How Long to Read Diary of a Hobo

How Long Does it Take to Read Diary of a Hobo?

It takes the average reader 2 hours and 13 minutes to read Diary of a Hobo by Bill Jodrey

Assuming a reading speed of 250 words per minute. Learn more

Description

Bill Jodrey was 19 years old when he realized what a burden he was on his family. It was 1932, in the midst of the Great Depression. On the spur of the moment Jodrey decided to hitchhike and hobo his way across the country with $20 in his pocket and no preconceived notions of what to expect. A good listener, he has a ready smile that makes him quick to like. Throughout his journey people of all ages, sexes and walks of life would open up to him. Much of what he writes in Diary of a Hobo is their story. It also is history--and his story, filled with the unexpected that included: · Surprisingly warm acceptance by most people along the way. · A few stays in jail. · Accidents and tragedies, including the near-beheading and death of a young boy. · A sudden sexual encounter. · Several jam sessions with him at the harmonica in freight cars or in hobo camps. · Several religious experiences. · The demeaning necessity of begging for food. · Two heart-rending encounters with parents who had lost sons his age. At age 84, mostly to keep a friend company, Jodrey became part of one of the earliest online community publishing groups. They called themselves the SilverStringers, because all were senior citizens, and they have been publishing the Melrose Mirror monthly since 1996 at http://silverstringer.media.mit.edu with the assistance of the MIT Media Laboratory. Jodrey tried his hand at a short story about a hobo episode, accompanied by a charming sketch, and got such a reaction that he wrote another and another and another. It was suggested he write a book. At age 86, he started and completed this 28-chapter book. (Sketch by Bill Jodrey) Humor is a natural part of Jodrey and of his stories, reflecting encounters with people, animals and insects along the way. Jodrey's smooth, understated style is well suited to telling the little-heard human, poignant side of the Great Depression. People who took to the roads and rails in the early 1930's generally did so out of necessity, as was the case with Jodrey. They had no jobs at home, and their families had no means to feed them. So they struck out, hoping to find better circumstances somewhere, anywhere. Hoboes later in the 30's tended to be a different breed: ruffians, radicals, prostitutes and misfits. The numbers swelled from thousands in Jodrey's time to as many as 1.5 million in the US only a few years later. People who met hoboes along the way often tended to empathize with them, Jodrey found. These people knew they could be in the same boat. Hoboes generally were treated with more openness and kindness than today's homeless. The non-hobo often was fascinated by what he or she perceived as the hobo's romantic lifestyle. The stories in this book are real. They are not overstated. They are a lens through which a little-told side of the Depression story is related, not from Wall Street, but from the highways and the byways of cities and small towns, from the prairies and the hills, in the diners and at the churches, in private homes, automobiles, trucks and freight cars. It is an uplifting depiction of a time when compassion was more than a word in a slogan. It is storytelling in the best sense of the tradition, because we learn so much by sharing in what Jodrey saw, heard and felt. What follows is a synopsis of chapters in Diary of a Hobo. CHAPTER 1 Jodrey discovers he has wanderlust at age 5. This chapter describes Jodrey's personality as a young man, including his love of the outdoors and of trains, and provides a couple of tantalizing stories about his later life as a hobo. CHAPTER 2 The youngest of seven, he tells of life growing up in a small city north of Boston. It's of fond memories and hard work until the realization comes at age 19 that he is a burden to his parents who can barely makes ends meet because of the Depression. CHAPTER 3 Jodrey gets a ride with two friends to Washington

How long is Diary of a Hobo?

Diary of a Hobo by Bill Jodrey is 132 pages long, and a total of 33,264 words.

This makes it 45% the length of the average book. It also has 41% more words than the average book.

How Long Does it Take to Read Diary of a Hobo Aloud?

The average oral reading speed is 183 words per minute. This means it takes 3 hours and 1 minute to read Diary of a Hobo aloud.

What Reading Level is Diary of a Hobo?

Diary of a Hobo is suitable for students ages 10 and up.

Note that there may be other factors that effect this rating besides length that are not factored in on this page. This may include things like complex language or sensitive topics not suitable for students of certain ages.

When deciding what to show young students always use your best judgement and consult a professional.

Where Can I Buy Diary of a Hobo?

Diary of a Hobo by Bill Jodrey is sold by several retailers and bookshops. However, Read Time works with Amazon to provide an easier way to purchase books.

To buy Diary of a Hobo by Bill Jodrey on Amazon click the button below.