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Never Hug a Nun
From falling for a girl with no-good-for-sports stick arms and beautiful penmanship, to jumping freight trains, smoking cigarettes, projectile vomiting, and accidentally robbing the local Ben Franklin, first grade at Mary Queen of Our Hearts parochial school changes everything for Patrick Cantwell. Patrick and his friends hang out at their secret fort near the forbidden train tracks, dream of starting a band while eating ice cream at the Velvet Freeze, and, although they try to be good, keep finding themselves in trouble. By the time he graduates second grade, he's practically a grown-up, complete with a broken heart, a police record and memories of the Beatles at Busch Stadium.
Never Hug a Nun is a sweet, laugh-out-loud look at the innocence of childhood in the leafy Webster Groves suburb of 1960s Saint Louis. Author Kevin Killeen transports readers back to the time of The Lone Ranger and Lost in Space, when children played with Rock 'em Sock 'em Robots and consulted Magic 8 Balls for advice. Killeen's keen sense of humor and comic timing bring the contradictions of childhood to life as Patrick learns about the value of family and that, sometimes, it's even okay to hug a nun.
Never Hug a Nun is a sweet, laugh-out-loud look at the innocence of childhood in the leafy Webster Groves suburb of 1960s Saint Louis. Author Kevin Killeen transports readers back to the time of The Lone Ranger and Lost in Space, when children played with Rock 'em Sock 'em Robots and consulted Magic 8 Balls for advice. Killeen's keen sense of humor and comic timing bring the contradictions of childhood to life as Patrick learns about the value of family and that, sometimes, it's even okay to hug a nun.
198 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
July 3, 2017
This brought back lots of memories about growing up in St. Louis during the 1960s. It was a fun read and I will be checking out the other books in the series.
November 7, 2018
A delightful and quick read humoring the splendor and tribulations of childhood in suburbia. The novel reads a bit like a memoir, but with a third person narration that allows for some of the more poignant and comedic moments. There are explicitly hilarious passages and some subtly clever lines that keep the novel lighthearted and wonderful throughout.
I always find it intriguing when I am aroused by feelings of nostalgia for a place or time that I have never been. Perhaps why I loved this book was that it brought back many fond memories of what it means to be a child - exploring new feelings, aligning your moral compass, achieving mischief. But it so successfully transported me to young Patrick's life in 1960's Webster Groves that I found myself sentimental towards a childhood summer that preceded mine by 40 years. For me, that is the brilliance of Mr. Killeen's novel.
I always find it intriguing when I am aroused by feelings of nostalgia for a place or time that I have never been. Perhaps why I loved this book was that it brought back many fond memories of what it means to be a child - exploring new feelings, aligning your moral compass, achieving mischief. But it so successfully transported me to young Patrick's life in 1960's Webster Groves that I found myself sentimental towards a childhood summer that preceded mine by 40 years. For me, that is the brilliance of Mr. Killeen's novel.
April 24, 2019
As a St. Louis resident, a recovering Catholic, a kid who hung out at train tracks in my childhood and an all-around troublemaker, I would have fit right in with this group of mischief makers. The writing is so funny that at points I had to put the book down; I was laughing that loud. The Parkmoor Restaurant is mentioned (God I loved that place) and other familiar St. Louis landmarks. Four young boys (second, third and fourth graders) are the main characters as narrated by Patrick--mister goody two shoes until he learns how to really have fun. A wonderful read and flat out funny the whole way through.
July 8, 2018
This may not be an actual memoir, but it sure sounds a lot like the suburban Catholic experience I had growing up in the St. Louis area in the 1960s. While some of the events may be fictionalized, they don't sound too far removed from real life.
It's a short, sweet book that offers a trip back 50 years to a Catholic life in the throes of transition of Vatican II, the small-town feel of St. Louis suburbs, and many of the bygone staples of St. Louis life.
I think that anyone that grew up Catholic in a major metropolitan area would appreciate this book.
It's a short, sweet book that offers a trip back 50 years to a Catholic life in the throes of transition of Vatican II, the small-town feel of St. Louis suburbs, and many of the bygone staples of St. Louis life.
I think that anyone that grew up Catholic in a major metropolitan area would appreciate this book.
August 16, 2022
Killeen writes about growing up in Webster Groves St. Louis in the 60’s. It reminded me somewhat of Bill Bryson’s Thunderbolt Kid where boys run wild and get into all sorts of trouble. Keven went to Catholic school at Mary Our Queen of Hearts and had an aunt who was a nun, making for an interesting point of view for a boy who had an interest in a certain girl and hanging out near the railroad tracks. Killeen works for KMOX radio station in St. Louis.
August 24, 2018
Met the author. He is wonderful. Can't wait to read more.
January 26, 2023
This is short novel, that reads like a memoir, about Catholic boys coming of age in St. Louis. It reminded me of some of the stuff in my neighborhood growing up, and gave me some laughs.
July 25, 2025
What a wonderful book! I’m from St. Louis and while reading this book I had a smile on my face. This book & Try to Kiss a Girl should be made into a movie. Good fun!
December 13, 2012
The title comes from a time when Patrick Cantwell tells us in Never Hug a Nun, "She seemed like she wanted to hug him, so he quickly stuck his arm out straight to shake hands with her from a distance. It was his general policy to never hug a nun. (Location 697-698)"
Never Hug a Nun by Kevin Killeen recounts the life of Patrick Cantwell through his first grade year and into second grade at Mary Queen of Our Hearts Catholic School. It is 1966 in Webster Groves, Missouri. Patrick secretly pines after a girl in his class, Ebby Hamilton, but is too shy to declare his love. It is during the time the Beatles are taking America by storm, including Patrick's older brother, John. The Parish moms are all reading Ian Fleming's James Bond novels and gluing green stamps into books. The dads all work downtown. In Webster Groves boys will be boys - this includes Patrick and John, who struggle to sell Parish raffle tickets, have an encounter with a railroad cop, experience some disgusting bathroom antics and experience an encounter with law enforcement.
Never Hug a Nun is humorous even as it tackles the extremely serious thought processes of the young protagonist. The chapters are short, very much reflecting the feeling of an older child recounting his memories of events in his childhood. The jump from family events to school events flowed naturally, as a child's life flows freely from school to family events to summers. It is well written and felt like a real memoir to me. It could be that growing up in the 1960's in the Midwest simply made the characters very real to me because I knew these kids, or kids like them. I can remember being in the first grade around this same time period, and going over to a friends house where his older sister was constantly playing Beatles records. I can remember being able to run around much more freely than it would be prudent to allow any child to do today.
I also enjoyed Kevin Killeen's blog entry from December 9th:
http://kevinkilleen.com/2012/12/09/a-...
"...Kind people, many of whom left dishes in the sink, ventured out to get a copy of the novel at Charlie Brennan’s Fontbonne Book of the Month Club taping Nov 27, at the KMOX Holiday Radio Show Dec 3, and at the Webster Groves Book Shop Dec 8.
Many of the men whispered confessions of their own delinquent past as they purchased the book, then hid it under arm and hurried to their car. Most touching was the procession of parish mothers, some of whom remember the author as a “troubled student,” purchasing two or three copies to impress upon their grand children the dangers of going the wrong way...."
I really enjoyed this short novel and would very highly recommend it.
Even though I had a Advanced Reading Copy from Netgalley for my Kindle, I need to quote the following conversation in the book:
“You’re going to sleep in your underwear?”
“Yeah,” John said, getting out his transistor radio. “I want to sleep naked, to get a really good night sleep like Tarzan, but Mom caught me trying it and said I have to at least wear underwear.”
“Why?”
“She said it’s a sin to have nudity.”
“What’s nudity?”
“It’s when you don’t wear underwear.”
Patrick lay on his back and looked at the ceiling. “Once, when I couldn’t find any underwear, I went to school with nudity under my pants.”
“That’s not nudity. That’s just stoo-piddy.” (Location 320-324)
http://shetreadssoftly.blogspot.com/
Disclosure: My Kindle edition was courtesy of Netgalley for review purposes and I was happy to also join the TLC book tour.
Never Hug a Nun by Kevin Killeen recounts the life of Patrick Cantwell through his first grade year and into second grade at Mary Queen of Our Hearts Catholic School. It is 1966 in Webster Groves, Missouri. Patrick secretly pines after a girl in his class, Ebby Hamilton, but is too shy to declare his love. It is during the time the Beatles are taking America by storm, including Patrick's older brother, John. The Parish moms are all reading Ian Fleming's James Bond novels and gluing green stamps into books. The dads all work downtown. In Webster Groves boys will be boys - this includes Patrick and John, who struggle to sell Parish raffle tickets, have an encounter with a railroad cop, experience some disgusting bathroom antics and experience an encounter with law enforcement.
Never Hug a Nun is humorous even as it tackles the extremely serious thought processes of the young protagonist. The chapters are short, very much reflecting the feeling of an older child recounting his memories of events in his childhood. The jump from family events to school events flowed naturally, as a child's life flows freely from school to family events to summers. It is well written and felt like a real memoir to me. It could be that growing up in the 1960's in the Midwest simply made the characters very real to me because I knew these kids, or kids like them. I can remember being in the first grade around this same time period, and going over to a friends house where his older sister was constantly playing Beatles records. I can remember being able to run around much more freely than it would be prudent to allow any child to do today.
I also enjoyed Kevin Killeen's blog entry from December 9th:
http://kevinkilleen.com/2012/12/09/a-...
"...Kind people, many of whom left dishes in the sink, ventured out to get a copy of the novel at Charlie Brennan’s Fontbonne Book of the Month Club taping Nov 27, at the KMOX Holiday Radio Show Dec 3, and at the Webster Groves Book Shop Dec 8.
Many of the men whispered confessions of their own delinquent past as they purchased the book, then hid it under arm and hurried to their car. Most touching was the procession of parish mothers, some of whom remember the author as a “troubled student,” purchasing two or three copies to impress upon their grand children the dangers of going the wrong way...."
I really enjoyed this short novel and would very highly recommend it.
Even though I had a Advanced Reading Copy from Netgalley for my Kindle, I need to quote the following conversation in the book:
“You’re going to sleep in your underwear?”
“Yeah,” John said, getting out his transistor radio. “I want to sleep naked, to get a really good night sleep like Tarzan, but Mom caught me trying it and said I have to at least wear underwear.”
“Why?”
“She said it’s a sin to have nudity.”
“What’s nudity?”
“It’s when you don’t wear underwear.”
Patrick lay on his back and looked at the ceiling. “Once, when I couldn’t find any underwear, I went to school with nudity under my pants.”
“That’s not nudity. That’s just stoo-piddy.” (Location 320-324)
http://shetreadssoftly.blogspot.com/
Disclosure: My Kindle edition was courtesy of Netgalley for review purposes and I was happy to also join the TLC book tour.
December 12, 2012
Maybe it's because my mother-in-law gave my younger son a similar coat with lollipops taped on them to bring to preschool on his birthday that I can't resist this cover. And that grin; this may be one of the most perfect book covers ever.
Killeen wrote Never Hug a Nun, a comic novel set in a St. Louis suburb in 1966 in the voice of eight-year-old Patrick Cantwell. Patrick is in the second grade at Mary, Queen of Our Hearts School and has a ten-year-old brother John (who wants to be a Beatle and start a band) and younger brother Teddy (who likes sports and hates green beans). Mom loves to listen to big band music while she irons and Dad works downtown, a goal for which all of the nuns encourage the boys to strive.
Patrick has a crush on golden haired Ebby, and he is consumed with trying to be near her. Patrick and John have a friend Kurt who is "a bad influence" on the Cantwell boys. Kurt has a secret fort near the railroad tracks and he has ideas about stealing money to buy a drum set so they can start a band, like the Beatles. As a mother of two grown sons, I can tell you that Kurt is the boy we all pray our kids will not hang around.
This novel brought back many memories for me; the scene where Patrick's mom glues Green Stamps into books immediately put me back in my childhood kitchen where my mom would do the same thing, hoping to have enough to get a toaster or a lamp. I could almost smell the Green Stamp glue as I read.
I too went to Catholic school, and know well many of the nuns and monsignors from Patrick's school. I smiled at the scene where the nun washed the blackboard with the sponge; it was an honor to be asked to wash the blackboard at my school. And the constant reminders by the monsignor to get out there and sell those raffle tickets for the car? Yep, been there many times.
I like the well-drawn adult characters in this novel. Grandpa loves his grandkids and takes them to a Beatles concert, even though he knows nothing about the Beatles. Oh yeah, and he accidentally gets a little stoned and arrested, but whose Grandpa hasn't done that?
Aunt Jenny is studying to be a nun, with some reservations. She has a sweet relationship with Patrick and I was glad to see that she returns for a few scenes at the end of the book. I think she warrants her own story, and would like to see her in her own book.
Mom and Dad are interesting too. Dad hates dragging himself "downtown" everyday to work, but he loves his family and that is what a good dad does. I love that he tells his sons that they can tell him anything, and he proves that later in the story. Mom adores her husband and sons, but would like to add a daughter to their family. She desires to be a good Catholic family.
As the only female in our family, I find books written from the male point of view fascinating. I always learn something. But I did not need to learn what goes on in the boys' bathroom at school; that scene just had me shaking my head- what is up with boys? And many is the time I wanted to say to Patrick- NO! Stop and think for a second, son.
Patrick will probably grow up to be a protagonist in a Jonathan Tropper or Jess Walter book; fans of This Is Where I Leave You and The Financial Lives of Poets are the perfect audience for this book. Kileen bills Never Hug a Nun as a comic novel, but it has a lot of heart too.
Killeen wrote Never Hug a Nun, a comic novel set in a St. Louis suburb in 1966 in the voice of eight-year-old Patrick Cantwell. Patrick is in the second grade at Mary, Queen of Our Hearts School and has a ten-year-old brother John (who wants to be a Beatle and start a band) and younger brother Teddy (who likes sports and hates green beans). Mom loves to listen to big band music while she irons and Dad works downtown, a goal for which all of the nuns encourage the boys to strive.
Patrick has a crush on golden haired Ebby, and he is consumed with trying to be near her. Patrick and John have a friend Kurt who is "a bad influence" on the Cantwell boys. Kurt has a secret fort near the railroad tracks and he has ideas about stealing money to buy a drum set so they can start a band, like the Beatles. As a mother of two grown sons, I can tell you that Kurt is the boy we all pray our kids will not hang around.
This novel brought back many memories for me; the scene where Patrick's mom glues Green Stamps into books immediately put me back in my childhood kitchen where my mom would do the same thing, hoping to have enough to get a toaster or a lamp. I could almost smell the Green Stamp glue as I read.
I too went to Catholic school, and know well many of the nuns and monsignors from Patrick's school. I smiled at the scene where the nun washed the blackboard with the sponge; it was an honor to be asked to wash the blackboard at my school. And the constant reminders by the monsignor to get out there and sell those raffle tickets for the car? Yep, been there many times.
I like the well-drawn adult characters in this novel. Grandpa loves his grandkids and takes them to a Beatles concert, even though he knows nothing about the Beatles. Oh yeah, and he accidentally gets a little stoned and arrested, but whose Grandpa hasn't done that?
Aunt Jenny is studying to be a nun, with some reservations. She has a sweet relationship with Patrick and I was glad to see that she returns for a few scenes at the end of the book. I think she warrants her own story, and would like to see her in her own book.
Mom and Dad are interesting too. Dad hates dragging himself "downtown" everyday to work, but he loves his family and that is what a good dad does. I love that he tells his sons that they can tell him anything, and he proves that later in the story. Mom adores her husband and sons, but would like to add a daughter to their family. She desires to be a good Catholic family.
As the only female in our family, I find books written from the male point of view fascinating. I always learn something. But I did not need to learn what goes on in the boys' bathroom at school; that scene just had me shaking my head- what is up with boys? And many is the time I wanted to say to Patrick- NO! Stop and think for a second, son.
Patrick will probably grow up to be a protagonist in a Jonathan Tropper or Jess Walter book; fans of This Is Where I Leave You and The Financial Lives of Poets are the perfect audience for this book. Kileen bills Never Hug a Nun as a comic novel, but it has a lot of heart too.
December 20, 2012
I have read a lot of books recently that are serious undertakings with lots of pages, but this is under 200 pages and was hilarious. Seriously- I haven't laughed this hard reading a book in awhile. I think the reason I loved this book so much is I remember the hijinks I participated in without my parent's knowing what was going on. Like that time my brother and I got our best friends and we had a crab apple fight in the park. But then Travis's apple hit Jessica REALLY hard and she had a bruise. Which turned out to be hilarious as adults because when I found out Jess had to have a heart transplant, I told Travis it was because of that apple and he fucked her up. I think he believed it for a second but then realized I was just being an asshole.
Or that time we stole all of the Sheet Rock out of the neighbor's house, busted it up, and discovered it's like chalk on the road. Travis and I decorated pretty much all of Balsam Avenue with it and then totally lied about it when our parents asked. But stupid criminals we were, we wrote our names all over the road. It's like leaving your ID at a crime scene. We spent an entire Saturday washing the road. As an adult I don't know how that other kids' parents didn't kill us now that I know how much Sheet Rock costs.
But that's why I loved this book. We all have hilarious childhood stories that are really some of the most formative experiences of our lives. Good or bad, we all have one story that will end with, ".. and I never did that again!". One of my favorite lines from the book was this one (this is after the jumped onto a train):
"The bridge and the fort and the golfers and the boredom of the hot summer day slipped away behind them as they rolled toward downtown Webster- afraid, excited, yelling SHIT to each other with lady cigar breath, holding in nervous pee, going places at seven miles an hour."
I don't know why I love that line so much but I totally get it. You know how as a kid you are such a bad ass in your own mind but as an adult you realize what an idiot you really were. But it didn't matter because it's what life was about back then. I also love that the book is set in the 60's and there are so many Catholic school references that you just really love Patrick. You know he wants to be a cool kid, fall in love with Ebby, and just not piss off a nun.
Oh I loved this book. I really needed something to remind me of the stupid things I did as a kid, the good times with my brother, and just not be so serious and stressed out before the holidays. Totally the perfect remedy. I seriously encourage you to read this book especially if you're older than me because I bet a lot of the social references will make more sense to you or you'll at least totally know what they are better than I. But even if you don't, don't let that deter you. You will really like this one. http://strandupdate.blogspot.com
Or that time we stole all of the Sheet Rock out of the neighbor's house, busted it up, and discovered it's like chalk on the road. Travis and I decorated pretty much all of Balsam Avenue with it and then totally lied about it when our parents asked. But stupid criminals we were, we wrote our names all over the road. It's like leaving your ID at a crime scene. We spent an entire Saturday washing the road. As an adult I don't know how that other kids' parents didn't kill us now that I know how much Sheet Rock costs.
But that's why I loved this book. We all have hilarious childhood stories that are really some of the most formative experiences of our lives. Good or bad, we all have one story that will end with, ".. and I never did that again!". One of my favorite lines from the book was this one (this is after the jumped onto a train):
"The bridge and the fort and the golfers and the boredom of the hot summer day slipped away behind them as they rolled toward downtown Webster- afraid, excited, yelling SHIT to each other with lady cigar breath, holding in nervous pee, going places at seven miles an hour."
I don't know why I love that line so much but I totally get it. You know how as a kid you are such a bad ass in your own mind but as an adult you realize what an idiot you really were. But it didn't matter because it's what life was about back then. I also love that the book is set in the 60's and there are so many Catholic school references that you just really love Patrick. You know he wants to be a cool kid, fall in love with Ebby, and just not piss off a nun.
Oh I loved this book. I really needed something to remind me of the stupid things I did as a kid, the good times with my brother, and just not be so serious and stressed out before the holidays. Totally the perfect remedy. I seriously encourage you to read this book especially if you're older than me because I bet a lot of the social references will make more sense to you or you'll at least totally know what they are better than I. But even if you don't, don't let that deter you. You will really like this one. http://strandupdate.blogspot.com
December 3, 2012
In Never Hug a Nun, Kevin Killeen tells of the travails of Patrick Cantwell as he ends first grade and begins second grade at Mary Queen of Our Hearts Catholic school in the suburbs of St. Louis, MO in 1966. Rather than a traditional novel with a clear plot trajectory, Killeen's work reads like a series of vignettes, comic and touching all at the same time. In this way, Killeen's story feels like memoir, although it is a novel.
Of particular note is Killeen's writing style. The voice of Patrick feels authentic, as though we really are getting a 7-year-old boy's perspective on things. But it is the level of precise detail that Killeen uses that makes this work particularly engaging. Even opening excerpt from the novel gives a sense of Killeen's attention to concrete detail as well as the consciousness of the child, Patrick:
Although the novel is not made up of a tightly structured plot, the short chapters are connected, and the "girl" referenced in the opening provides one of several recurring characters and events that work to unite Killeen's short chapters. These short chapters, vignettes really, serve to mirror the consciousness of the child. And this, combined, with Killeen's detailed descriptions make the work enjoyable.
Killeen touches upon many themes including the specific challenges connected to Catholic schooling, family relationships, peer and boy/girl relationships, and the culture of Middle America in the 1960s. In this way, Killeen manages something more than simply a comic novel. For example as readers, we are touched by the discussions of the sacrifices that a woman must make to become a nun and the anxieties associated with such a lifestyle. We can also gain a look inside the consciousness and thought process of Patrick who is, in many ways, a typical middle-class boy, facing challenges that many boys would face, challenges related to negotiating peer relationships and growing up in a world where much is forbidden by well-intentioned parents.
I found this novel to be particularly engaging and entertaining for the first 100 pages or so. After that, it began to feel a bit tedious, at least to this reader. And yet, I am struck by Killeen's ability to write in a way that feels authentic, specific, and yet somehow universal all at the same time.
NOTE: This originally posted at Speaking of Books, www.drennanspitzer.com Please visit me there!
Of particular note is Killeen's writing style. The voice of Patrick feels authentic, as though we really are getting a 7-year-old boy's perspective on things. But it is the level of precise detail that Killeen uses that makes this work particularly engaging. Even opening excerpt from the novel gives a sense of Killeen's attention to concrete detail as well as the consciousness of the child, Patrick:
Although the novel is not made up of a tightly structured plot, the short chapters are connected, and the "girl" referenced in the opening provides one of several recurring characters and events that work to unite Killeen's short chapters. These short chapters, vignettes really, serve to mirror the consciousness of the child. And this, combined, with Killeen's detailed descriptions make the work enjoyable.
Killeen touches upon many themes including the specific challenges connected to Catholic schooling, family relationships, peer and boy/girl relationships, and the culture of Middle America in the 1960s. In this way, Killeen manages something more than simply a comic novel. For example as readers, we are touched by the discussions of the sacrifices that a woman must make to become a nun and the anxieties associated with such a lifestyle. We can also gain a look inside the consciousness and thought process of Patrick who is, in many ways, a typical middle-class boy, facing challenges that many boys would face, challenges related to negotiating peer relationships and growing up in a world where much is forbidden by well-intentioned parents.
I found this novel to be particularly engaging and entertaining for the first 100 pages or so. After that, it began to feel a bit tedious, at least to this reader. And yet, I am struck by Killeen's ability to write in a way that feels authentic, specific, and yet somehow universal all at the same time.
NOTE: This originally posted at Speaking of Books, www.drennanspitzer.com Please visit me there!
February 25, 2017
about Mary Queen of Peace church
February 15, 2013
In a cleverly crafted story full of reminiscence Kevin Killeen brings us back to the life of a seven-year old, full of humor, memories and humanity these vignettes provide a stunning and revealing sense of the world through a child’s eyes.
Written as a series of vignettes, each scene is cleverly detailed with a balance of humor and observation that feel child-like both in length and in questions addressed with each situation. Touching on boys and girls, family, catholic school, friends and even the neighborhood, this story manages to give a solid feel of the middle-class 1960’s America, while managing to never lose the edge of the story of a young boy.
I am not familiar with this author’s other work, but this book has definitely made me a fan. With a writing style that manages to both inform and engage, bring laughter at specific situations, and present detail and a more personal view in a way that feels all-encompassing to the reader, this was truly a winner.
I received an eBook copy from the publisher via NetGalley. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
Written as a series of vignettes, each scene is cleverly detailed with a balance of humor and observation that feel child-like both in length and in questions addressed with each situation. Touching on boys and girls, family, catholic school, friends and even the neighborhood, this story manages to give a solid feel of the middle-class 1960’s America, while managing to never lose the edge of the story of a young boy.
I am not familiar with this author’s other work, but this book has definitely made me a fan. With a writing style that manages to both inform and engage, bring laughter at specific situations, and present detail and a more personal view in a way that feels all-encompassing to the reader, this was truly a winner.
I received an eBook copy from the publisher via NetGalley. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
December 24, 2013
As a young man finishing up my last year of college, I had the privilege of working as an intern in the KMOX newsroom with Kevin Killeen. My favorite days were when Kevin would invite me to tag along with him on a story, in my head knowing that afterwards we'd end up somewhere like the Salvation Army to buy a used guitar which would later be smashed at the KMOX holiday radio show. (He still owes me five bucks for that guitar, buy the way.)
I always enjoyed Kevin's unique sense of humor and looked forward to hearing his "Whole 'Nother Story" segment in person as I sat in the small producer's booth. When I saw that he had written a book, I was excited to dive into it and was not disappointed. Although I grew up in a different parish and many years later, Kevin captures the young life of a Catholic grade schooler perfectly. From the pushing of various fund raising events to the nuns clamoring that we needed to concentrate on our studies so a not to lend idle hands to the devil, his comic prose was a reminder of simpler times, when I would ride bike with my grade school sweetheart to the corner drug store for nickel candy and Garbage Pail Kids cards.
I always enjoyed Kevin's unique sense of humor and looked forward to hearing his "Whole 'Nother Story" segment in person as I sat in the small producer's booth. When I saw that he had written a book, I was excited to dive into it and was not disappointed. Although I grew up in a different parish and many years later, Kevin captures the young life of a Catholic grade schooler perfectly. From the pushing of various fund raising events to the nuns clamoring that we needed to concentrate on our studies so a not to lend idle hands to the devil, his comic prose was a reminder of simpler times, when I would ride bike with my grade school sweetheart to the corner drug store for nickel candy and Garbage Pail Kids cards.
January 21, 2013
Sweet book that reads like a memoir, but it's told in 3rd person with omniscent narrator. A little odd, but I liked how it opened up all the characters, giving them depth. Young Patrick, a good Catholic boy, is preoccupied with "the new thing," his first crush. He's got a sweet stay-home mom, briefcase-toting dad trying to make ends meet, an older brother channeling John Lennon, doting nana, fun grandad and a young aunt struggling with her decision to be a nun. Patrick hesitantly falls in with Kurt, "Peck's bad boy," and discovers sin is difficult to resist.
A lot of young boy shennanigans here, some a little frightening (playing around trains) and dismaying. Plenty of place-name-dropping that would make Webster Groves (St. Louis suburb setting) folks happy, although sometimes a bit forced. Characters are likeable and well-rounded. The author inserts a lot of humor in this story that follows a proper little Catholic boy as he discovers life, love and human nature.
A lot of young boy shennanigans here, some a little frightening (playing around trains) and dismaying. Plenty of place-name-dropping that would make Webster Groves (St. Louis suburb setting) folks happy, although sometimes a bit forced. Characters are likeable and well-rounded. The author inserts a lot of humor in this story that follows a proper little Catholic boy as he discovers life, love and human nature.
January 17, 2013
I had to read this book, my husband and his twin brother went to grade school with the author. Even before I started to read I wondered if they would be in the book. I was not disappointed as they are mentioned a few times and referred to as,"the Roofus twins".
The book is an easy read taking place in one year in the life of seven year old Patrick in the 1960"s. It was fun to read about places I am more than familiar with in Webster Groves (the train tracks, golf course, the church and school, Ben Franklin, Straub's) and to marvel at how little this small community has changed.
We follow Patrick as he deals with love, loss, death,and peer pressure. His experience at the Beatles concert with his Grandpa is poignant and funny.
I was a somewhat astonished by the shenanigans these boys participated in and am not sure I'm satisfied that they learned any valuable lessons. Having said that, the story concludes with a happy bow on top and all is well again in lovely Webster Groves.
The book is an easy read taking place in one year in the life of seven year old Patrick in the 1960"s. It was fun to read about places I am more than familiar with in Webster Groves (the train tracks, golf course, the church and school, Ben Franklin, Straub's) and to marvel at how little this small community has changed.
We follow Patrick as he deals with love, loss, death,and peer pressure. His experience at the Beatles concert with his Grandpa is poignant and funny.
I was a somewhat astonished by the shenanigans these boys participated in and am not sure I'm satisfied that they learned any valuable lessons. Having said that, the story concludes with a happy bow on top and all is well again in lovely Webster Groves.
December 23, 2012
Never Hug a Nun non ha una vera e propria trama, si tratta di episodi molto ben legati fra di loro e molto divertenti. Non mancano i momenti dolorosi e toccanti, ma la prospettiva, che è platealmente quella di un bambino (nonostante il narratore onnisciente) aiuta a mantenerli sfumati.
http://robertabookshelf.blogspot.it/2...
Never Hug a Nun is the funny and touching story of second-grade child Patrick Cantwell and his Irish Catholic family. A series of vignettes, inspired by the author's own chidhood, Never Hug a Nun is a nice reading even if it fails, in my opinion, to reach a universal meaningfulness. If you don't share the author's birthplace, age or gender, Never Hug a Nun never becomes more than a nice, forgettable memoir. If you do, I think it could be really much more meaningful to you!
Thanks to NetGalley for the preview!
http://robertabookshelf.blogspot.it/2...
Never Hug a Nun is the funny and touching story of second-grade child Patrick Cantwell and his Irish Catholic family. A series of vignettes, inspired by the author's own chidhood, Never Hug a Nun is a nice reading even if it fails, in my opinion, to reach a universal meaningfulness. If you don't share the author's birthplace, age or gender, Never Hug a Nun never becomes more than a nice, forgettable memoir. If you do, I think it could be really much more meaningful to you!
Thanks to NetGalley for the preview!
January 7, 2013
The story was thoroughly enjoyable and brought back many memories of my own Catholic education in the 1960s and 1970s. The author clearly shows he has been there/done that and does so in a way that is both humorous and touching. At the same time, the story has elements which are as current today as they were then, e.g., peer pressure and bulllying. My only quibble is that I found it hard to believe these children were second-graders. I don't recall having as much freedom at that age as Patrick and his friends had.
June 4, 2013
I was really looking forward to reading this, having been educated by nuns in St. Louis in the 70's, but was quite disappointed. I thought it would be full of antidotes regarding nuns in the classroom but those were very few. It centered around one family. I found it hard to feel much for the characters, they really just annoyed me. It tried to explain the relationship between Patrick and his dad, and why Patrick acted like he did but I wasn't feeling it. I felt like the author tried to emulate Stand By Me, but it didn't come close. Felt many times that he tried too hard.
January 16, 2016
I noticed this book when I took my granddaughter on a trip to the Main Branch of the Saint Louis Library , in downtown Saint Louis. While we were in the cafe at the library I read the the first chapter of this story"Never Hug A Nun." Their are authors who are considered great novelist. Then there are storytellers. Kevin Killeen is a storyteller. Storytellers bring their novels to life. Mr. Killeen does just that in "Never Hug A Nun". I like the way he works in the actual places that are here in our city. This story is fresh, comical, and upbeat. Do yourself a favor and read this book.
June 27, 2014
This small book captures many endearing, humorous--and some shocking--moments of a young Catholic boy as he navigates the small-town world of Webster Groves. I'll treasure the experience of reading it because the book was given to me by Zoe as a Christmas present. Growing up as a Unitarian, she knows there are some things about me and my experiences that she won't ever quite get, so she thought I'd appreciate returning to my childhood roots.
April 3, 2013
This cute little book is by St. Louisan Kevin Killeen, reporter for local radio station KMOX. It follows the adventures and shenanigans of seven-year-old Patrick Cantwell during his second grade year at Mary Queen of Our Hearts Catholic School in Webster Groves. It's a really quick fun read, and I enjoyed the references to places in St. Louis and Webster. I hope Kevin continues to write, but he needs to get a better editor who knows where to put the apostrophes in plural possessive nouns!
July 27, 2013
I saw this at Left Bank Books in St. Louis, realized it was local, so I picked it up. An entertaining read in that it depicts the Catholic school family background that was a huge part of the history of St. Louis, the narrative also features a main character who comes across as genuine and likable. It's a story about a kid, about Catholic school, and about exploring limits and new feelings. It's also about self-discovery and family values. A nice ride really.
February 26, 2013
Killeen's fun romp through Catholic grade school in Webster Groves evoked many memories of my childhood. Though his point of view changes frequently in the book, they are easy to follow. I liked when Patrick spoke of his father's job and that of other dads in the 1960's. Will there be another book that takes Patrick through adolescence?
April 5, 2013
There are many childhood anecdotes throughout the book that keep it lively, especially of "first love". Having gone to Catholic grade school, I especially enjoyed those parts of the book. I do think, though, that there was so much more that could have been added. I wanted to laugh more than I did.
April 5, 2015
What fun to romp through 1966 Webster Groves with this lively set of youngsters!
Patrick is smart and wiley, too slick to be pinned down by mere conventions. His second grade love life is sad, but I'm glad to read in the afterward that he recovered, went on to marry and have several second graders of his own. I did love seeing WG through his eyes.
Patrick is smart and wiley, too slick to be pinned down by mere conventions. His second grade love life is sad, but I'm glad to read in the afterward that he recovered, went on to marry and have several second graders of his own. I did love seeing WG through his eyes.
November 28, 2015
I expected to like & relate to this book since I grew up in Webster Groves in the 1960s & also attended Catholic school. There were so many references points to that time & place, many of which I had forgotten, that brought back the feel, taste, & even smell of that era. Although I wasn't as precocious or such a hoodlum as Patrick was, this was an authentic & very human memoir.
June 28, 2014
Very engaging, delightful novel that's probably mostly memoir. I'm glad I wasn't this kid's mom. Growing up in the Midwest in St. Louis was a lot like growing up in Ohio, even though it's ten years later. Looking forward to reading the next one: How to Kiss a Girl.
June 3, 2013
2.5 Stars -
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