is off the BOOM
when . . .
by Ken Brodnax
Gift/Humorous
8.25 in x 5.25 in
34 illustrations
62 b/w pages Paperback
ISBN 1930043406
Regular price: $9.95
Sale price: $6.95
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An Odessa American columnist and a local illustrator have
teamed up to produce a comedic collection of quips and
characters designed to resonate with baby boomers.
"Rey created the characters and fit them to the situation, so
many people will find a little of themselves" in the book, author
Ken Brodnax said.
Inside, readers meet nine sorry souls who often display their
cluelessness that their age---and grip on reality---is on a
slippery downhill slope.
An example is Doyle Paxxon, an accountant with a "world-class
combover" and shirt tucked into his underwear. Paxxon
illustrates the page proclaiming, "You know the bloom is off the
boom when you find yourself spending a lot of time watching
The Weather Channel."
Brodnax admits he can write the gags because he has the
experience that comes with age, unlike Leal, who is a few
decades younger. "Rey can spit in the eye of age a little bit
better than I can," Brodnax said.
Future collaborations may include a sequel or comic strip. by
Kara Vaught, Odessa American
Yep, it's a fact. The boomers are getting a little frayed around the edges.
The bloom is fading. For decades now, a massive number of Americans loosely known
as baby boomers have been feeling their oats. All the people who were conceived in
the years immediately after the dark days of World War II have known they were the
dominant force in American society. They were the generation of great hope that was
at the forefront when man first explored space and they helped usher in the era of
technology. They bragged about their computer skills and secretly felt contempt for all
those old people who resisted change. And they felt pride that their labors were helping
finance the retirement of all those senior citizens who never quite could turn loose of
the frugal ways they acquired during the Great Depression.
Ah, yes, the boomers were the enlightened folks. They were the
trendsetters and the older folks were fine as long as they stayed out of
the way. But time has a way of catching up.
Lighthearted and richly illustrated, The Bloom pokes holes in the fading
careers of 50-something athletes, tekkies and others who came up
through the 60s and 70s. You know who you are. If not, maybe a
couple of tidbits will help: Yep, you are a boomer if you find yourself
humming the theme from 77 Sunset Strip and don't know why. Or, if you
wonder why anyone would forget that Fess Parker played Davy
Crockett. Or why anyone would consider an eight track tape player an
antique.
Makes a great gift for all the old Boomers on your list!
KEN BRODNAX knows where of the writes when it comes to baby boomers, because
he is one. Gut when it came time to lend an artistic touch to the subject, Nax turned to
a GenXer, REYNALDO LEAL. The two have the Odess (Texas) American newspaper
in common. Brodnax has witten more than 3,000 columns for that newspaper in the
past 20 years, and Leal, a commercial artist, dows freelance illustrations. Both have
won statewide awards for their work.
