Nights in White Castle

A Memoir

By: Steve Rushin

Narrated by: Greg Baglia

Picking up where he left off in his acclaimed memoir Sting-Ray Afternoons, Steve Rushin brilliantly captures a bygone era, and the thrills of new adulthood in the early 80s.
It begins in Bloomington, Minnesota, with a 13-year-old kid staging his own author photo that he hopes will someday grace the cover of a book jacket. And it ends at a desk in the legendary Time & Life building, with that same boy-now in his early 20s and writing professionally-reflecting on how the hell he got there from what seems like a distant universe. In between, Steve Rushin whisks us along on an extraordinarily funny, tender, and altogether unforgettable journey.
From a menial summer job at suburban Bennigan's, to first-time college experiences in Milwaukee, to surviving early adulthood in seedy New York City, this deeply touching odyssey will remind any reader of those special moments when they too went from innocence to experience.

Critic reviews

"Rushin's strength is his descriptive and playful prose."—The Minneapolis Star Tribune

"A joyful romp down memory lane."—Publishers Weekly

"A fun and nuanced coming-of-age story, Nights in White Castle offers a rollicking ride down memory lane."—Booklist

"Rushin's account captures many slices of life in a time fast receding into the depths of nostalgia. Survivors and fans of the era will find this to be a pleasing book of meaningful touchstones."—Kirkus

"[Rushin's] childhood, from the ages of 3 to 13, was perfectly encapsulated in the 1970s, and he celebrates the excesses and excitement of the decade with ardor.... Rushin's everykid upbringing and the touchstones of childhood he recounts make Sting-Ray Afternoons a fun-filled and charming trip."—Booklist

"In his funny, elegiac memoir Sting-Ray Afternoons, Rushin mines...ineffably familiar terrain with a sense of irony and deep affection, working hard to capture the look and feel of the 1970s...Much of what Rushin writes about - the Sears Christmas Wish Book, leaded gasoline, Johnny Carson's many vacations - will strike a chord with anyone who, like me, grew up in that era. What makes the book more than just late-baby-boomer nostalgia is the writing, which is knowing and funny."—Jim Zarroli, NPR

"Magnificent... You will not read a better book this summer - and maybe well into the fall and winter, too."—New York Post

"Sting-Ray Afternoons is [Rushin's] story of growing up in Bloomington in the 1970s. It's a lighthearted, sentimental look back at a Minnesota childhood with a twist of wryness... Rushin's told-with-a-smile stories of childhood are worth the trip: bundling into a snowmobile suit in winter, piling into the Ford LTD Country Squire for a cross-country summer vacation, making mild mischief with neighborhood friends, and one memorable disaster when nature called and wouldn't be kept waiting. All seen through that gauzy, yellowish filter that blurs memory with Dad's Super 8 movies."—Casey Common, Minneapolis Star Tribune

Super Awesome

I haven’t enjoyed an audiobook this much in a long time. I’ve been skipping podcasts to finish this. I loved the nostalgic trip through the eighties at Marquette University. I loved the embarrassing honesty. Mister Rushin sure has ways with words.

What a ride!

It has been a long time since I found a book so touching. I was born 8/66 and lived, most of not all of the same experience. If you are of a certain age you will laugh out loud.

A walk down memory lane of the 1980's

I loved Steve Rushin's first autobiographical book on his growing up in suburban Minneapolis, Minnesota. This book did not disappoint either, as this autobiography goes through his high School years and his college years at Marquette University in Wisconsin. I loved the pop culture flash backs, as well as the sporting references to iconic sports figures in the Minnesota sports scene, and then later, when he was a young intern at Sports Illustrated. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

another great book

Another great book from Steve Rushin - Follows up on the first book and overlaps well. cant say enough about the narrator too! Great book if you grew up in the 70's. Great listen - such a good book!

We need more books like this...outstanding.

I’m embarrassed to admit that as a sports-loving Minnesota native, somehow, Steve Rushin’s career with Sports Illustrated eluded me. A few months ago, a friend told me a short story I wrote reminded him of Rushin’s writing. I then bought “Sting-Ray Afternoons” on Audible. My friend was never more wrong. Rushin is a brilliant writer—now perhaps my favorite author. Steve’s uniquely adventurous upbringing converged with his vast writing talent to produce “Night in White Castle” one of my favorite books—ever. I’ve listened to it twice and purchased the hardcover. Eagerly awaiting his next book—hopefully where he shares stories about his career with Sports Illustrated.