Description

Fourth-grader Tim Thaler meets the mysterious Baron Lefouette. The two make a strange bargain - the Baron buys the boy's laughter, and in return gives him the magical ability to win all lotteries, bets and betting odds. Tim Thaler becomes rich, but soon realizes that life without laughter is a real torture. So he embarks on a long journey in search of his sold laughter. „Tim Thaler or the Sold Laugh“ by James Crews is a novel for young readers, but not only. A story about the precious and the priceless.

This story was told to me by a man of about fifty who, like me, had to supervise the printing of a book in Leipzig. The most interesting thing about this man was that, despite his advanced age, he could still laugh as sweetly and heartily as if he were a ten-year-old boy.

Who that was - I can only guess. The narrator and timing remain a mystery, as do many things in this story. I'd also like to mention that I recorded the story on the backs of large, scrapped printed cars. Because of this, the book is divided into cars, which are, however, nothing but their respective chapters.

I would also mention that the reader will not find much to laugh about when reading the part about laughter. But at the same time it has to be said that this journey through the darkness draws circles around the light.

James Crews