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"Although this
is a book about a corner of Iowa, it is in reality not a book about
Iowa. Curlew, Iowa, and the Midwest become symbols of the greater
reality of family, home, life, death and change. It is a book about
what it means to be human."
- From a reader's review on amazon.com
· For those of you unfamiliar
with my book, Curlew:Home, it is a memoir of growing up on a farm in the
northwestern quarter of Iowa during the 1950s, along with the journal
of a trip I made back to Curlew in October, 2000. I never planned to write
such a memoir; it was spurred by the results an interview I did with my
mother in December, 1998. I got from the interview what I thought were
two more among my miscellaneous essays ("Her Most Perfect Day Ever"
and "Butchering Chickens). But soon I found myself working on a another
piece, "Shelling Corn." I had never thought I carried around
intense memories of my first fourteen years; yet when I started to list
the things I could remember, I found the more I wrote, the more I remembered.
Because my memory by its nature is episodic, the narrative tug in Curlew:Home
comes from the journal of my trip back to Curlew.
· Since being published
October 10th Curlew:Home has been enjoying good reviews and steady sales.
This, despite the fact that my publisher, Midday Moon Books, is a small
press with a limited budget for promotion and despite the fact that the
subject - our middle western existence - is not the latest hot topic of
the day.
· So far we've seen
only glowing reviews of Curlew:Home - in Booklist (Oct. 1, 2001), the
Des Moines Register (Oct. 14, 2001) and Creativity Connection (no. 49),
etc. Nice pieces have appeared in the Sioux City Weekender and the Fort
Dodge Messenger. And there was a good little notice in The Iowan magazine.
I've been astonished (and pleased) by the reception the book has gotten.
· At the end of last
July, Mary and I visited the Curlew Community Center to celebrate the
pending publication of the book. In a town of 60-some souls, 60 people
showed up to help us celebrate, including three area farmers who waited
until the very end to come in because they really had to be baling hay
or combining oats that fine afternoon, yet they also wanted to stop and
say Hi.
· In October we toured
throughout northwestern Iowa, stopping at twenty-nine independent bookstores,
public libraries, and senior centers, reading and signing books, visiting
and reminiscing. I met relatives of mine at nearly half the places we
stopped, and talked with people who had some association to Curlew at
nearly three quarters of them - they grew up at Curlew, or their grandparents
had farmed there, or they'd taught school there. I've come to believe
that Curlew is everywhere. At several places students showed up to hear
me read: twenty-eight fifth graders in Mallard; seven journalism students
at West Bend; twelve "Writing III" students and their teacher
in Cherokee; and fifteen American Literature students at Ruthven.
· The Welcome Center
and Chamber of Commerce in Emmetsburg, Iowa, deserves the trophy for Most
Copies Sold: Anne Sween at the Welcome Center first ordered three copies,
then six copies, then twelve copies, twelve more copies, twelve more copies,
then twenty-four copies. Then she ordered twelve copies of my book of
poems, Middle Ground, because people have started asking for it as well.
Sales in Emmetsburg might have been propelled by the fact that columnist
Myram Tunnicliff has mentioned the book at least six separate times in
the local paper.
· This past fall Prairie
Home Companion asked me for an excerpt from Curlew:Home to post on its
web site. I authorized them to use "Her Most Perfect Day Ever."
To read the piece, visit:
www.prairiehome.org/private_wobegon/montag_010915.shtml
· In early December
I was interviewed by "Jake the Bartender" on the Wisconsin Public
Radio program Hotel Milwaukee, and I read an excerpt from Curlew:Home
- "Why I Don't Hunt." You can listen to the interview and reading
at:
www.hotelmilwaukee.com/6098.htm
· In November and December,
I started a series of readings and book signings in Wisconsin. The first
stops have been local - Ripon, Fond du Lac, Princeton, and Montello. After
the holidays I expect to move north and south and east and west from here
to visit other Wisconsin libraries and bookstores.
· Starting sometime in January, 2002, Iowa Public Radio station
WOI-FM in Ames will read Curlew:Home on its "Book Club" program.
Readings can be found at FM 90.1 in Ames/Des Moines, FM 91.1 in Fort Dodge,
FM 90.7 in Carroll, AM 640 across Iowa, and on the internet at www.woi.org.
READINGS, BOOK SIGNINGS, CLASSES
I'm happy to make arrangements for readings, book signings, classes, etc.
See the information on readings, presentations, and workshops elsewhere
on the Vagabond web site for more information, or contact Tom Montag at
P.O. Box 8, Fairwater, WI 53931 - Ph: 920.346.5235. tmmontag@dotnet.com
CURLEW LETTERS
Since Curlew:Home was released, I have been receiving letters from
readers:
Sally Jo (Graff) Jordan, a
grade school classmate: "I finished reading your book yesterday and
enjoyed every page. The chapter about St. Mary's was quite enjoyable.
I had forgotten about the blue benches [we learned to read on]. But the
rest was ingrained in my memory. Remember Sister Phillipine? She always
took a 'nap' in class after noon recess? And all the rosaries we made
in her class for the missions?"
Mary Ellen Leners, librarian
at Emmetsburg Public Library: "A trip to the old homeplace recalls
childhood memories in elegant essays, full of rural nostalgia. If you,
too, were from Curlew, Iowa you will recognize it anew, and if not, just
enjoy the picturesque ride. I did."
Ruth Koerner of Hampton, Iowa:
"I don't write fan letters very often, but after reading this delightful
book, I had to tell you how much I enjoyed it.... Your choice of words
and phrases created instant replays for me. I also liked your 'then and
now' approach to the subject. Thanks for painting such poignant memories
through the beauty of words."
Darlene Hankey of Emmetsburg
wrote to say she works for the dentist, Dr. Welsh (called Walsh in the
book), who took 150 chickens from my parents in trade for dental work
back in the 1950s. Dr. Welsh is still practicing. Hankey also said "I
have coffee with a group of ladies in the mornings and have also heard
them talk of your book and what interesting reading it is."
Pastor Rod Wetzig of Stillman
Valley, Illinois: "I just finished reading your book Curlew:Home.
Thanks for the awesome memories. You see, we were [what in the book you
called] the 'Holy Roller' family who lived in the old school house! Actually,
we were members of the Baptist Church in town, and that church was anything
but 'Holy Roller'.... What really struck me was the fact that we could
live in the same town for more than 2 years and not really know each other."
Wanda Sabby heard me reading
from Curlew:Home at the Estherville Library in October, bought a book,
then sent me an e-mail in November: "I have now finished Curlew:Home.
As far as the content of the book is concerned, I wouldn't have needed
to read it. It could nearly be my autobiography - growing up in rural
and small town Iowa during the 1950s and 1960s with eight siblings. But
I enjoyed the trip back all the same."
Bob Lane, Oshkosh, Wisconsin:
"That's a little gem of a book you've written, Tom - a nice gentle
look at a bygone time, an era, a place, a way of living, thinking, all
of which would fade if not for someone to record what it was like....
I bet your dad is positively glowing about the book. What a memorable
and beautiful way to mark his eightieth birthday."
Elaine Cavanaugh, another Wisconsinite:
"Tom, it was a privilege to read your essays and journey. Your tribute
to family caused me to think of my own grandparents and their parents....
Anyone who loves poetry, essay, and a good story will enjoy your book
immensely. Yes, it is a lovely book and a little regional treasure."
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It
is shelling corn that Montag remembers. And butchering chickens. It is
the big, gaping yawn of a Sunday afternoon when time stood still. He remembers
breaking his sister’s collar bone, killing rats, plowing at night.