Thin Ice: Coming of Age in Grand Rapids

by Reinder Van Til, Gordon Olson

This unique volume contains twenty-eight fascinating life stories of people -- many of whom went on to become famous -- who grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The coming-of-age stories in Thin Ice relate a range of experiences both good and bad, including happy memories and heartwarming recollections but also personal traumas, intergenerational and racial conflicts, the strictures of religious belief and practice, the joys and sorrows of young romance, and more. Above and beyond the stories of the more notable personalities -- Jim Harrison, Roger Wilkins, John Hockenberry, President Gerald Ford, Betty Ford, Al Green, Paul Schrader, William Brashler -- the book as a whole is chock-full of crisp, humorous, irreverent, and moving writing. Reinder Van Til and Gordon Olson have excerpted half of the pieces from previous publications, while they directly solicited the other half from active writers specifically for this book. The earliest stories go back to the 1830s and 1850s, and the most recent are a cluster of contemporary pieces that describe coming of age in the Grand Rapids of the 1960s through the 1980s. Together they paint a multifaceted, impressionistic portrait of a century and a half in the fair city of Grand Rapids, Michigan. All in all, Thin Ice is a nostalgic treasure for any Grand Rapidian and literary treasure for e v e r y one. Contributors Albert Baxter Charles E. Belknap A. J. Muste Arnold Gingrich David Cornel DeJong Gerald R. Ford Betty Ford Edward V. Gillis John Thompson Roger Wilkins Jim Harrison Glen Peterson Max Apple John Otterbacher Reinder Van Til Al Green Paul Schrader Robert VanderMolen William Brashler Sheri Venema Hank Meijer Charles Honey Tom Rademacher Levi Rickert John Hockenberry Laura Kasischke Kaye Longberg Bich Minh Nguyen

416 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2006

About the author

aka Crabbe Evers with William Brashler.

Reinder Van Til provides editorial and marketing services for Eerdmans Publishing Company. He has written numerous articles for a wide variety of periodicals, and is the author of Lost Daughters: Recovered Memory Therapy and the People It Hurts.

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

We begin a century and a half ago and come forward in time through various narrators. Most interesting were the very old stories, with their unfamiliar ways. There’s a wild story about a downtown fire. Some profoundly funny bits, and sweet ones, and a few downright duds, telling either not enough or too much. I have spent many years in Grand Rapids and this book helped bring it alive.

[Katie Terpstra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read because I've lived in GR my entire life. I enjoyed the historical viewpoints and the wide variety of authors, especially the earlier stories of immigrant life in Grand Rapids.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

For those who live in Grand Rapids, Michigan, this is a fun read from people coming from all different perspectives describing their childhood in GR with many familiar names and places.

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Coming of age stories are always alluring to me, so to get a healthy dose of history in there along with that was perfect. I even had a good time reading excerpts from Gerald and Betty Ford, which I didn't expect to enjoy half as much! However, some of my favorite stories from the collection were the earlier writings from the 1800's. Just cool, especially if you live or are from here! We can definitely use all the hometown pride we can get right now.

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Collection of essays about growing up in Grand Rapids. Some better than others.....on the whole very interesting.

[Susan]

This is a collection of writings by prominent people who grew up in Grand Rapids, MI.
Except for the pieces by President Gerald Ford and his wife, the pieces are a bit dry.

[Jim Corson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having grown up myself in GR, I found the book quite interesting, espeically those about places I knew or had been. Quick read but I enjoyed it.

[Janelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great way to learn about my new "hometown" from a variety of perspectives and tales of eras gone by.

[Gayle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I surprised myself by enjoying this book very much.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read for anyone with knowledge and affinity for GR or for anyone who appreciates excellent historical reads.

[Deborah Cousinaw · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting!