Run With the Horsemen

Rating:
Summary: Truly An American Classic!!!
Review: A friend sent me a paperback copy of this book for a present recently. I had never heard of it before (I am a "Yankee" by birth) but, got around to reading it. (...) Ferrol Sams is one of the most witty and insightful storytellers I have ever read, and that includes Faulkner and Richard Ford! Anyone from age 14 on up who appreciates a great, fun read will absolutely love this novel. It is the first novel of a trilogy from this still writing Georgian author and doctor. You will feel the part of a kid again reading about the exploits of the brilliant but small "Boy" named Porter Osborne Jr. on his family's Georgia farm during the Great Depression. It doesn't matter what part of America you are from, you will love this brilliant example of true storytelling! BUY IT AND LET THE FUN BEGIN!!!

Rating:
Summary: Truly An American Classic!!!
Review: A friend sent me a paperback copy of this book for a present recently. I had never heard of it before (I am a "Yankee" by birth) but, got around to reading it. (...) Ferrol Sams is one of the most witty and insightful storytellers I have ever read, and that includes Faulkner and Richard Ford! Anyone from age 14 on up who appreciates a great, fun read will absolutely love this novel. It is the first novel of a trilogy from this still writing Georgian author and doctor. You will feel the part of a kid again reading about the exploits of the brilliant but small "Boy" named Porter Osborne Jr. on his family's Georgia farm during the Great Depression. It doesn't matter what part of America you are from, you will love this brilliant example of true storytelling! BUY IT AND LET THE FUN BEGIN!!!

Rating:
Summary: True voice of a son of the South
Review: Ferrol Sams writes all of his books with the affectionate yet honest regard of someone who truly knows the region for all of its beauty and ugliness. He shows how things were, and are, without being apologetic or condescending. He has the descriptive ability to make you see what he is telling you without being excessively wordy. And perhaps best of all, he can move you to tears in one chapter and have you gasping for breath with laughter in the next. He writes about real people, types we probably have all met, and makes them so real they nearly step off the page.

Rating:
Summary: I Laughed Outloud
Review: I always bought a lot of books in a local book store and , based on books I had purchased ,the clerk would occasionally recommend books she thought I would enjoy. She recommended Run With the Horsemen and I bought it. My husband and I always seem to read at night before falling asleep. This book turned out to be one that you couldn't put down. I would start laughing and couldn't stop. My husband read it as soon as I was finished. He reacted the same way. He said you'd think this would be a man's book (the author's service experiences) but even though the subject itself might not have caught my eye, the author has a way of writing that any avid reader would enjoy. I have since purchased the rest of his books and enjoyed them also.

Rating:
Summary: One of my All-time Favorites
Review: I first read this book ten years ago for my 12th-grade AP English class, and it still is one of my favorites. I have bought several copies, but I keep giving them to others to read, so again, I find myself buying another! Once you get into this book, it becomes a part of you forever, especially if you are from the South. While I was reading the trilogy, I found myself using Porter's language and seeing my world through his eyes. This novel is perfect for young adults who are beginning to appreciate good literature, but still need terrific story-telling to draw them in. It's also perfect for older adults who need to laugh and get a refreshing perspective on life.

Rating:
Summary: Engrossing and entertaining
Review: The style is relaxed, yet flows easily. Unlike so many other "remembrances" this writer doesn't get stuck in details. I especially appreciated the use of (undefined) southern slang, which made perfect sense in context. I picked it up at a used bookstore and it made me long for more of his style.

Rating:
Summary: Engrossing and entertaining
Review: The style is relaxed, yet flows easily. Unlike so many other "remembrances" this writer doesn't get stuck in details. I especially appreciated the use of (undefined) southern slang, which made perfect sense in context. I picked it up at a used bookstore and it made me long for more of his style.

Rating:
Summary: Run With The Horsemen
Review: This book, plus Sams' other two related to his growing up in Georgia, reminded me so much of my childhood and events that happened in my life. In places I literally cried with delight; others I just added an "Amen;" and when I got through I felt like Sams had written a story of my life! I couldn't put the book down once I got started. Then, when I did finish, I had to start on his other two that are actually sequels to this one. They're priceless, and in many places classically written.

Rating:
Summary: When doctors pretend to be writers...
Review: This is not so much a novel as it is a series of stories about the adventures of a young boy growing up on a southern farm during the Great Depression. It's a delightful read, full of humor and spirit - it would be the perfect book for a summer day in a field with a cool breeze blowing. But alas, it's not quality literature. Ferrol Sams knows how to entertain, but he hasn't crafted here a true novel. What I mean by that is that there is no real beginning, middle, or end. There's no climax, no denouement; instead, this is fiction that simply flows like a gentle stream. Less than halfway through it I realized that there was no real plot - each chapter simply presents a different aspect of the boy's life. Yes, it's a joy to read. Sambo, the boy, is a charming main character, albeit far too nice and good-natured to be a truly believable farm boy. Through his experiences in school, on the farm, in town, and at home with his family, we get a close glimpse of life in the rural South in the early 1930s. And perhaps that's the point of the book. But in spite of its charm, the book lacks drama. The reader never wonders what's going to happen next, or how anything is going to be resolved. In fact, with the minor exception of his father's fondness for the bottle, and the occasional trouble that it gets him in, the boy's childhood is one triumph after another. After a while, it gets a little predictable. Will he win the county debate competition? Of course he will, just like he did last year, and the year before that. Will his watermelon patch be a success? Yes, indeed, and of course he will give a more than generous share of his earnings to his partner, to the church, etc., as that's just the kind of boy he is. All in all, this was a pleasure to read, but I think Sams missed out on an opportunity to create quality literature. I would recommend this book more to younger readers as a good summer read, but serious readers may be a bit disappointed by the lack of substance.

Rating:
Summary: Great Regional Writing
Review: This is one of the best American novels of the 20th century, and one of the greatest pieces of regional writing ever published. The details of growing up in Georgia during the depression, the attention to detail, the laugh-out-loud descriptions, and the unforgettable characters make this a classic. The first of three books in a series, this is the only one that is -er- "innocent" enough to recommend to the school board for inclusion in the curriculum (I should be read by every high school student). The other two are equally good but are more suitable for adult readers. Sams is as clever as Twain, as funny as Shepard, as sincere as Charles Kuralt and as connected to his roots as Faulkner. Highly recommended!