 9/11 and one with a Christmas-y theme. Although I can appreciate the fact that the writing skills are superior and the ability to delve into the human psyche is incredible, this books was a disappointment. "
— Ashley, 2/17/2014" This is definitely Wally Lamb - light, not at all like his other novels. And personally I like his other writing much more. The story was slightly amusing -- reminiscent of Gene Shepherd's Christmas Story. If you you like that, you'll probably like Wishin' and Hopin' more than I did. "
— Beth, 1/31/2014" Fast and fun Christmas read. "
— April, 1/26/2014" Humorous adventures of a boy in parochial school. "
— Heidi, 1/23/2014" Very cute coming of age story. If you are Catholic and went to parochial school, especially in the late 50's or 60's, you will especially identify with the story. "
— Nina, 1/23/2014" Another interesting read by Wally Lamb. This was actually pretty humorous. "
— Kiswana, 1/20/2014" I thought this book was hilarious. Vivid, quirky characters. I could relate with the Catholic school experiences. Fun read overall! "
— Kate, 1/16/2014" A very quick and witty book. I read it in its entirety during a flight. Lamb is a great storyteller and this made me laugh out loud a lot. The story is told from the perspective of a fifth grade boy and his take on life is just really, really funny. "
— Ronya, 1/13/2014" Definitely not my favorite Wally Lamb, I can't really say much more than that. "
— Catherine, 12/6/2013" Funny story that included a lot of reminders from my childhood with some of the cultural stuff from that time period. I actually laughed out loud a few times! I love Wally Lamb's books. "
— Rosebud, 11/7/2013" you must read this at Christmas time. And, it helps if you can relate! "
— Mary, 5/22/2013Wally Lamb is the author of the New York Times and national bestseller The Hour I First Believed, as well as the novels She’s Come Undone and I Know This Much Is True, both #1 New York Times bestsellers and Oprah’s Book Club selections. He lives in Connecticut with his family.