EDDIE SPAGHETTI ON THE HOMEFRONT

by Edward Frascino ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 1, 1983

This sequel to Eddie Spaghetti (1978) begins with the Ferrari family watching Suspicion at Radio City Music Hall when the movie is interrupted by the announcement of Pearl Harbor. For the extended Ferrari family, the day ends in a screaming argument over whether Uncle Hugo, who can hardly see without his thick glasses, will be drafted. As in the previous volume, the text is laced with period references: not only Victory gardens, scrap drives, and blackouts, but also ten-cent comic books, Baby Snooks on the radio, and neighbor Gloria's dyed Veronica-Lake peek-a-boo bang. The story, in fact, is more about the period atmosphere than it is about anything that happens, but what plot there is comes together nicely. Eddie's major free-time project is his Defense Club, where he meets with younger brother Angel, friend Neil, and Nell's sister Gloria in a clubhouse built by Uncle Hugo. Early on Eddie is caught snooping in fearsome Jim the Hermit's shack at the end of the road; but when Eddie spots the Ferraris' missing shovel there Jim calms down and even shares his memories of World War I and the French girl who finally married someone else. So that later, when the pesky Egan kids attack the clubhouse and capture Neil, demanding as ransome that Eddie face Jim the Hermit in his shack, it's sort of like a briar-bush situation handed to Eddie on a platter. And it really doesn't matter that Jim is drunk this time and less friendly: what's important is that Eddie's ""bravery"" so impresses the Egans that soon the Defense Club has three new members. Good-natured, easily digested nostalgia.

Pub Date: Sept. 1, 1983

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Harper & Row

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1983

Categories: FICTION