Banjo Lessons

Nora D.S. Robins is co-ordinator of Internal Collections at the
University of Calgary Libraries.

Banjo Lessons is about growing up in Alberta in the 1950s and 1960s. It
is the story of the first 25 years of Tim Fisher, a nice boy, rather
shy, who never quite fits in with his peers. Tim’s favorite movie is A
Wonderful Life, his favorite sport is fishing, his favorite reading is
Fin and Feather, and his least favorite person is his older brother.
Self-confident is not a term one would use to characterize Tim Fisher.

By the time he is 18, Tim has decided to go to university and become a
writer. In order to pay for books and tuition, he gets a job in Lake
Louise, where he experiences his first bout with alcohol, his first
crush, and his first banjo. It is the earthy Rita who introduces him to
the banjo, his route to acceptance.

The author has succeeded in capturing the self-doubt and insecurity
experienced by most of us as we try to grow up. The story is told with
wit and affection that readily engage the reader.

David Carpenter is a Western Canadian writer whose previous books
include Courting Saskatchewan (1996) and Fishing in the West (1995).