How Fargo of You First edition by Marc de Celle (2010) Paperback

by Marc de Celle

First November 2010

Genres: Nonfiction

267 pages, Paperback

First published November 14, 2010

Reviews

[Sue · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a quick read has some charm to it. And in true midwestern fashion, I'm not going to criticize the book.

[Dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Delightful idea for book. Received as gift, read in one flight home from ND. I didn't enjoy Celle's writing style, however. Found him to be quite repetitive.

[Alxandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

When we moved to Fargo last year. We were stunned by the kindness of strangers.

For instance, we had a heck of a time at DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles). Not because of the workers there, but because I'd mucked up my license. (I'd renewed my license before I moved, but never received my replacement in the mail, and my photocopy version had expired by the time I got to Fargo. Through it all the Fargo DMV was kind and helpful, providing advice and options to my problem. All of it didn't change that Connecticut was going to make me do it the hard way, but I knew that every time I visited the Fargo DMV, there would be a smiling person to help me through the mess. I know, shocking, DMV employees that smile.

So, it was a delight to read a book about Fargo and realize that I wasn't just imagining things. Fargo really is kind to people even strangers.

This is a book of anecdotes about Fargo and its surroundings that describes the culture of the community. Several anecdotes are given, but the book is centered on the flood of 2010 where the whole town worked together to sandbag Fargo so that it stayed dried even though the federal government told Fargo to abandon the effort and evacuate because it just wasn't possible to save the town.

[M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would not consider this book a casual coffee read. It is not necessarily for entertainment purposes, but having grown up in the Midwest the stories are accurate to the culture. Growing up with this experience, it is not foreign to help your neighbor for the mere purpose of a kind deed. I also had indirect experience with the flood as it affected my family. I have met the author and let's just say he fits in well with the culture he defines in his book.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marc de Celle is not a native to Fargo, ND, so he didn't know what to expect when he visited there one time. He enjoyed it so much that he decided to move his family there, and this book is about those experiences.

Highly recommended as its a book on a part of the US not many might know, and its people and way of life. Its very unique in the melting pot we call the USA.

[Jenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can not get over the funny stories in this book. But also the huge explanation into Fargo ND. I read this book in three days and have kept re reading it. I felt connected to the author in many ways. If you are looking for funny stories. This is for you!

[Sandy Seefeldt · Rating 2 out of 5]

Let’s just say a lot has changed since this book was written…from a Fargoan. Started out ok, then just kind of rambled on about writing the book.

[Jamie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Propaganda sent to me a few years back by my No Dak sister that I finally got around to reading.

[Mark Geise · Rating 3 out of 5]

“How Fargo of You” is a first-hand look into the culture of the Upper Midwest, specifically North and South Dakota and northern and western Minnesota. The author recounts how he and his family came to visit Fargo for the first time, fall in love with it, and decide to move here. I moved to Fargo about a year and a half ago for work, so, like the author, I also am a transplant into Fargo culture. He talks about the culture and how things surprise him. He is shocked when he is allowed to pump his gas before paying. He is shocked when a carpenter installs a dog door in his house and refuses to accept payment because it is a housewarming gift. He is shocked when a neighbor digs his wife’s car out of the driveway and then snowblows the driveway for them. The author has previously lived in California, Florida, and Arizona, so I can see how there was far more culture shock moving to Fargo than I had moving from western New York State. Things like that are not nearly as out of the ordinary for me as they were for the author, but the author’s surprise at all of these events is pretty entertaining.

The author is certainly overenthusiastic about the magical qualities of Fargo, but I believe he is spot on when he points out the many positives of the area. The area is full of friendly people that are willing to go the extra mile to help you out. The weather challenges and farming background of many of the people in the area make them self-sufficient and knowledgeable about a wide variety of useful topics. It is a safe area where one does not need to worry about looking over his or her shoulder all the time. The region clearly values education, making it a great place to raise children. I have read some criticisms of this book stating that the author does not make it clear how much in earnings people sacrifice to come here, but I thought he repeatedly made that point in several of his stories. I think he fairly laid out the negatives of the area, contrary to what other reviewers have said.

Do not come to this book expecting hard-hitting content, but if you want a quick read and are interested in prairie culture, “How Fargo of You” fits the bill. It reads like Chicken Soup for the Soul prose, but I believe it is a fair representation of the Upper Midwest. This area is different from the rest of the country; I wish people knew more about than what they have “learned” from the movie “Fargo.”

[Donna (Jaevenstar) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Having grown up in Fargo, I could relate to many of the stories from this book. Fargo has a truly small town attitude. However, the author does seem to trivialize the extremely low incomes and the weather in the area - both of which are extreme enough to drive you away from the area.

Yes, the people in the midwest are nice and sure they might spring for dinner/lunch if you forget your wallet, but don't count on that. Yes, you pump your gas first then pay. That is standard fare in Fargo. Yes unemployment is low - but if you can't find a job in your field, then you are screwed. (There are NO teaching jobs and the ones that do open up pay about 1/3 what I make now in California.) Yes, you can get a house for dirt cheap with a huge lot, IF you can find a job. Yes, the town floods and everyone gets together to help out. The Northern Prairie Culture does exist, but is it worth it? That's is up to each individual to decide.

Overall, the little stories were cute in this book. I kind of disliked his little saying "How Fargo of you" especially since 90% of the rest of the world thinks that Fargo equals morons with accents. (Sorry, but it is true.) And the authors writing style was really difficult to read. He strayed off topic often and seemed overly dramatic. This book was just OK to me. I would be curious to think what people NOT from Fargo think about it, though... and good luck to the author trying to remove or change that stigma attached to the word Fargo.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Back-to-back blizzards meant I got to enjoy Fargo for a week over the Christmas holiday. Interstates closed. No travel. Crazy amounts of snow. And lots of fun. Fargo does community well. I was staying with friends and it was fun to be involved on a small-scale with the neighborhood response. Some watched kids, others in the neighborhood blew snow, checked-in with the 90year-old couple in the middle of the block and made certain the vents on the neighbor's vacant house-for-sale were cleared. Another ventured out on Day 2 to run errands for everyone. A very 'How Fargo of You' response. Paraphrasing the author, 'the colder the temperature, the warmer the community gets'.

The author moved with his family from Arizona to Fargo. This book is his attempt to capture the culture of 'anonymous kindness', and go-out-of-your-way neighborliness of the north country. As he explains, this culture isn't limited to Fargo - this experience of community stretches the region. He simply pinpoints Fargo as the center-point and coined a phrase to explain it.

Strengths:
The stories are fun and interesting - especially for those with ties to the region.
Quick read - a sort-of 'Chicken Soup for the Soul' style.

Weaknesses:
The writing is a bit repetitive and unrefined.
Confusing passages within a couple stories.
A couple instances of 'Too Much Information'.

[Diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Author, Marc de Celle, was living in a suburb of Phoenix and visited Fargo, North Dakota. He and his wife decided they liked it there and moved. The people of Fargo were (and are) great to Marc and his family. It was so amazing he decided to write this book.
Some of stores in the book are truly amazing, but some are stories that could be told about any small town (but we don't take the time or effort to write them down).
Marc discussed the flooding that occured a couple of times in the last few years and it is incredible how the people of that area work together to help each through these floods. Then they plan how things could be better in the future.
He does explain the way Fargo is. Here are a couple of quotes, "But the entire reason we're not in the kind of trouble the rest of the nation is in is because the vast majority of people around here value relationships over stuff." Also he says, "Because my five years have taught me it isn't about being married to some way of thinking or belief system. It's about taking care of each other without thinking too much. It's about paying a lot more attention to caring behavior than to other things all of which, I've concluded from living here, are mere trifles by comparison."
These are lessons we all need to learn and practice.

[Lb · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book was a fun heart-warming story of the author's firsthand accounts on what he experienced after moving from Arizona. It was a little hard to follow at times, because the writing was rough and was from his area he lived in. It was really hard to compare the city of Fargo with other states, as he used his experiences only. (He lived in a upper-scale neighborhood, had friends already in Fargo, and moved directly into a house after selling two homes in Arizona and his wife got a good job for Microsoft. Not exactly your typical experiences.)

I hope there isn't a second book, but if there is it turns into a short story book and not a hard-to-follow account from one person's view.

I would have liked to see more stories from North Dakota and not just one town. I would also have liked to read more accounts on what happened, good and bad from other people, not just what the author heard and experienced.

Overall I would recommend the book if you are interested in Fargo, ND from a real-life view and not just the annoying made up views from movies, but be warned, it is mostly the author's view and not from people who have lived there most or all of their lives or from people out of state.

[Kelli Kline · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really do think Fargo is a nice place to live however de Celle seems to embellish some of the supposed first-hand accounts. I have an extremely difficult time believing for one second that anyone around here would hand their truck keys to a stranger let alone to one who just happens to be black. black man. Maybe the people who reported the stories to de Celle were the ones to tell the tall tales and de Celle just wanted to believe that a place like that really did exist. I have been stuck and in need of assistance (vehicle) and tons of people just drive by as they glance at me struggling to free my car from the snow. I cannot even count the times that I have asked someone to give me a jump only to hear every damn excuse in the world. They'd say I don't have cables...I would tell them "I do". Then they wouldn't quite know what excuse to use next but they would keep walking away and spit out, "don't know how to do it" or "don't have time"...I know how to jump a car and I'd say so to no avail. So I think the book is a bunch of crap!

[Captain Jacq · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading about an outsider's perspective on the culture and society of the upper midwest. We are a different sort of people who tend to treat others with more respect than people in other areas of the country. If there was any flaw, it was that a lot of time was spent on the 2009 flood. I realize that this flood showed a lot about Fargo as a community, but I do not believe that personal day by day accounts were necessary and that they slowed down the flow of the book. Overall, I really enjoyed this read and learned a lot that I didn't know about North Dakota and the upper midwest.

[Anne Nerison · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book certainly shows what de Celle calls "Northern Prairie culture" and what I grew up thinking of as "Minnesota Nice." Through stories like that of the 2009 and 2010 flood fights in Fargo, a nice couple--who he's never met--who pays for his meal one day, and a handyman installing a doggie door at no cost as a housewarming gift, the author shows why he and his family decided to move to Fargo, and the benefits they've found of doing so, in some cases backed up by statistics (lower crime rate, higher high school graduation rate, for example). In all, a book to make you feel good about living in this part of the country.

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't recall life being QUITE so rosy when I lived in Fargo, but Marc de Celle has a lot of it right. It's fun to look back at the home state, and I would love to see more of that community spirit translate to bigger areas, if such a thing is possible. However, I left (for Phoenix) over 20 yrs ago to get away from the frigid temps and tremendous under-employment and it appears that hasn't changed much. Since I'm NOT raising a family and left with my Northern Plains value system already firmly intact, I'll stick with my warm climate and diverse employment opportunities. But rock on, Fargo, you make us proud.

[Blaine Welgraven · Rating 3 out of 5]

A verbose but endearing book about the "prairie culture" of Fargo, ND. Through personal stories and recent historical events, Celle describes a city where community and relationships are the defining trait. Particularly strong is Celle's account of how Fargo handled the 2009 Red River Flood, as he recounts the critical week where an an entire city came together to lay 3 million sandbags--in mere days--to save their town. I grew up in the heart of this culture, only 45 minutes from Fargo, and I can personally attest to most of what the author describes. It was a distinctive way of life, and a wonderful way to spend my youth.

[Mary Kenyon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since I live in South Dakota and have extended family in North Dakota I have experienced many Fargo moments of my own. This book was a fun read and I would recommend it to everyone.

[Sherry Knight · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really loved learning about the good ways of Midwestern people. I am looking forward to meeting them soon!

[Sharlene Klegstad]

Good to be reminded of how being "Fargo" is not the standard for many people.

[Dusty Paulson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very accurate. There were sometimes that he reiterates himself but that is also very Fargo. Great book to read for anyone.