Same Thing Only Different

by F.R. Bentley

After fifty years of living on the family farm, identical twins and Norwegian bachelor farmers Lars and Thor Bjerke auction off the milk cows and discover that life might be passing them by. With enthusiasm, the twins endeavor to expand their horizons and embrace new experiences, like dating. But a bolt of lightning and near-death cause them to ponder the very meaning of life. Naturally, the Bjerkes buy a circus tent and venture from their idyllic farmstead in southern Wisconsin to the wilderness of North Dakota, home of Salem Sue, the largest cow in the world, where they hold a revival complete with beer, brats, and a polka band. Like a yodeling polka lyric, the adventures of Lars and Thor are layered with raw humor riding wildly over intriguing subtle nuances. Like a good sausage, the narrative is short, clean, and tightly packed. Like a good beer, the story is refreshing and likely to leave a pleasant aftertaste. As it was with Einstein, the Bjerke twins start out looking for something to do and end up trying to figure out how everything works. Well, not exactly like Einstein. It is the same thing, only different.

178 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2012