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Pocatello ([email protected])

I just got my copy from Amazon yesterday. Great book! I've read the first three chapters. Two points I would make:

1) The book is well written. The words flow very well. One can tell that it's been put together by a professional writer.

2) As far as I can tell, the accuracy of the facts purported in the book, as well as the descriptions of the ups and downs of a giant pumpkin grower, are top-notch. I haven't found an error yet, and quite frankly, that's incredible! (Perhaps the Wallace's can find an error. If not, the book should be upgraded to "miracle" status.)

As a comparison, last year the local paper came out and did a story on me. With photos and side stories, it was an entire front page of the community section! But... as I read the story I was disappointed at the number of mistakes and inaccuracies. They attributed some quotes to me that I never said. Many of the numbers reported were just plain wrong. In fact I made my own tally, at least 25% of the "facts" on that page were entirely wrong.

It makes you wonder, if they make so many errors on things that you really have first hand knowledge of, how many other things that you read are inaccurate? That's why, at least so far, I'm holding Susan Warren's book in high regard. (Not to mention that she has my sister's name...)

9/19/2007 10:28:49 AM

Woodburn, Indiana

Brigitte, Christy and I are the ones that visited Wallace's patch in one of the chapters. We are from Michigan, Ohio and PA. lol. (Indiana, Wisconsin and Ohio in reality)

9/19/2007 11:19:42 AM

Massillon, Ohio

LOL i knew kelly would point that out. page 129 is where he is talking about. (he's just offended because of the michigan thing i think, but i would be too.. LOL.. go bucks).

susan did a great job overall though!!!!!

9/19/2007 11:57:18 AM

Utah

cliff you are right on... Susan did an excellent job on the book.
regarding error's ... been there and done that also ... that's why I don't believe anything I read in the newspapers or see/hear on the TV/radio news!

9/19/2007 12:21:30 PM

Rhode Island

susan loged thousands of miles between ri - pa - ohio - west coast-pacific northwest - etc. a lot at here own expense i might add.

she sacrificed a lot but she fell in love with the sportmansship and various characters she met in 2005 when covering a story for the wall street journal. so she spent the better part of 2006 between her wall street journal duties and running around gathering facts and quotes for her book

no one ever dreamed that ron and i would come in 1-2 in the world to complete her book. personally i was honored that someone (anyone) would want to include me in anything they were writing about ( unless it was a buffet eating contest --lol )

it was just one of those things that could not have even been scripted any better.

pap

9/19/2007 8:06:01 PM

Leamington, Ont.

The book was awesome! I read it over the weekend and had a hard time putting it down in between.

Definately a 'must read'

9/19/2007 9:22:04 PM

Connecticut, USA

Yes, her book is great! I am reading it now as well and I plan to put up a mini-review when I am done.

9/20/2007 5:07:25 AM

Rhode Island

im expecting to feature "backyard giants" in with our sngpg seed promo in november. not a definnate so dont bank on it. but thats the idea as of now
pap

9/20/2007 6:04:35 AM

Ri

I can tell ya the small bits regarding my family and my patch were spot on!! Not saying I like my daughter taping to keep me happy is a good thing LOL. The fence was definitely extortion as described in the book.**!!?**## Susan was great and her dedication the to project unmatched. PS Trying a more layed back approach in 07. TY Susan Peter Rondeau

9/20/2007 6:03:48 PM

Bristol,RI,USA.

As far as I am concerned Susan hit the nail on the head, she could not have picked a better bunch of people to Wright about. A lot of the people that I consider good friends are in the book and it truly show the style and class that make them special to me. I am proud of Susan and all who grace here pages. Her book “back yard giants” truly depict the reason why we all enjoy this crazy sport

Calcubit

9/21/2007 11:27:43 AM

Arlington

Aaaargh. Any mistake, no matter how small, is unacceptable and dismaying and, well, pretty much makes me want to crawl under a desk somewhere and hide. My apologies, Mr. Klinker. The most painful thing about that error is that a "check-locations" for that scene was at one point on my fact-checking list for the book, but that was one of the sections that ended up getting cut back rather dramatically, and somehow it got lost amidst the 57,472,631 other fact checks I had to do. I'm not sure why I thought u were from Michigan -- pure brain failure. But I am puzzled about the Wisc./Pa. -- I remember being told that tho Brigitte was from Wis., she was doing some kind of internship in Pa., and that's where you'd picked her up on the way to RI? But no matter. I meant no offense to Indiana. It is a noble, memorable state, I'm sure! (Folks: Thank you for all your kind words.)
Susan

9/21/2007 10:18:01 PM

Hingham MA

I, too, just finished Susan's book only a few days after purchasing it. As an editor, sports enthusiast, and fledgling pumpking grower, I was delighted with her ability to translate her research into a "can't-put-it-down" story. What started as a rainy day planting activity with my toddler quickly turned into hours and hours of work in the dirt (some days wielding a paring knife "scalpel" and expensive tweezers to dig out SVBs), excel spreadsheets, and hovering over the plants when I should've been asleep. I am still amazed at the willingness of strangers to answer my silly questions and it is that spirit that Susan captures so well in this peek into the world of competitive growing. Now I'm on the edge of my seat in anticipation of the creaking scales in early October. Good luck to all!

9/21/2007 11:05:59 PM

Rhode Island

susan your picture of me made me look fat. i want a refund
pap

9/22/2007 12:20:53 PM

[email protected]

It's not just a simple gardening exercise. Big Pumpkins are a way of life.

9/22/2007 9:08:28 PM

maine USA

Susan, you wrote an excellent book, I absolutely loved it. I had a very bad season this year and it made me realize that everyone has a bad year sometimes, ya just have to learn from your mistakes and hope for better luck and better weather next year. Great job. KathyT

9/22/2007 9:50:54 PM