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Where's My Wand?: One Boy's Magical Triumph over Alienation and Shag Carpeting Hardcover – May 27, 2010

by Eric Poole (Author)
4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 77 ratings
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Augusten Burroughs, David Sedaris, and David Rakoff have all produced winning memoirs of their demented, alternately heartrending and sidesplitting late- twentieth-century American childhoods. Now, first-time author Eric Poole joins their ranks with his chronicle of a childhood gone hilariously and heartbreakingly awry in the Midwest of the 1970s. From the age of eight through early adolescence, Poole sought refuge from his obsessive-compulsive mother, sadistic teachers, and sneering schoolyard thugs in the Scotchgarded basement of his family's suburban St. Louis tract house. There, emulating his favorite TV character, Endora from Bewitched, he wrapped himself in a makeshift caftan and cast magical spells in an effort to maintain control over the rapidly shifting ground beneath his feet. But when a series of tragic events tested Eric's longstanding belief that magic can vanquish evil, he began to question the efficacy of his incantations, embarking on a spiritual journey that led him to discover the magic that comes only from within.

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Previous page
  1. Print length
    272 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Putnam Adult
  4. Publication date
    May 27, 2010
  5. Reading age
    18 years and up
  6. Dimensions
    5.76 x 1.02 x 8.56 inches
  7. ISBN-10
    0399156550
  8. ISBN-13
    978-0399156557
  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Poole’s episodic memoir of growing up in 1970s St. Louis breaks no new ground in this well-mined field, but it is funny, nevertheless, and engagingly large-hearted. The author’s humor is largely character-driven, focusing on his long-suffering father, his older sister, and his cleanliness-obsessed mother, who would be more than a match for Mr. Clean. Poole has his own obsession: Endora from Bewitched. Whenever things get tough, he dons a white chenille bedspread and becomes the Endora of St. Louis, imagining magical solutions to his many problems—bullies, his parents’ arguments, an enforced camping trip with mannish Aunt Jennie, his growing awareness of his homosexuality—with mixed success. Somewhere along the line, Endora is replaced by God, who doesn’t seem much more reliable, though Poole does become a demon trumpet player, which may—by the time he’s in high school—open the door to peer acceptance. Readers will be rooting for him. --Michael Cart

About the Author

Eric Poole is the secret love child of Fran Lebowitz and David Sedaris. But oddly taller. A VP of marketing for a major media company and the winner of 30+ advertising awards, Eric was once called "the best undiscovered writer I've ever met" by Tracey Ullman, an accolade he continues to live up to. He resides in Los Angeles with his partner of ten years.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Putnam Adult; First Edition (May 27, 2010)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 272 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0399156550
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0399156557
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 18 years and up
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 14.4 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.76 x 1.02 x 8.56 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 77 ratings

About the author

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Eric Poole

Eric Poole

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Eric Poole’s first memoir received rave reviews and was developed as a television series for ABC. He has written for the Huffington Post, CNN, and The Advocate, and spends more time than he would like penning commercials for everything from McRibs to tampons to TV shows about celebrities boxing.

He lives in Southern California with his partner of 16 years. This is his second memoir. Visit www.ericpoole.net for more information.

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
4.1 out of 5
77 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Bill D
5.0 out of 5 stars Self Reflective, Not Self Absorbed
Reviewed in the United States on July 8, 2010
Verified Purchase
I was delighted to find that Eric had written an autobiography. He's perfectly nailed the coming of age story for the 1970s generation of gay teenagers who grew up in bible belt towns.

But sure, there's a bunch of stories like this. What makes Eric's story different is that he's not a whiner. Not even in the slightest. In every characterization of his family, there's deeply moving, warm and positive assertions about their humanity and decency. He finds the good in them - what makes them what they are. Instead of the typical, beaten to a pulp sordid tales of the unloved gay kid, instead we get a story that's a lot more timeless. We get an authentic story of a child who was loved.

The point of it all was that he had to find out for himself what made him different and what he was good at, too. Eric takes a lot of responsibility for himself in his book. I'm not so sure that a lot of us wouldn't perhaps try to put the best possible light on ourselves. After all, how often do we get to control the camera from every angle? He plays it straight up and doesn't cheat the audience.

Instead of being clever for cleverness's sake, Eric's shoots straight for honesty and surprises everyone. He has a wonderfully light touch with his humor: the situations and characters speak for themselves, and his spare writing style keeps the storyline moving. His affection for his family is sincere and clear. He speaks of them with respect, not contempt. It's refreshing to see family treated well and kindly. Not everything is so Dickensian, and I loved all the details that influenced Eric's childhood.

Just as much fun as Bewitched, without the confusion of multiple Darrens or the embarrassing fashion faux-pas (what was with those getups Endora wore, anyway?)
3 people found this helpful
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XNC
5.0 out of 5 stars A Smart, Humorous, Universal Coming-of-Age Tale
Reviewed in the United States on November 30, 2010
Verified Purchase
Mr. Poole delivers a deeply personal, yet universal, coming-of-age memoir.

It's universal because anyone can relate to having had crazy parents, siblings and friends. And in school, we've all had to deal with bullies (a very timely subject these days) as well as feeling "less-than" the other kids.

Mr. Poole brilliantly succeeds in putting the reader right there in the very moment of his pain and self-doubt. And, just like him, we all had an escape hatch to help us cope. Whether it was a beloved pet to talk to or a cherished doll to confide in. In Mr. Poole's case it was magic.

Older readers will enjoy the pitch perfect picture of the Seventies that Mr. Poole paints with his words while younger readers will relate to the journey he had to take in order to achieve a strong and positive sense of self.

All readers will enjoy Mr. Poole's wit.

His wit makes what might have been a "bummer book" a real joy to read. It's highly entertaining with plenty of grins, giggles and laugh-out-loud moments.

Buy this book for yourself as a fun read. Buy it as a gift for someone else who may be trying to find themselves while dealing with the chaos of growing up... which is pretty much all of us.
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SunLuvr
3.0 out of 5 stars Overrated
Reviewed in the United States on July 12, 2010
Verified Purchase
I was so excited to get this book after reading all of the terrific reviews. But for me, it was just ok. There were a lot of really funny anecdotes, but the way he keeps going back to the magic theme felt very "high school essay" to me. I would give it 2.5 stars if that were an option.
5 people found this helpful
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DAVID G. MCHALE IV
4.0 out of 5 stars ALIENATION, SHAG CARPETING, & WITCHES !!!!!!!!!!
Reviewed in the United States on June 21, 2010
Verified Purchase
In this well written often laugh out loud memoir we find ERIC POOLE sharing facets of life from third grade through parts of high school. Here we are given a heavy dose of his dysFUNctional Baptist family and many colorful characters and adventures. Insightful lessions and and observations are revealed in an almost nostalgic sort of way, and readers who grew up in the 70's will especially find all the kooky references to the time terrific fun! The read is quick, engaging, and I am definitely interested in hearing more about MR. POOLE'S aliening but magical life. I also like his long obsession with Bewitched and its charater Endora, which would inspired him to take his own life into his own hands often with often mixed results. He would then create his own magical rituals to influence his own life, and to witness him grow up and to percieves his doings is at times like watching him from the spirit world blossom, while you root for him all the way. Also, how his consciousness changes over time and his relationship and understanding of God is interesting as well. I highly recommend WHERE'S MY WAND? - ONE BOY'S MAGICAL TRIUMPH OVER ALIENATION AND SHAG CARPETING for the humor, the moving drama (yes, there's some of that too), but its the graceful ease in which ERIC"S enchanted life is wonderfully spun to us that is so appealing. I want to hear more from MR. POOLE and his boyhood triumps, troubles, maybe even all about his first kiss, - which you know is going to have a Bee Gees soundtrack, and that fabulous Farrah Fawcett poster hovering overhead!!!! ENJOY EVERYONE !!!!!
3 people found this helpful
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J. A. Hoag
5.0 out of 5 stars Let Him Entertain You, Let Him Make You Smile...
Reviewed in the United States on June 18, 2010
Verified Purchase
What do you want to be when you grow up? Sound familiar? Maybe it's what you wanted to be as a child that would most heavily shape your future. "Where's My Wand" is the funniest, most charming, and at the same time most poignant look that you may have regarding that concept. A child growing up in St. Louis, where the west is "waaaayyy mid" is challenged by his family, friends, schoolmates, and teachers amid his own struggle to find who he is (or who he thinks he is). Eric Poole's writing is so vivid and visual, that I could actually see the raked shag carpeting and the uncommonly dry kitchen sink, and could put a tone and tenor to each voice from each character...especially his mother...aaahhh yes, his mother. Love at all costs. His obsession with magic and the ills it could hopefully cure is something that would have come in handy for many of us, wouldn't it have? Very "Sedaris" in feeling, but with boatloads more heart! Summer is upon us, so pull up the porch chair, the beach chair, the hammock, or, oh yeah, the bed and treat yourself to a very entertaining read. Once you start, you won't put it down. With characters and storyline this rich...i smell series!!!
2 people found this helpful
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