Big Wheel at the Cracker Factory

by Mickey Hess

Hess, Mickey

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction

185 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hess expertly captures youthful apathy and fear of growing up in this memoir account of his time as an adjunct professor and the odd jobs he takes to bring in some supplemental income. In "Big Wheel," Hess teeters between childhood and adulthood, needing to pay the bills but finding adventurous, childlike ways to do so (as an ice cream truck driver, working in an arcade, etc). In a clear and succinct voice, Hess muses on coming into the inevitable: adulthood.

[Leanne O · Rating 5 out of 5]

My good friend recommended this book to me and any recommendation I've ever gotten from him has been spot on. He has great taste in everything, knows me better than most people, and knows exactly what kind of book will hold my interest and that I'll enjoy. Big Wheel at the Cracker Factory did just that, I finished reading it in only two sittings this weekend. It's a memoir of Mickey Hess's days of being an adjunct professor in Louisville and Southern Indiana at various universities. Alongside with being a professor he takes on odd jobs: an ice cream man, mall/arcade game guy, haunted house actor, and so forth to break up the usually daily routine of being a teacher and to "balance himself out" because he questions what it all means to be a teacher at times. Sometimes the life of academia needs to be shaken up and taken a little less seriously. I'm glad he writes about this, as I've known many academics who are a bit too serious!

I think it's an important exercise to try: step aside from your career and take on a job doing something completely different. It's exactly what I did, where most of the time I was a postal clerk, but two months out of the year I hit the road with a giant moving truck full of posters to sell to students at college. The poster job offset the rest of my work year and although drove me crazy, also kept me sane at the same time.

Hess also writes about his days in Louisville attending hip hop shows, hanging out with his wife and friends, and general debauchery. When I read certain things like the record store on Bardstown Road, or the guys in Hellnation (one of Kentucky's few punk/thrash bands!) screen-printing patches at work, or how Hess calls a knit hat (aka: beanie) a toboggan, I can't help but think of the friend who recommended the book. He ironically is from Kentucky and lived in Louisville for a long time, so it all mashes together in a nice nostalgic way. He even mentions the Underground Publishing Conference, a 'zine fest that I went to a few times in the early 2000's and that really influenced me in a lot of ways. Before the UPC I didn't realize there was a whole network of writers, 'zine-makers, and artists all making things on their own terms, just like me. Mickey Hess writes about this too in the book, how he found his people. Before Big Wheel he made his own self-published book at left it all over the USA and abroad for free in coffee shops, book stores, bathroom stalls, etc. I'm curious to read this book too, called El Cumpleanos de Paco.

Overall this was an enjoyable and entertaining book, read it!

[Davida Breier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Technically a memoir, but also a look at jobs, decisions, dreams, influences and how to find meaning. The period this book covers is approximately 2000-2002, where Mickey finds himself in his post-college days with part-time teaching jobs, but also random gigs as an ice cream truck driver, stand-up comedian, and arcade attendant. He pokes fun at the colleges he works at, just as he does the "ridiculous" jobs. He is caught between a job he almost seems afraid to care about and those that amuse him. For our generation, and I am going to assume Mickey and I are almost exactly the same age, work has a different place in our lives. We know that bad things happen to good employees and that most people change jobs (and careers) repeatedly these days. We've watched jobs shipped overseas, fear layoffs, and seen how corporations have kept the minimum wage ridiculously low. We are a generation of cynics, but what happens when cynics find jobs with meaning? What happens when you find that you can't keep up the façade of youth and irresponsibility forever? The book is insightful, but also funny as hell. The scene where they are housesitting and a friend breaks the toilet tank in the middle of the night made me laugh out loud. Mickey has great comedic timing with a deadpan delivery. Highly recommended.

[Gregory · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very funny book about one person's gravitation toward academia. It is a different book than I expected, since it is not really what the back blurb suggests.

[Pete Richter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a work of non-fiction. And the first thing that can come to mind when someone says non-fiction is the word, drawn out like this "borrrring." But Big Wheel is far from boring. The book takes a deep look at the battle we all face to keep the things that made us young while inviting in the things that make us adults. It's beautifully sensitive and laugh out loud funny. That fact that it is non-fiction only enhances each event/conflict/moment.

The best part is this book is that it is inspiring. It lets you to know that someone succeeded at becoming a man while keeping some of the rebellion that our childhood allows us. In some ways it's a guide book for aspiring authors, in some ways it's a tour of personal growth, sometimes it's a joke book and most importantly - it's something worth keeping because ultimately you are going to want to pick this book up again and again.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

A laugh-out-loud-book!Mickey is funny, sarcastic, and you just can't help but love him. He is someone you'd love to be friends with..or someone you'd just like to KNOW. His book made me laugh and think about things in ways I haven't. It's a simple book really, but the voice and style of his writing makes you feel as if you've learned something very precious. He seems like someone I can relate to, someone who really cares and knows about writing. I can't really tell you what the book is about because it's not really about anything in particular..besides his life. I can say the second I closed his book I went online to find more of his work. :) Mickey Hess is terribly funny! And why does it feel like he has a crush on Carrie? He better not! Danielle sounds like a doll!

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book reminded me of that one friend everyone has who tells stories like no other. Mickey has certainly lived an interesting life, floating from one side job to the next, with friends coming in and out of his life as well. I think the book is very easy to relate to, in that most of us didn't come out of school with a definite, unquestionable career path, and we all know people like Mickey. However, the stories didn't flow together, so there was no feeling of not being able to put the book down. In fact, it took me a couple of months to get around to finishing it. As individual anecdotes, it suceeded, but as a book, it was not what I had hoped.

[Jessi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read some of his free stories online and I thought I'd give this book a go. Really like his prose, some very funny and touching moments and the ending posed an interesting question that I turned over in my head a few times, which is always something good to get from a book. I think I was expecting something else to happen towards the end and for the last few chapters, I was wondering how he was going to wrap it up and I think the book's main downfall is that it doesn't quite manage to do so entirely satisfactorily. Still found it a charming and entertaining read.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

So, I have conflicting feelings on this book. It read quickly, and I was entertained. The entire book consisted of the author talking through his work-life (with a little home-life thrown in). Not sure if he was trying to justify some of his work and friend choices, or if he was just telling it as it was. Can't say I would recommend it to anyone because there wasn't much of substance in the book. No hidden meaning.
I received this book as a GoodReads giveaway, and I passed it on after I was done as the back of the book requested.

[Rochelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I won this book from Goodreads.

I had a great deal of trouble wading through this book. Although the author has a good style of writing I found a lot of the book meandering. The exceptions to that, and these exemplify fine writing, are the parts about his sick iguana and his strange roommate Shane. Funny and still somewhat sweet, these sections were my favorites.

[Athena · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mickey Hess alternates between descriptions of slackerism so deep as to be tragic and truly touching scenes, like a moment of deep spiritual connection with a pet iguana. I had no idea what to expect when the book began, but by the end I was fully drawn into the quirky worldview Hess espouses.

My actual rating is more like 3 1/2 stars.

I won my copy through First Reads.

[Brenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hilarious, relatable and honest. Hess isn't trying to impress, he just has a way of living & documenting the every day that makes for a great read! I did like the first half of the book better, since he's exploring quirky part-time jobs in that section, but still fun overall. The ice cream truck & haunted house jobs were my favorites.

[Hillary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this title for free from Good Reads First Reads, and I'm glad I got the chance to read it! This book perfectly encapsulates the hectic, apathetic, tedious and beautiful time of youth and just starting out in the world-- when a person is equal parts distracted-child and responsible-adult. Hess truly brings out a perspective both unique-- yet resonating. This is a book for all of us.

[Maggie Ballard · Rating 4 out of 5]

i won this book from goodreads and have just finshed reading it. it was very good. i really liked the story it told about the teacher but i also liked that lit talked about what everyone goes through, trying to have it all and how miserable we are in jobs we hate and if we can find happiness other ways that are not conventional. it was a really good book. i liked the relatability to my own life.

[Mark · Rating 2 out of 5]

I won a copy of this book from a GoodReads giveaway and I wanted to like this book, but it just didn't work for me. Individual stories here and there in the book were funny or interesting but the book as a whole felt disjointed.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book through good reads, first reads and found this so interesting.
Wouldn't it be great if all of us could find happiness in our work being creative and inspired everyday while being able to pay the bills?

[Chantal burke · Rating 5 out of 5]

really funny a good book happy I won it would of hated missin g it

[Chris · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm very happy I won this book! I think Mickey Hess has all the makings of a successful writer. This book was engaging and funny,as well as open and honest. I hope to read more of him in the future!

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won the book on Goodreads Giveaways. I was very turned off by the cover (different from the one shown on the Goodreads site) but found the book to be very entertaining.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was hilarious, random and lacked depth... a great change from so many other books that try too hard to BE something.

[Ellenh · Rating 1 out of 5]

I did not like this book, it was too disjointed & strange for me. I couldn't get into the characters or their attempts to grow up. At least I hope that's what they were trying to do.