Tin Lizard Tales: Reflections from a Train

By Schuyler T. Wallace

A train trip provides the opportunity to blow off steam. The author, while on a train trip through the United States and Canada, describes and comments on the people and places he sees. His reflections--sometimes critical, sometimes comical--are eye opening and wide in scope. The reader will enjoy Wallace's swats at thoughtless people, cringe at his depictions of animal cruelty, and laugh out loud at the personal predicaments he and his wife confront. Environmental stupidity, life in big cities, foolishness disguised as zealotry, terrorism, and political hacks are just a few of the topics he kicks around using the insight and common sense one might expect from an opinionated old man who's been around. Surprisingly, he also conveys warmth and unblushing tenderness--a threat to his crusty reputation.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1432712543
• ISBN13: 9781432712549
• Release Date: September 2007
• Publisher: Outskirts Pr
• Length: 348 Pages
• Weight: 1.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 0.8" x 6.0"

Customer Reviews

This book was a wonderful surprise!

This book is categorized as Travel/Essays. I never buy books on travel or essays.I've never been interested in hearing about someone else's trip or opinions. However, I have been interested in taking a train trip since we lived in Arvada, Colorado in the eighties and Amtrak went practically through our backyard. I thought this book might give me some insight to train travel. It did exactly that, and so much more. Mr. Wallace's book was a delightful surprise. It has everything. If he had taught my history classes way back when, I would have learned a lot more,and definitely would have enjoyed them more. The most pleasant surprise was his humor. It is my favorite type from a writer--low-key and natural;I didn't see it coming. I smiled, I chuckled, and sometimes I laughed out loud. I talked to myself, out loud,throughout the book: "Well, I'll be darned." "Wow!" "I didn't know that." There were even tears--especially in the chapter about the World Trade Center and the events of 9/11. I recommend this book as a fun, interesting, informational and educational read. I will be looking forward to more books by this author.

A totally unique approach to writing about travels.

If you have read other personal travel books and found them to essentially the same;you are in for a surprise with this one. Most travel books just talk about things the author encountered day by day during the journey and become somewhat tedious in the end;but not this one. Chief Wallace has a great lesson inbedded in this book.Just as much as the background,history,culture,roots etc.are essential in knowing anything about a person;even more so are these things important when travelling from one place to another. Although this trip with his wife took place in March and April 2004;the actual dates are not very important as virtually everything talked about in his book could be talked about,experienced and observed by anyone taking the same trip at this time in the history and development of both the United States and Canada. Though it would be totally impossible to cover every part of these countries in this amount of time;the approach taken by Chief Wallace could and should be taken by anyone who travels.What one should learn from this book is if one just travels from one place to another without thinking about the history and making the kind of observations that the author does ;would be akin hearing the score of a sports event,but not bothering to watch the game.After reading this book,maybe you will stop when coming to a place,and ask yourself a few questions such as,why is this place here?,why is it like this?,what has been it's past?, what is it known for?,what important things have happened here?,have any famous people come from here?, and on and on. Of course all these things can be observed without extensive travelling;but it is sure a shame to visit new and distant places,without even bothering to take time to look for these sorts of things. Chief Wallace does make a lot of comments on the service,food,hotels,travel,cleaniness,others travelling along with him,but when the trip is over, and all those aggravations are behind one,they become minimal and even humorous. The author reveals his feelings ,thoughts and ideas on many things as the trip unfolds. He really gets close to the reader in revealing his thoughts as he visited the WTC site, 2 1/2 years after 9/11. Chief Wallace has seen a lot in his very active life and makes many observations along the way. He writes with an open manner and when you finish the book;you can't help feel that you have come to knowing him,and would be honored to have a chance to meet him. Let's hope this is not the last book from Chief Wallace, as he is an excellent writer and must have many stories,ideas and thoughts to tell us.

AN HONESTLY WRITTEN BOOK. I LOVED THIS ONE. VERY ENJOYABLE!

What an interesting, enjoyable and honest read. I stress the honest part, because unlike so many "travel books" I read, here the author has told it like it is, sort of the good, the bad and the ugly kind of thing. Mr. Wallace, a retired Fire Chief and his wife set out on a journey across the United States, from the West Coast to the East, and then back again through Canada, traveling via train. Apparently the author and, I assume his wife, are in their seventies, which is pretty near my age, so I could certainly relate. Anyway, this is the story of their journey and as the title of the book would reflect, the author's reflections. It is sort of difficult to tag this book and place it in a particular genre. It is indeed a travel log, yet it is also the story of an adventure of two people. It is also a series of mini-historical lessons as the author lets us know a bit about each place they visit or pass through. This must have taken a great amount of hard work and research, and being a trivia fan, I loved ever word of it. It is also a commentary on the state of our country at this time, looking through the eyes of an individual who has obviously seen a lot in his life time. The author also makes some wonderful observations concerning his fellow travelers, the condition of the country side, and the services which were to be had here and there, or the lack of service, as the case may be. Mr. Wallace has an acute sense of humor and it shines through story after story. He is also a wonderful observer and his description of the country side is some of the best descriptive writing I've come across in quite some time. I liked this book. I like travel books, books that tell me something, give me information and entertain me. I could not ask for more with this offering. It is well written, well organized and easy to read and follow. The author, while not always being absolutely politically correct, dose call things the way he sees them and says it the way it should be said. Not much mincing of words found here. I find this very refreshing. I also like trains (there is a bit of little boy in all of us, you know) and found his commentary quite educational. Having ridden trains in the U.S. during from the early 1950s, to trains in Europe and the Mid-East, I have some familiarity with traveling via this mode so I was able to relate too much of what the author recorded. This was nice as there are few books out there where travel is done by train anymore. Another reason I appreciated this book, was its honest observations of train travel. My wife and I have been contemplating a similar trip. After reading this, I do not think we will be traveling via Amtrak anytime soon. I have to agree with another reviewer. Amtrak officials should give this one a close read and heed the author's observations, if they want to stay viable into the next decade or so. Thank you Mr. Wallace, for giving us a very personal, touching and entertaining re

Amtrak take note!

Great book for all train riders, or those who might like to do so. Tales of their travels move right along. Amtrak should read this. Mr. Wallace tells it like it is, and it isn't always as delightful as the Amtrak brochures would have us believe! Nice Christmas gift for anyone.

Great Travel/History Literature

Excellent travel read. Short chapters and subject matter keep the book moving. Everything you wanted to know about going cross-country by train(and some you didn't) Highly recommended.