{"product_id":"9781416589495","title":"Parish the Thought","description":"Author: John Bernard Ruane\u003cbr\u003eISBN: 9781416589495\u003cbr\u003ePublisher: Gallery Books\u003cbr\u003eYear first published: 01 Oct 2008\u003cbr\u003ePages: 288\u003cbr\u003eFormat: Paperback \/ softback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eIn a warm and affectionate narrative that \"transports readers back to a time before cable television, cell phones, and the Internet\" (\u003ci\u003eAtlanta Journal-Constitution\u003c\/i\u003e), John Bernard Ruane paints a marvelous portrait of his Irish-Catholic boyhood on the southwest side of Chicago in the 1960s.\u003c\/b\u003e Capturing all the details that perfectly evoke those bygone days for Catholics and baby boomers everywhere, Ruane recounts his formative years donning the navy-and-plaid school uniform of St. Bede's: the priests and nuns; bullies, best friends, and first loves; and most memorable teachers -- including the miniskirted blonde who inspired lust among the fifth-grade boys but was fired for protesting the Vietnam War. Here are stories from the heart of his hardworking, blue-collar family: the good times and bad; sibling rivalries; summers by the lake; delivering newspapers in the frigid Chicago winter; the fire that destroyed the family home; and the loss of their beloved mother to cancer. And here are priceless accounts of Ruane's days as an altar boy: from an embarrassing bell-ringing mishap, to serving a strict pastor who built a magnificent church but couldn't inspire Christian spirit, to the Heaven-sent guitar-playing priest who turned worship around for a generation of youth.","brand":"Print on demand - Ships in 1 to 3 months","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46915729850526,"sku":"HPC-9781416589495","price":26.78,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0400\/9043\/5742\/files\/9781416589495.jpg?v=1780037029","url":"https:\/\/classicbargains.com.au\/products\/9781416589495","provider":"Classic Bargains Australia","version":"1.0","type":"link"}