Shaking the Nickel Bush

Skinny and suffering from diabetes, Ralph Moody is ordered by a Boston doctor to seek a more healthful climate. Going west again is a delightful prospect. His childhood adventures on a Colorado ranch were described in Little Britches and Man of the Family.

Now nineteen years old, he strikes out into new territory hustling odd jobs, facing the problem of getting fresh milk and leafy green vegetables. He scrapes around to survive, risking his neck as a stunt rider for a movie company. With an improvident buddy named Lonnie, he camps out in an Arizona canyon and "shakes the nickel bush" by sculpting plaster of paris busts of lawyers and bankers. This is 1918, and the young men travel through the Southwest not on horses but in a Ford aptly show more named Shiftless. New readers and old will enjoy this entry in the continuing saga of Ralph Moody. show less

I didn't much like this chapter of Moody's story. He's simultaneously perfect and hornswoggled, if one can imagine. His endless cataloguing of each and every breakdown of his piece-of-junk car grew wearying after the first breakdown. His patience with his wastrel companion was annoying, and the lack of resolution at the end was the last straw. I had a hard time reconciling the morally upright youth of the earlier books with this young man who is falsifying doctor's reports and lying to his mother at every turn. At this point, I'm glad there's only one more.

Because my husband is diabetic, I found that aspect of this book particularly interesting. In this day, insulin is a life-saver and I was amazed that Ralph was able to manage his disease primarily through diet and hard work and sunlight! As always , well-written and nice insights into life post-WWI.

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