Texas Curiosities: Quirky Characters, Roadside Oddities & Offbeat Fun

This is a strange book filled with interesting oddities and curiosities, all in Texas. After the death of the book’s author, John Kelso, the book was revised and Texas Curiosities became the fifth edition. For convenience, the book was divided into eight sections according to the geographic regions of Texas. It is profusely illustrated with photos (most of them are not very good). Who was this book written for? Possibly visitors to the state but also anyone who enjoys reading about odd things. Each description is rather brief and written with humor that not all readers will enjoy. Many end too abruptly; the descriptions are teasers but feel unfinished where the reader remains unsatisfied. The author (or revisers) preferred quantity to quality. Some are truly fascinating, some interesting, and many could’ve been omitted. With many described oddities, there is a web link and/or phone number, most giving exact locations. You’ll find descriptions like a seven-foot statue with a plate holding ribs, famous in his BBQ joint, or a street sign given the name Hairy Man Rd. The text includes many quotes, which is somewhat distracting.