The Man Who Ate the 747

This is a story of the greatest love, ever. An outlandish claim, outrageous perhaps, but trust me-- And so begin the enchanting, unforgettable tale of J. J. Smith, Keeper of the Records for The Book of Records, an ordinary man searching for the extraordinary. J.J. has clocked the world's longest continuous kiss, 30 hours and 45 minutes. He has verified the lengthiest single unbroken apple peel, 172 feet and 4 inches. He has measured the farthest flight of a champagne cork from an untreated, unheated bottle 177 feet 9 inches. He has tasted the world's largest menu item, whole-roasted Bedouin camel. But in all his adventure from Australia to Zanzibar, J.J. has never witnessed great love until he comes upon a tiny windswept town in the show more heartland of America, where folks still talk about family, faith, and crops. Here, where he last expects it, J.J. discovers a world record attempt like no other: Piece by piece, a farmer is eating a Boeing 747 to prove his love for a woman. In this vast landscape of cornfields and lightning storms, J.J. is doubly astounded to be struck by love from the same woman, Willa Wyatt of the honey eyes and wild blond hair. It is a feeling beyond measure, throwing J.J.'s carefully ordered world upside down, proving that hears, like world records, can be broken, and the greatest wonders in life can not be qualified. Richly romantic, whimsical, and uplifting, The Man Who Ate the 747 is a flight of fancy from start to finish. It stretches imagination, bends physics and biology, but believe it just a little and you may find yourself reaching for your own records, the kind that really count. Written with tenderness, originality, and insight, filled with old-fashioned warmth and newfangled humor, it is an extraordinary novel, a found treasure that marks the emergence of a major storytelling tale. show less

This is a sweet, light and entertainingly original little romance that takes place in the small Nebraska town of Superior, Nebraska where a besotted man, Wally Chubb, is eating an entire 747 (that just happened to fall into his cornfield) in order to show town journalist Willa Wyatt the depth of his love for her. When Keeper of the Records, J.J. Smith, who has spent a lifetime recording stunts, feats and attempts for the renowned Book of Records, receives an anonymous letter regarding Wally’s attempt, he thinks this might be just the record to revive his slump and save his beloved career. Little does he realize that stepping into the town of Superior will change his perspective on life forever. He’ll be swept off his feet, show more re-evaluate his life choices, and crush and revive hope in the town’s people all within a few weeks. Sherwood’s tone is light, quirky and sweet. The story slides down like a cool sorbet between courses. show less

How far would you go for someone you loved? We've all heard people state that they'd lie or die for a loved one, but would you eat a Boeing 747 jet plane?

Such is the case for Wally Chubb, a man on a mission to garner the attention of Willa Wyatt, the town's newspaper editor. Wally has been in love with her ever since she was the only schoolmate to attend his tenth birthday party--and now that he wants her attention, wants her to see just exactly how far he'd go to gain her approval and admiration, a jumbo jet has fallen from the sky like manna from Heaven.

When J.J. Smith gets an anonymous letter summoning him to Superior , Nebraska , to meet a man attempting to eat a 747, he's not sure what to do. For The Keeper of the Records--the man show more in charge of verifying all records for The Book of Records (similar to The Guinness Book of World Records)--the thought that someone would attempt to eat an airplane is intriguing. It's been awhile since he's found a great record, and his boss is starting to intimate that after fourteen years, J.J. is burnt out.

But John Smith, a small-town boy who got out as soon as he could, measures his life by the records that he verifies. He's seen greatness a thousand times over, and in turn felt justified in living a life of little emotion, of little love. Until he pulls into Superior , Nebraska , and witnesses "the greatest love, ever."

THE MAN WHO ATE THE 747 is a testament not just to how far a person will go for someone they love, but how a town reacts to momentary greatness, how it recovers from loss, and how you can find love in the strangest places.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and if you did, too, I would recommend Ben Sherwood's second release, THE DEATH AND LIFE OF CHARLIE ST. CLOUD. show less

It's unfortunate that so many of the words that come to mind to describe this book - sweet, charming, touching, quirky, whimsical - seemingly belittle it, because it deserves only the highest praise. Sherwood has created an engaging tale about achieving love and greatness in our frequently incomprehensible world.
"This is the story of the greatest love, ever." So begins The Man Who Ate the 747 and the narrator, J.J. Smith, "Keeper of the Records" for the Book of Records, ought to know. He has spent his entire life searching for and recording world records, from the longest kiss ever to the world's largest menu item, to the man hit most by lightning. Then he receives a letter about a man, his life. Wally Chubb, in Superior, Nebraska,is show more eating an entire 747, that crashed on his farm. And why is Wally doing this? So that the woman he loves, and has loved since he was ten, Willa Wyatt, will finally notice him and just maybe love him back. This would be the biggest and best record, yet. Off J.J. goes to Nebraska, for what will become the greatest adventure of his life. show less

This is a simple, quick book. Don’t go in looking for soulful revelations; insight to the greater workings of man; or the answer to life, the universe, and everything. (We already know the book that answers that last question.) This is, basically, a (and I absolutely loathe this term) summer read. With that epithet past my lips, let me add that it is a fun read, though flawed. It relates that story of a man who, for love, is eating a 747 (hence the title – pretty clever, huh?) that has crash-landed on his farm. (Plot point problem number one – you just have to get over some of these – and, no, I’m not going to enumerate them all.) But the story is actually focused on a man who verifies world records (for a thinly disguised show more Guiness World Record type book). His story is thin. The love story is thin. The town is thin. And the whole thing is just this side of implausible. Yet, it is still a nice enough story. I finished it, didn’t hurl it through the airplane (easy enough to finish on a flight from Kansas City to Phoenix), and felt satisfied that the book accomplished what I expected. Somewhere I heard (or maybe I read it on the blurb) that this has been optioned for a movie, and that may be the root of the problem with the book. It feels as though it has been plotted and charactered to be the next date flick. And, you know, it might do well. And Sherwood does his work well – enough that, while I’m not going out of my way to find another of his books, I wouldn’t run away if one wandered across my path. All and all I’ve spent a lot of words saying, “If you want something quick to read, you’re tired of Camus, there’s nothing else really pressing, and you’re smart enough not to waste your time on DaVinci Code, then you might enjoy this.” show less

Booktalk: How far would you go to show someone you love him or her? Tattoo her name on your arm? Convert to you true love's religion? Eat a whole Boeing 747 airplane? Thats what Wally Chubb is doing. He's been in love with Willa Wyat ever since she was the only guest to show up at his 10th birthday party. They're grown now, but Willa's still not his girl, and the best way he can think of to get her attention is to eat a 747. So far he's eaten his way through the front of the aircraft, from the nose cone to the cockpit,past the wings all the way to the tail. That's when JJ Smith shows up. He works for the famous Book of Records. His job is to witness and certify records like the longest kiss or the loudest snore. And now he's here show more because he heard about Wally. The trouble is, while he's in town, JJ also falls in love with Willa Wyatt. Will Wally finally get his girl? Will he finish eating the 747? Or will JJ ruin Wally's lifelong dream? The story of the greatest love is THE MAN WHO ATE THE 747. show less

Words that spring to mind regarding this book are harmless, cute and whimsical. It's an audacious premise but one that is rendered quite plausible in this easy, entertaining little story. There's a wonderful moment where the man in question rejects a can of coke, asking if there are any metal shavings to go with it. A sweet little tale with a lot of heart.

On a personal note I was able to feel smug that I'd met one of the world record holders mentioned in passing (World's biggest bubble blower, Invercargill, New Zealand) - no doubt plucked from the Guiness book of World Records by the author.