The Readers Book Club met Wednesday, Sept. 20 to discuss A Girl Named Zippy by Haven Kimmel. It is a memoir about growing up in small-town, Indiana, and was given a rating of 3.6 by the members.
“Zippy,” as she is nicknamed, is a small, spitfire of a girl who was born in 1965 in Mooreland, Indiana, population 300. As with most small towns, this one is populated with quirky and eccentric characters. We learn about the evil Edythe, who lives across the street, and Doc Holiday, the grouchy drugstore owner who is married to the Wicked Witch of the West. We are introduced to a group of friends who touch Zippy’s life, like the silent farm girl, Julie. There is also Rose, her left-handed Catholic friend, and Dana, with her black leather biker jacket. Haven has a fun time describing them to us, as well as the way each one affected her childhood. We also learn about Haven’s family and the animals who left their mark on her. She has a beautiful older brother Daniel, who doesn’t like anyone, Zippy included. There’s her sister, Melinda, who became Fair Queen by default. Her well-read mother, and gambling, drinking, gun-toting father round out the immediate cast.
Haven has a way of describing the adventures of her childhood in a witty and amusing voice. The book took the group back to growing up in small farming communities where life was simpler and slower. While some didn’t like how the stories left the reader with unanswered questions, it was agreed upon that the book was a funny and enjoyable read. If you happen to pick up A Girl Named Zippy and enjoy it, you may also want to try the sequel, She Got Up Off the Couch.
“Zippy,” as she is nicknamed, is a small, spitfire of a girl who was born in 1965 in Mooreland, Indiana, population 300. As with most small towns, this one is populated with quirky and eccentric characters. We learn about the evil Edythe, who lives across the street, and Doc Holiday, the grouchy drugstore owner who is married to the Wicked Witch of the West. We are introduced to a group of friends who touch Zippy’s life, like the silent farm girl, Julie. There is also Rose, her left-handed Catholic friend, and Dana, with her black leather biker jacket. Haven has a fun time describing them to us, as well as the way each one affected her childhood. We also learn about Haven’s family and the animals who left their mark on her. She has a beautiful older brother Daniel, who doesn’t like anyone, Zippy included. There’s her sister, Melinda, who became Fair Queen by default. Her well-read mother, and gambling, drinking, gun-toting father round out the immediate cast.
Haven has a way of describing the adventures of her childhood in a witty and amusing voice. The book took the group back to growing up in small farming communities where life was simpler and slower. While some didn’t like how the stories left the reader with unanswered questions, it was agreed upon that the book was a funny and enjoyable read. If you happen to pick up A Girl Named Zippy and enjoy it, you may also want to try the sequel, She Got Up Off the Couch.
