I, Wayne Gretzky

Rob Gordon

 

Author Rob Gordon’s pursuit to fulfill whimsical dreams finds the right track here in this humorous (and wondrous) work that is a schoolboy’s fantasies of grandiose feats and legendary misadventures fulfilled.  Starting off on the completely inspired way of having gotten high school classmate Wayne Gretzky to sign a document that gave Gordon the right to make the official biography of The Great One, I, Wayne Gretzky is a keenly observed exposition of certain humor-filled sections of Canadian society ripe for Gordon’s telling.

Gordon shows how outrageously wicked, fun stories are not confined south of the Niagara Falls with great verve here.  It is done with an invincible talent that will certainly convince the faithful that humor in the North American continent starts in the place where Gordon writes.  Yet a vein of great seriousness runs through the book, the same with all that are considered classics of comedy in world literature.  It tells of the sanguine, humane, and friendly people that the author has known – it is their viewpoint that makes the stories tickle readers and afterwards make them think with fresh perspectives on the many things that are held sacred and dear by society.

The positive effects of Canadian humor cannot be overestimated here.  Gordon gregariously welcomes readers to places and times unique to the culture of Canada.  He introduces them snowball season and free haircuts, and makes characters such as Johnny Luxton, Big Paul Lewis, and Ramsey the Sheep come alive, feathers to the funny bone.  Much of the book’s material comes from the author’s mischievous growing up years and the many ways he has learned to love and admire his country and its people.  It is this last element that makes the story shine beyond the fun and adventure of youth into trenchant pieces of life that anyone loyal to his country can admire very well.