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True Confessions from the Ninth Concession
A funny and affectionate chronicle of rural Canadian life written by a winner of the Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour.
Author and playwright Dan Needles has long delighted readers and audiences alike with his insightful and laugh-out-loud perspective on small-town life, published in such bestselling books as Wingfield's World (Random House, 2011), Wingfield's Hope (Key Porter, 2005), With Axe and Flask (McFarlane, Walter and Ross, 2002) and Letters From Wingfield Farm (Key Porter, 1988).
In 1988, Needles and his wife left the city to start a family in a country community located two hours north of Toronto. Together they stocked their farm with sheep, cattle, chickens, pigs and, eventually, four children. Needles' charming chronicle unfolds in essays dated from 1997 to 2016, offering homespun advice for successful country living--like whether to wave from the elbow or to merely raise one finger from the steering wheel when passing a neighbour in the car. He cautions on rural superstitions, such as when his neighbour hesitated before selling him weaner pigs because every time he does the wife of the farmer who's buying them becomes pregnant--which turned out to be true. Here too is the tale of an unlikely friendship between a "borderline" collie ("he's never bitten anything in his life and the sheep are catching on") and an odd duck named Ferdinand, as well as other hilarious stories involving an assortment of farm animals, including the weapon of choice to properly dispatch a rooster-gone-bad; the risks of giving a name to a potential Sunday dinner entrée; and how to outsmart a free-range pig. With his witty insight, Needles shares the art of neighbouring in the country--a place made for visits, and "where a figure walking across your field is more of a reason to put the kettle on than to call the police."
True Confessions from the Ninth Concession is a sesquicentennial crop of antics and aphorisms by Canada's funniest farmer--one that presents a wonderful escape for world-weary city dwellers, and affirmative reading for anyone who is from, or has moved to, rural Canada.
Author and playwright Dan Needles has long delighted readers and audiences alike with his insightful and laugh-out-loud perspective on small-town life, published in such bestselling books as Wingfield's World (Random House, 2011), Wingfield's Hope (Key Porter, 2005), With Axe and Flask (McFarlane, Walter and Ross, 2002) and Letters From Wingfield Farm (Key Porter, 1988).
In 1988, Needles and his wife left the city to start a family in a country community located two hours north of Toronto. Together they stocked their farm with sheep, cattle, chickens, pigs and, eventually, four children. Needles' charming chronicle unfolds in essays dated from 1997 to 2016, offering homespun advice for successful country living--like whether to wave from the elbow or to merely raise one finger from the steering wheel when passing a neighbour in the car. He cautions on rural superstitions, such as when his neighbour hesitated before selling him weaner pigs because every time he does the wife of the farmer who's buying them becomes pregnant--which turned out to be true. Here too is the tale of an unlikely friendship between a "borderline" collie ("he's never bitten anything in his life and the sheep are catching on") and an odd duck named Ferdinand, as well as other hilarious stories involving an assortment of farm animals, including the weapon of choice to properly dispatch a rooster-gone-bad; the risks of giving a name to a potential Sunday dinner entrée; and how to outsmart a free-range pig. With his witty insight, Needles shares the art of neighbouring in the country--a place made for visits, and "where a figure walking across your field is more of a reason to put the kettle on than to call the police."
True Confessions from the Ninth Concession is a sesquicentennial crop of antics and aphorisms by Canada's funniest farmer--one that presents a wonderful escape for world-weary city dwellers, and affirmative reading for anyone who is from, or has moved to, rural Canada.
240 pages, Paperback
Published August 1, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
August 16, 2019
I’m not typically a fan of short stories, but these were cute little snippets of a farm-life that I quite enjoyed.
June 30, 2018
This was an enjoyable book. I received it from my Library Thing Santa, and haven't had a chance to read it before now. I thought it was an appropriate selection for me because I too live in the country like Dan Needles. I live in Alberta though, where he lives in Ontario, north of Toronto. Dan is an animal lover too. His farm has the whole gamut - sheep, chickens, dogs, cats, ducks (even a few wild ones), pigs and even a turkey or two. His skits describing country living are warm, funny and and totally enjoyable. I laughed out loud many times. This book truly celebrates the people who live in rural Canada. It made me realize again how lucky I am to live in rural Alberta, where I can experience the closeness of nature in all it's glorious beauty, even if it can be terrifying at times.
December 14, 2017
Needles is a great storyteller. My husband nicknamed this the giggle book because hardly a page went by that didn't have me laughing a little. I love the series of Wingfield plays and this collection of essays highlights the reality that led to them. So many of the anecdotes are familiar, even though my connections to rural communities are not as strong. I was very much reminded of community as I read this book and hope that it inspires us to make those connections with our neighbours, even if we live in the city.
Want to Read
March 19, 2025A funny and affectionate chronicle of rural Canadian life written by a winner of the Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour.
Author and playwright Dan Needles has long delighted readers and audiences alike with his insightful and laugh-out-loud perspective on small-town life, published in such bestselling books as Wingfield's World (Random House, 2011), Wingfield's Hope (Key Porter, 2005), With Axe and Flask (McFarlane, Walter and Ross, 2002) and Letters From Wingfield Farm (Key Porter, 1988).
In 1988, Needles and his wife left the city to start a family in a country community located two hours north of Toronto. Together they stocked their farm with sheep, cattle, chickens, pigs and, eventually, four children. Needles' charming chronicle unfolds in essays dated from 1997 to 2016, offering homespun advice for successful country living--like whether to wave from the elbow or to merely raise one finger from the steering wheel when passing a neighbour in the car. He cautions on rural superstitions, such as when his neighbour hesitated before selling him weaner pigs because every time he does the wife of the farmer who's buying them becomes pregnant--which turned out to be true. Here too is the tale of an unlikely friendship between a "borderline" collie ("he's never bitten anything in his life and the sheep are catching on") and an odd duck named Ferdinand, as well as other hilarious stories involving an assortment of farm animals, including the weapon of choice to properly dispatch a rooster-gone-bad; the risks of giving a name to a potential Sunday dinner entrée; and how to outsmart a free-range pig. With his witty insight, Needles shares the art of neighbouring in the country--a place made for visits, and "where a figure walking across your field is more of a reason to put the kettle on than to call the police."
True Confessions from the Ninth Concession is a sesquicentennial crop of antics and aphorisms by Canada's funniest farmer--one that presents a wonderful escape for world-weary city dwellers, and affirmative reading for anyone who is from, or has moved to, rural Canada.
Author and playwright Dan Needles has long delighted readers and audiences alike with his insightful and laugh-out-loud perspective on small-town life, published in such bestselling books as Wingfield's World (Random House, 2011), Wingfield's Hope (Key Porter, 2005), With Axe and Flask (McFarlane, Walter and Ross, 2002) and Letters From Wingfield Farm (Key Porter, 1988).
In 1988, Needles and his wife left the city to start a family in a country community located two hours north of Toronto. Together they stocked their farm with sheep, cattle, chickens, pigs and, eventually, four children. Needles' charming chronicle unfolds in essays dated from 1997 to 2016, offering homespun advice for successful country living--like whether to wave from the elbow or to merely raise one finger from the steering wheel when passing a neighbour in the car. He cautions on rural superstitions, such as when his neighbour hesitated before selling him weaner pigs because every time he does the wife of the farmer who's buying them becomes pregnant--which turned out to be true. Here too is the tale of an unlikely friendship between a "borderline" collie ("he's never bitten anything in his life and the sheep are catching on") and an odd duck named Ferdinand, as well as other hilarious stories involving an assortment of farm animals, including the weapon of choice to properly dispatch a rooster-gone-bad; the risks of giving a name to a potential Sunday dinner entrée; and how to outsmart a free-range pig. With his witty insight, Needles shares the art of neighbouring in the country--a place made for visits, and "where a figure walking across your field is more of a reason to put the kettle on than to call the police."
True Confessions from the Ninth Concession is a sesquicentennial crop of antics and aphorisms by Canada's funniest farmer--one that presents a wonderful escape for world-weary city dwellers, and affirmative reading for anyone who is from, or has moved to, rural Canada.
November 27, 2017
I really liked the Wingfield Farms stories so when I heard that author Dan Needles had a new book out, I couldn't wait to ask for it for Christmas! As soon as it was available, I bought a copy. Boy, I'm glad that I didn't wait.
In a series of short chapters/articles, Dan Needles tells the reader about his life with his wife and family on their farm in rural Ontario. Unlike his character, Walt Wingfield, he is not a stranger to country living. Both he and his wife were raised in the country and ended up in the big city. However, despite having a rural background, his country life was not without its difficulties. These tales are what delighted me every night when I read the book. In particular is his line where he talks about what his "border line" collie COULD HAVE/SHOULD HAVE done when he fell from the haymow. Honestly, I was reading that at about 1:00 a few mornings ago and burst out laughing. Even after I turned out the light and tried to sleep I kept giggling.
"True Confessions from the Ninth Concession" is a delight to read. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes a good chuckle. Don't wait until Christmas, read it now!
( I tried to read just 1 chapter per night to make it last...didn't work!)
In a series of short chapters/articles, Dan Needles tells the reader about his life with his wife and family on their farm in rural Ontario. Unlike his character, Walt Wingfield, he is not a stranger to country living. Both he and his wife were raised in the country and ended up in the big city. However, despite having a rural background, his country life was not without its difficulties. These tales are what delighted me every night when I read the book. In particular is his line where he talks about what his "border line" collie COULD HAVE/SHOULD HAVE done when he fell from the haymow. Honestly, I was reading that at about 1:00 a few mornings ago and burst out laughing. Even after I turned out the light and tried to sleep I kept giggling.
"True Confessions from the Ninth Concession" is a delight to read. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes a good chuckle. Don't wait until Christmas, read it now!
( I tried to read just 1 chapter per night to make it last...didn't work!)
January 1, 2018
Its taken me years to finally recognise that I love to read Mr Needles columns...but thankfully, by the time the book came out, I was certain I was a fan and the book has confirmed it.
I LOVED it. In fact we all loved it...every excerpt I read to the family was greeted with laughter. It helps that we live in the midst of the community being written about but I think anyone living in a small community, anywhere in the world, would appreciate the ups and downs of small town life. On top of that you have the ups and downs of living with animals and attempting to raise a family / make a living while you do so.
I LOVED it. In fact we all loved it...every excerpt I read to the family was greeted with laughter. It helps that we live in the midst of the community being written about but I think anyone living in a small community, anywhere in the world, would appreciate the ups and downs of small town life. On top of that you have the ups and downs of living with animals and attempting to raise a family / make a living while you do so.
April 15, 2021
This is a collection of short essay that Dan Needles wrote between 1997 and 2016 about his life on a small family farm in Ontario's Dufferin County. He has been awarded the Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour, which doesn't surprise me, as his writing is full of the folksy, family friendly humour often present in recipients of this prize. It was a light, sometimes laugh-out-loud, bedtime book, and I enjoyed it well enough. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys the writing of Stuart McLean.
December 6, 2017
For many years I read Dan Needle's column in Harrowsmith Country Life. Discovered recently he's written a few good books on life in rural Canada - not far from where I live actually. This book is one of them and was a joy to read.
February 23, 2019
A great read! Dan Needles has a way of using words to make sights, flavours and sounds from the countryside come alive. Merits Five Stars, but as this is a compendium of articles published over several years, a few start to feel repetitive towards the end of the book. Still, most enjoyable.
June 22, 2022
This is a compilation of articles written for various magazines providing a glimpse into rural Ontario life. The stories were recanted in a humorous manner and they allowed you to escape into a different world.
February 11, 2018
Absolutely hilarious account of rural farm life. Totally relatable. This book had me laughing out loud!
December 28, 2018
Loved this book. A great read before bed.
January 24, 2019
Honest and funny. It is fascinating considering his heritage, that he became a farmer. Enteratining.
May 16, 2019
Hilarious!!
April 12, 2022
A few funny bits but overall, just heart warming and comfortable; like old slippers.
November 23, 2022
Wonderful vignettes from a rural community that is very near and dear to the heart of the author, and me.
August 22, 2024
It is an easy read. These are fun, short stories about living in the country in Ontario.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews