Picked up my copy of The Barn House yesterday. So far, I’ve been enjoying it. Ed, I had no idea you were that good with electrical work–I had something similar to your Remco Thinking Boy’s Toys when I was younger, though I think the toy’s lessons stuck more with you than they did with me. Anyway, looking forward to reading it all.
You might also like to know that it’s on the shelves at bookstores here in Canada. Not all bookstores, mind, and not all branches of the big chains, but those of us who still prefer to buy books in person at bookstores aren’t being left out.
I have just finished my copy. It is quite good. I noted a couple things:
Personal details and writing style makes it clear that Ed had a bit more than just Editor’s input in some “Straight Dope” columns. I am not saying Ed is Cecil, mind you, just that Ed may be to Cecil as Lester Dent is to Kenneth Robeson.
Next- it seems to be pushed as a “Mr Blandings” or a “Money Pit”, but it’s more serious than either. It also has a fairly high emphasis on Gentrification or Urban Renaissance.
Finally, it actually has a reasonable modicom of serious useful advice.
Damn, I’m going to have to edit that out of the paperback edition. I was striving for frivolity throughout. Glad you enjoyed the book.
BTW, I’ve been talking with New American Library, and they’ve agreed to let me put a photo section in the paperback version, which tentatively is set to come out in fall 2009. B&W rather than color, but still, everybody has been saying what a knucklehead I was not to include more pictures.
