The reflections in this book portray much about life with an alcoholic, eccentric father with a penchant for self-pity, creative thinking, and consistent, unorthodox behavior. The events in the essays took place primarily in Plainview, Texas during the 1940's to 1960's at a time in which West Texas towns and cities were shedding their frontier affinities and struggling into the modern, industrial era. J. Roy marched to drum beats unheard by others. He took up farming to avoid the draft while manifesting a patriotic fervor. He broke and evaded the law while extolling its applicability to...