Bedlam at the Brickyard

Stewart, Brenda R., and Wanda Lou Willis, eds.  Bedlam at the Brickyard. Indianapolis: Blue River Press, 2009.

ISBN: 978-0-9819289-9-9

Available: Paperback

I know you are not supposed to judge a book by its cover; however, that is exactly what I found myself doing when I opened the latest package from the Indiana State Library's (ISL) Talking Book and Braille Library. While the artwork for Bedlam at the Brickyard was supposed to convey “bedlam, bafflement, and bewilderment at the Brickyard 400,” it screamed amateurish, cartoonish, crap dead ahead. However, I decide to proceed on with the project with an open mind.

The first real story in the anthology, The Ballad of the Midnight Travler by S.M. Harding, was interesting enough to keep me reading, but it seemed like a long stretch to the next well written and pleasantly surprising tale, A Crowd Pleaser by Marianna Halbert.

After completing the book, I would have to state, in all fairness, that the book took me on a “rollercoaster ride” with boring historical accounts like Winners of the Brickyard 400 in the lowest points and Picture Perfect by Victoria A. Stewart at the highest peak. I would place most of the stories in that jerky, bumpy area in the middle.

If you are not a huge fan of NASCAR (and I certainly am  not) then this book is probably not for you. However, if NASCAR racing is your “thing” then you might enjoy some of the stories in this book. That is why my recommendation is for:

Public Libraries

All other types of libraries can definitely spend their money more wisely.