Rating: 
Summary: A simple yet eloquent story
Review: This is one of those delightful books which have a large loyal following, but which you seem to discover on your own. Not to simplify the plot, it's about a boy growing up in the south in the early part of this century. But in that simplicity is the essence of this novel -- you experience the developing of his awareness of himself and his emotional, spiritual and physical environment. Sams' descriptions of people and places are vivid and eloquent, creating a cocoon of believability in which the reader settles back and becomes a part of the story. This was his first novel, and I am savoring the anticipation of reading more of his work. Sams is a master storyteller.
Rating:
Summary: Best book I've read in a long time. I didn't want it to end
Review: This is such a beautiful story. I loved all the characters, especially the young boy. You just feel so good as you read each chapter. Would make a perfect gift to anyone who loves to read.
Rating: 
Summary: Coming of age in the South.
Review: This is well written account of a boy's journey thru high school in the rural South, in the early 1900's.By all means it is a rich accounting, peopled with some interesting characters and descriptive passages. I much prefer the mystery/action/thriller novels, so this moves rather slowly for me. However, it's a nice change of pace. Most realistic and contains great insight into the people, time and place.
Rating:
Summary: where's the story?
Review: Though I enjoyed reading this for the most part, I have to agree with another reviewer that the novel was not really a novel. In other words, it read like an interesting narrative. There was no real plot or anything to keep me turning the pages except my desire to finish it because (1) I bought the book (2)I respect Mr. Sams (3) I kept hoping it would surprise me.
Overall, the writing is very good; very sharp, descriptive, and fluent prose. The story, however, I found to be somewhat boring. I am often amazed at what passes for "superb novels." Seems everytime I read a "great" novel, I discover my fiction writing professor in college lied. The beginning did not really interest me, there was not real conflict set up, and there was a lot of telling instead of showing.
I was always told "how to" textbooks were useless. This book proves it.
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