Last Bus to Wisdom

Doig's final novel--what an incredible treat! I really hate to slap "coming-of-age" onto a book, because I know it turns many people off. It's a draw for me, but it must be well done. Doig did it as well as anyone, and he did it many times over.

Donny Cameron, a/k/a Red Chief, is an orphan, and he's on the road, not by choice. His custodial grandmother needs a serious operation, and feels she has no other option but to put him on the Greyhound to spend the summer with her sister while she recuperates. It's 1951, when the idea of sending an unaccompanied 11-year-old on a 1600 mile bus trip with a change of clothes and traveling money pinned inside his shirt pocket might have raised some eyebrows, but was apparently not as unthinkable as show more it seems now. Along with his hand-me-down wicker suitcase Donny has an autograph book, a slew of instructions from Gram, and a gift for invention that can kick into high gear at the drop of an innocent question. His traveling companions are a varied and ever-changing lot, and he views them all as potential contributors to the collection of autographs he hopes will get him into Ripley's Believe it or Not one day. As it turns out, getting from Gros Ventre, Montana, to Manitowoc, Wisconsin, was the easy part. There Donny meets his Aunt Kitty and Uncle Dutch, a mismatched pair if ever there was one, and finds his summer is not going to be a barrel of fun. His initial reaction to Aunt Kitty is that she's really the great Kate Smith (same broad beam and remarkable bosom, same melodious voice---why didn't Gram ever say??), but after the disappointment of finding that to be an illusion, it's all downhill. And Uncle Dutch, a/k/a Herman the German, can't help much against the Kate and her house rules. But then... Well, let's just say Huck and Jim got nothin' on Snag and One-Eye, as Donny and Herman become on the road to Wisdom. Don't miss this bus.

I've seen Doig compared to Wallace Stegner, and LT cross-recommends the two authors. Aside from the Montana connection, I just don't get that. Stegner fails to move me, although I admire his skill with the language; every Doig novel I've read so far has delighted me from beginning to end. None of his characters are ever at the mercy of their circumstances. No matter how rough things get, they are resourceful in meeting the challenges. Good luck and bad luck crop up in about equal measure. Doig also handles the grotesque with a much lighter touch, and his world comes alive in a way Stegner's has never quite done for me. show less

Charming, humorous look at a bygone era [summer of 1951] through the eyes of a young boy, Donal, sent from Montana to visit his Great-Aunt and -Uncle in faraway Wisconsin, on the "dog bus" [i.e., Greyhound]. After a journey peopled by many eccentric characters and events, Donal reaches his relatives. The sheer bossiness and tyranny of his shrewish Aunt Kate, drive both him and the longsuffering Herman the German, as he gets to know his Uncle Dutch,--no Petruchio he--from the house and they head for the West, which Herman longs to see, having been immersed in Western novels. Outstanding were the sections on their visit to an Indian powwow where they meet a famous bronco buster and their visit to Yellowstone. They are introduced by hoboes show more to the hobo life. The story ended up giving me a warm glow. Doig is in top form here in this novel. show less

Very fun read about an 11 yr old boy's coming of age in 1950's. With his grandmother needing an operation, Donal is shipped off via Greyhound Bus to a great-aunt he's never met. With an active imagination, he meets all kinds of people, some kind and some harmful.
I like how Doig eventually ties in all kinds of random conversations and people by the end. What I did not like was the section in which Donal joins in a Fancy Dance. It would have been believable if he participated in a dance round open to the public, but not one in which selected skilled youth are performing. That was put in just as someone's wish fulfillment; the needed escape scene could have been managed another way.
I suppose the whole book could be seen as someone's escape show more from reality, their dream of freedom. Isn't that what a lot of fiction is?
But, we do see him struggling with defining right and wrong, and learning to discern people's goodness by their actions rather than their appearance. show less

This is one of my most favorite books to read anywhere. I can relate to so much in it. I was raised on a horse ranch in northeastern Montana, and began traveling alone by train to Wisconsin during the 1950s to spend part of each summer vacation with my sister's family. I never met the variety of characters that Donal encountered, but certainly encountered new experiences and gained a sense of independence along the way.
I think many of us have met some people similar to Donal's traveling companions throughout our lifetimes, or can just be entertained by the possibilities of meeting someone like them. One of the great things about traveling alone and being open to new acquaintances is the variety of life stories and places you hear show more about. It's impressive how helpful and kind strangers can be at times--and how cruel others can be. show less

I will miss Ivan Doig’s books so much! He left us a legacy of a beautifully written last novel. I keep saying trying to pick my favorite Doig book is impossible, but this ranks close to the top. Doig pulled my heart into the story of Donal, a 10-year-old orphan who must leave the ranch he loves and his grandma he loves to head to Wisconsin to live with a cold-hearted great-aunt and a timid great-uncle. A first kiss, a run in with a sheriff, and nearly having his luggage stolen comprise only part of Donal’s adventures on the Greyhound bus. When his aunt kicks him out and basically sends him off to an orphanage, his is surprised to find his western-novel loving uncle sneaking on the bus with him. And then the adventure really begins, show more turns out his great-uncle is a wanted man—he’s an illegal German alien, and in 1951 that isn’t a good thing. What a team Donal and his new-grandpa make. When they end up in Wisdom, Montana on a hay crew one hopes they have finished their bumpy ride and have found a home. I loved this book. Doig’s characters are endearing and memorable. show less

I did not think this was one of Ivan Doig's best novels. Since this is Ivan's final work I will place it on my bookshelf to read again. It is very likely that my enjoyment of the book has more to do with my current interests and activities versus the quality of the work.

In this attempt to read it, for a bookclub --(which is good because there is a deadline) I found the characters, plot, and dialogue just short of hooking me. I was bored. I must not be fond of corny humor -- or 400 pages of corny humor. Maybe next time I take a long bus or train trip I will dig out 'Last Bus to Wisdom' and place it in my suitcase. Who knows, maybe I will go to Montana and spend some quality time with Donal.

My respects to those that love the book and show more identify it as their favorite 'Doig' story. The Whistling Season, for me, will be hard to beat. show less

I've read a few of Doig's books, and enjoyed them all, but this one really shines. Told from the point of view of an endearingly innocent 11 year-old boy in 1951 who reminds me of a 20th century Huck Finn, this is a road trip with many twists and turns. It's a feel-good novel with nail-biting adventures, memorable characters, and lucky coincidences that cause everything to turn out well in the end.