The Boyhood Memoirs of A. E. Hotchner: King of the Hill and Looking for Miracles

by A.E. Hotchner

King of the Hill is A. E. Hotchner's memoir of his impoverished childhood in St. Louis, originally published in 1972. Hotchner's story is one of ingenuity and spirit in the face of economic hardship during the Great Depression. Left to live alone in a rundown hotel while his traveling salesman father is on the road, his mother is hospitalized, and his younger brother is sent to live with relatives, young Hotchner's determination to survive overcomes the challenge of keeping his situation secret.

Looking for Miracles is a sequel to King of the Hill, originally published in 1975. The story takes place in 1936, three years after King of the Hill, when Hotchner bluffs his way into a job as a summer counselor at a camp in the Ozarks. The story is poignant and uplifting, as well as hilariously entertaining.

Bound together for the first time, these two boyhood memoirs of Hotchner's will touch readers with their truth, innocence, and joy. Hotchner's ability to convey times of intense hardship in warm and witty language attests to his stature as one of America's great storytellers.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

432 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 10, 2007

About the author

Aaron Edward Hotchner was an American editor, novelist, playwright, and biographer. He wrote many television screenplays as well as a biography of Ernest Hemingway. He co-founded with Paul Newman the charity food company Newman's Own.

Reviews

[Mommalibrarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book contains King of the Hill and Looking for Miracles . They give a very gritty but humorous picture of growing up in the depression in St. Louis, Missouri. My mom told me some of the same sorts of stories, although she grew up in Arkansas - grabbing a fingerful of hot tar from the crack in the road in summer. Hotchner said it chewed just as good a Wrigleys. He collected cigar bands and had made a 'feltie' by cutting up an old fedora and decorating it with buttons. This is the sort of hat the cartoon character Jughead wore. Hotchner put it on every time he left the house and crushed it into a pocket when he had to go inside anywhere. I only wish he had written more.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just read it!

This was the story that Hotch was meant to write! Growing up in depression era St. Louis. His other books are definitely on my short list. A E Hotchner died recently at 102 years old.
I have been watching some very enjoyable YouTube’s with Hotch called “ Hotch at 100” btw~ for his 100th birthday…… he released his final book. Born in 1917, one of the greats from a great generation!

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best memoir I have read in a long time. It's a page turner filled with incredible stories of Hotchner's growing up during the Great Depression. His stories are so inspiring, charming, funny and heartfelt. I would definitely recommend this to everyone!

[marilyn foutes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Could not put this book down!

What a amazing story! A real testament to the strength of the human spirit! I want to recommend this to all my friends.

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

For me it was a tough call between 2 and 3 stars. I would not have finished this book if it wasn't for a book club. In the beginning I thought it was a poor man's imitation of Hemingway. Then I read somewhere else that he use to hang out with Hemingway. I LOVE the way Hemingway writes. This was not it. This is a memoirs of a man from St. Louis, who was raised during the Depression. I appreciated all of the references to places I've been and schools that I've heard about in the city. Some of the individual stories within the chapters were worth reading.

There are essentially 2 books here. The first one was about 200 pages and honestly, it could have been condensed to about 40. The second book was a fast read and interesting, though near the end I felt like Hotchner was getting bored with writing and just hurrying along. There also seemed to be some discrepancies in his recollection of events when comparing things he referenced in the second book that he had described in great detail in the first half. I wish he had written a much shorter memoirs. I would have gotten the point about how hard it was during that time period even in just 250 pages. Again, the second half of the book about the summer camp was infinitely better.

[Angela David · Rating 4 out of 5]

A.E. Hotchner's boyhood bio was such an enjoyable read! This man has truly lived a fantastic life. To say he came from a poor family does not do justice to what he actually endured. At times, he was so hungry he cut pictures out of magazines and ate the paper! But his spirit and his intelligence as well as "street smarts" is what got him through the Depression and his hellish childhood. He went to law school, became best friends with the likes of Paul Newman (and is co-founder of Newman's Own), and Ernest Hemingway and wrote biographies of Sophia Loren and others.

Because of the situations he faced, the book is not always easy to read, but knowing that all turned out well is helpful. His descriptions of inner city St. Louis during the 1930s is especially interesting because I live just outside the city. I plan on taking a tour of "A.E. Hotcher's St. Louis" and reading more of his memoirs.

[Lo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, that A.E. (same first two initials as moi!)Nobody does it better. Though, I suspect he'd find the allusion to James Bond quite distasteful.

[Timm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great stories of childhood struggle in the depression era of St. Louis. I really enjoyed the humor.

[Cary S · Rating 4 out of 5]

King of the Hill-Book 1-was very good. (3.5 stars). Waiting for Miracles-Book 2-was simply beautiful! (5 Stars).