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Book: I Like A Little Bit Of The Handsome Americans Myself by Richard Lutman

categories: Book, Literary, Offbeat, Road Novella, Supra Dramatic, Quirky, Humor

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Richard Lutman

about this book: "I Like A Little Bit Of The Handsome Americans Myself" is for readers who like love stories full of quirky humor and offbeat characters. A crucial and very funny pseudo love scene occurs in Laundromat, which inspired the cover. There is no deep meaning in this novella just let yourself go and enjoy the ride. When JR and the Cutbank Cool decide they want to see The Handsome Americans play at the Nobility Hall they hit the road and are pursued by Arnold Porkwinder who deals in chrome and wants his $804.04 in back rent. With him is Mr. Watanabe a Japanese gentleman with unique insight and an expert baseball card flipper. Along with Darlene Darlene the love interest, Shepherd Windust a poet, Hackberry Feather a worm salesman, and Rex Magnum, the villain Mr. Watanabe one of the many characters JR and the Cutbank Cool encounter on their way to see The Handsome Americans.

On the back of a shack door in Rhode Island three names were scrawled across the rough wooden surface followed by 'The Handsome Americans.' I loved the name. The title comes from an exchange between Mr. Watanabe and JR near the end of the novella. Darlene Darlene has been rescued from the abandoned railroad tracks outside of town and goes off with Cutbank.

"What do you say Mr. Watanabe? Do you want to go see The Handsome Americans?"

"I like a little bit of The Handsome Americans myself," said Mr. Watanabe.

"Do you?" said J.R.

"Yes."

"Well, what do you know about that. There may be hope for you after all. Let's get going. See you all later."

It took me a month to write the book and I enjoyed every minute of the process. Pacing was important. I wanted the chapters to be short, no more than three to four pages. For the most part I succeeded.