Old Friends Are the Best By: Jack Sharkey (1931-)
Old Friends Are the Best by Jack Sharkey is a heartwarming and humorous novel that explores the value of long-lasting friendships. Set in a small town in the Midwest, the story follows a group of friends who have known each other since their youth and have now reached their golden years. Through a series of delightful anecdotes and conversations, Sharkey skillfully portrays the dynamics and quirks of this charming group of characters. Each character is unique and well-developed, with their own distinctive personalities and backstories. From the lovable prankster to the wise mentor, readers will find themselves connecting with these characters on a deeply personal level. One of the major strengths of this novel is the author's ability to capture the essence of friendship. Sharkey beautifully depicts the loyalty, understanding, and camaraderie that exists among this group of old friends. The book reminds us of the importance of having people who know us inside out, who support us through thick and thin, and who can make us laugh like no one else can. Another aspect that I particularly enjoyed was the witty and clever dialogue throughout the book. Sharkey's talent for writing realistic and humorous conversations adds depth to the characters and brings the story to life. The banter between the friends is both amusing and heartwarming, creating moments of laughter and nostalgia. While the book primarily focuses on friendship, it also touches on themes of aging, family, and the changing dynamics of small-town life. Sharkey skillfully weaves these themes into the narrative, presenting a well-rounded and multi-dimensional story that resonates with readers of all ages. The pacing of the novel is perfect, with a balance between lighthearted moments and more poignant ones. The author effortlessly keeps the readers engaged throughout the book, gradually revealing the vulnerabilities and struggles of the characters, while maintaining the overall uplifting tone. If you're looking for a heartwarming book that celebrates the power of friendship, Old Friends Are the Best is a must-read. Jack Sharkey delivers a charming and relatable story that will leave you smiling, reminiscing about your own old friends, and appreciating the true value of lasting connections. First Page: OLD FRIENDS ARE THE BEST By JACK SHARKEY [Transcriber note: This etext was produced from Amazing Stories March 1960. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] [Sidenote: Are you one of those people who save the best things for the last ... who eat all the chocolate sundae away from under the maraschino cherry? If so, you are very like the Peter W. Merrill Moonplant.] It had no awareness of time, and so did not know nor concern itself with the millennia that passed since it first drew up the dissolved silicates from the shifting grey remnants of soil and arranged them inside the walls of the thousand green pods that were its body cells, and settled down to wait. Somewhere within its fragile cortex, a tiny pulse of life beat. It was a feeble pulse, to be sure, and one that a man, unless he could observe it for a thousand years without blinking, would not be aware of. As the normal human heart beats seventy two times a minute, so did this tiny swelling of tube contract once each hundred years; fifty tireless years of contraction, then fifty soothing years of relaxation, bringing the walls of the slender tube together, then letting them ease apart. But it was sufficient for its life... Continue reading book >>

Old Friends Are the Best By: Jack Sharkey (1931-)

Old Friends Are the Best by Jack Sharkey is a heartwarming and humorous novel that explores the value of long-lasting friendships. Set in a small town in the Midwest, the story follows a group of friends who have known each other since their youth and have now reached their golden years.

Through a series of delightful anecdotes and conversations, Sharkey skillfully portrays the dynamics and quirks of this charming group of characters. Each character is unique and well-developed, with their own distinctive personalities and backstories. From the lovable prankster to the wise mentor, readers will find themselves connecting with these characters on a deeply personal level.

One of the major strengths of this novel is the author's ability to capture the essence of friendship. Sharkey beautifully depicts the loyalty, understanding, and camaraderie that exists among this group of old friends. The book reminds us of the importance of having people who know us inside out, who support us through thick and thin, and who can make us laugh like no one else can.

Another aspect that I particularly enjoyed was the witty and clever dialogue throughout the book. Sharkey's talent for writing realistic and humorous conversations adds depth to the characters and brings the story to life. The banter between the friends is both amusing and heartwarming, creating moments of laughter and nostalgia.

While the book primarily focuses on friendship, it also touches on themes of aging, family, and the changing dynamics of small-town life. Sharkey skillfully weaves these themes into the narrative, presenting a well-rounded and multi-dimensional story that resonates with readers of all ages.

The pacing of the novel is perfect, with a balance between lighthearted moments and more poignant ones. The author effortlessly keeps the readers engaged throughout the book, gradually revealing the vulnerabilities and struggles of the characters, while maintaining the overall uplifting tone.

If you're looking for a heartwarming book that celebrates the power of friendship, Old Friends Are the Best is a must-read. Jack Sharkey delivers a charming and relatable story that will leave you smiling, reminiscing about your own old friends, and appreciating the true value of lasting connections.

First Page:

OLD FRIENDS ARE THE BEST

By JACK SHARKEY

[Transcriber note: This etext was produced from Amazing Stories March 1960. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]

[Sidenote: Are you one of those people who save the best things for the last ... who eat all the chocolate sundae away from under the maraschino cherry? If so, you are very like the Peter W. Merrill Moonplant.]

It had no awareness of time, and so did not know nor concern itself with the millennia that passed since it first drew up the dissolved silicates from the shifting grey remnants of soil and arranged them inside the walls of the thousand green pods that were its body cells, and settled down to wait. Somewhere within its fragile cortex, a tiny pulse of life beat. It was a feeble pulse, to be sure, and one that a man, unless he could observe it for a thousand years without blinking, would not be aware of. As the normal human heart beats seventy two times a minute, so did this tiny swelling of tube contract once each hundred years; fifty tireless years of contraction, then fifty soothing years of relaxation, bringing the walls of the slender tube together, then letting them ease apart.

But it was sufficient for its life... Continue reading book >>

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