Book Review: The Biscuit & Timely Tales

The Biscuit & Timely Tales. T. L. Needham. Outskirts Press, June 16, 2020, Trade Paperback and E-book, 164 pages.

Reviewed by Charles Kuner.

In The Biscuit & Timely Tales, T. L. Needham uses a mixture of art, poetry, factual stories, photography, and his excellent skill as a storyteller to weave together a living expression of his family. The reader can easily identify with the Needham family as they live and seek dreams that most Americans can easily recognize. Needham's writing style is sparse, simple, and straightforward, reflecting the people of whom he writes. The result is a clear and living portrait of the Needham Family, free of guile and secrets. 

The “timely tales” within this volume show that the family has simple and clear rules of conduct and behavior that are exhibited throughout and consistently reveal the old values of trust, independence, responsibility, love, respect, kindness, and morality. 

Additionally, there are ideas of hard work, empathy, and redemption, and the family bonds depicted reflect a philosophical humanism. Needham tells stories that embody universal experiences and feelings that are relatable and easily compare to the reader's personal experiences and families.

Time, its uses and misuses, is a thematic connection running through all of the stories, as is illustrated by the title and the cover photograph showing a man holding a “biscuit” or pocket watch. However, as used in these stories, time is more profound than merely checking the time of day. They include stories and poetry dealing with various kinds of time, such as wasting time as life’s meter is running, the time travel of memory, and running out of time. Throughout The Biscuit, time is of the essence, especially if we hope to make a difference and find accomplishment in our lives before our time is up, as there is no do-over and childhood cannot be regained, even for a night.

For the Needham Family, the suffering inflicted by living is part of their legacy, which leads to wisdom and strengthens familial bonds. In the long run, it is how we deal with the tougher aspects of living, which determines who we really are.

A secondary theme of this volume of stories is one of abstract mystical spirituality. The final story in the collection, “The Ring," deals with the circle of life. Here, Needham listens to his friends and family's spiritual guidance as he closes his own circle in the quest to be reunited with his family and his ancestors. A man goes from dust to dust and from the spirit world back to the spirit world—this is the metaphorical significance of "The Ring." Is this merely the author’s imagined and hoped for reality, or is it simply coincidental? Is it just something that Needham stubbornly wants to believe to be true? As Needham would say, only time will tell.

The success of this collection is in part due to its format. There is a cohesion that links quotations, poetry, factual stories, and photographs into a whole. This format gives a rhythm and flow to the memories with the poetry serving as prelude or overture to many stories. In this collection, everything has its place.

At this time in America, we need to feel solace, empathy, guidance, comfort, and a sense of justice. Needham’s collection of family memories and poetry helps to provide that solace and inspiration with its upbeat stories and lessons. The Needhams do not emerge from tragedy emptyhanded, but bonded to one another, as their factual stories emphasize the importance of family ties. They refuse to see people as tribal groups as they judge each person as an individual. 

Some of the stories in this collection moved me emotionally, and readers will find an affinity with this family. Considering the current hard times, the Needham family and their ancestors remind me of my beloved parents. We were poor and yet managed to survive on our love for each other. This book was a needed reminder of just how creative, tender, and kind human beings can be, and these are all exemplified by the Needham family.

We may not know how our current “Age of Anxiety” may end, but the Needhams teach us that we are not helpless puppets and that we can rise above the turmoil and survive these dark and rough times, as we have in the past. Shakespeare reminds us, “Those who make the worst use of their time most complain of its shortness.” The clock of life is always ticking, so do not waste the time given to you.