A Review of Robert McCloskey's "Homer Price"

A review of Homer Price
By L.A. Tonkovich

Homer Price is a collection of stories written by Robert McCloskey in the nineteen forties. The stories' center is a town called Centerburg and the stories' main character is a boy named Homer Price. Centerburg is a cozy little town with a lunchroom owned by Homer's Uncle Ulysses and a library, a barbers shop and many other shops and stores, but now let me describe some of the stories. The first story begins when Homer finds a skunk he names Aroma. Aroma helps Homer find a recently stolen suitcase full of money and Dregs aftershave lotion. Another story is one of my personal favorites it is called, "The Doughnuts." Uncle Ulysses wife, Aunt Agnes is a bit exasperated with Uncle Ulysses and his “Up and coming lunch room,” meaning that she became, “unkindly disposed toward him for days and days,” whenever he bought a new labor saving device. Uncle Ulysses has purchased a doughnut machine and, after trying out a new recipe can’t stop making doughnuts! There are many other stories, including one that determines the “String Saving Champion of the World.” There’s also "Nothing new under the Sun," which has a more modern Pied Piper of Hamlin. This wonderful collection of stories has amazing illustrations that capture the spirit of Centerburg, and Homer Price. There is also a counterpart to this book, it is called Centerburg Tales introducing an exciting new character who tells tales that could be true but nobody can prove they are lies. I strongly suggest these wonderful stories to read.

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