Human Beans

by Ron Pumphrey

Ron Pumphrey came to public attention seemingly from out of nowhere. Now in his seventies, this mystery man, who until this volume had a veritably unknown past, is still larger than life. Human Beans is a memoir that covers the early childhood years of this wily Newfoundland icon, a renowned (and some might say infamous) journalist, politician, publisher, and radio talk-show host. For the first time, he presents with tongue in cheek the tale of his humble beginnings in the 1930s, a meritorious memoir of his growing up in Harbour Grace and on Bell Island. Fantastic and guileless, this autobiographical writing is a colourful exposition of a boy and his family.

267 pages, Paperback

First published April 19, 2007

Reviews

[Midge]

Couldn't get into it slow.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved it ,but I may be biased,for although I have never met Mr. Pumphrey,I am distantly related to him. I also grew up in Harbour Grace, and have been to Bell Island many times,so I loved reading about how these places were in the distant past. Ronnie was a "hard case" but that made his adventures all the more entertaining.I assume this story ended when he was about age ten,so the amount of detail he remembers is impressive.He described the people and events around him in great detail. Hearing of my long-dead relatives was a treat,especially since I know little about their pasts. Dear Aunt Suze,with her lovely soul,was my great-grandmother,and who I was named after. Her perky little husband Jim was my great grandfather,gone long before I was born.Cousin Tom,who dragged Ronnie home after he ran away yet again,was my grandfather. He passed when I was 17,and to hear of him being " a man in long pants for at least two years then",was a laugh. He did not lose a couple of fingers working on the belt saw at Garland's Mill,he lost them all on one hand and nearly died. I only knew his "really young brother" Robert as an older man,so to hear of him as a little kid with his tongue stuck out, mocking Ronnie,was fun as well. The row houses that the Pumphreys and Hennesseys lived in are still there and I was in them many times as a child. I know these things might only interest me and my relatives,but how many people can pick up a book and get a glimpse of the way their ancestors were back in the day?
Besides that,this story is entertaining on a whole,although I did find some parts lagging and some details were left hanging.Ronnie was so afraid of his father finding out that he had broken into his father's secret box that he readied himself to flee from Bell Island. I assume his father found the lock on the box broken-what were the repercussions? I was also very curious as to what Poor Gerald was afflicted with and why it eventually killed him. I realize back in those days many children died and people never found out why,but this child had lived in sickness for many years,so they must have had some inkling as to what the problem was.I also wished for more pictures,besides one tiny one of Mrs. Pumphrey and four of her children. Overall,this was an interesting read. These people lived in hard,poor times but still managed to survive with humour and (most of the time) their dignity. They are at the same time pitiable and admirable. These human beans are flawed,but then,can any of us say we are not? Overall,a fun read.

[Jerry Cranford · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Few of us have a memory sharp enough to recall our childhood in any details, much less weave a vividly entertaining, if tragic, tale around it. Pumphrey manages to do both with his gift of language." -- Atlantic Books Today

"Delightful, heartfelt and beautiful memoir. . ." -- 50 Plus

"Set in Harbour Grace and Bell Island, Human Beans is filled with raw and sometimes dark truths about the experiences of a family struggling to define itself in rural Newfoundland society." -- Downhome

"Ron Pumphrey's newest work, Human Beans: A Memoir, is a surprisingly engaging read..." -- The Telegram

"A marvellous autobiographical story . . ." -- The Sudbury Star

[Paula Dembeck · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a memoir that covers the early childhood years of this Newfoundland icon and well known journalist, politician, publisher and radio talk host.
It is the story of his humble beginnings growing up in the thirties in Harbour Grace and on Bell Island. His father Ike, well educated and strict is many years older than his mother Mary, who seems to bear babies or have miscarriages on an annual basis. Ron is the eldest child and is a handful. Mary is helped over the years by her sister Kathleen and her own mother, Mom Flemming—two people who Ron loved dearly. Uncle Billy, Ike’s brother lives with them as well. He needs care, as we was shell shocked from the war and had problems with drink as well.
A colourful book, sad at times but also funny.

[Roy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Write a review...Ron Pumphrey came to public attention seemingly from out of nopwhere . Now in his seventies , this mystery man , who until this volume had a veritably unlnown past , is still larger than life . HUMAN BEANS is a memoir that covers the early childhood years of this wily Newfie icon , a renoned ( and some might say infamous ) journalist , politican , publisher , and radoi talk show host . For the first time , he presents with tongue in check the taleof of his humble beginnings in the 1930,s , a meritorious memoir of his growing up in Harbour Grace and on Bell Island . Fantastic and guileless , this autobiographical writing is a colourful exposition of a boy and his family .

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amusing childhood account of Mr Pumphrey. It reads like It's spoken as if out loud, which, for those not familiar with Newfie colloquialisms or accents might quickly become confusing. A quick, easy read but I only rated 3 stars due to there being no clearly defined climax or point. the very last sentence of the book is the "point" of the book but I didn't like the structure which led to it. I read this book without knowing who Mr Pumphrey is, I know now he's a bit of a 'ticket' from VOCM. This was a pretty best kind read, though, I must say.