Before Sister

Rating:
Summary: Why so many hillbillies became successful - A Momma!
Review: This is a story of a boy growing up in the Appalachian Mountains and being guided, directed and inspired by his mother to exceed expectations and in reality live her dreams. It is a story familiar to hundreds of people born in the hills and mountains of Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina and a dozen other states who broke out and through drive and support of their families became successful.
It is also a story, told in a series of short stories, of a time long past. These stories reveal the enormous benefits of growing up in a community where a child has grandparents, aunts and uncles and first, second and third cousins as well as parents to guide the process of growing up. A time of innocence and a time of comforting security not present in America today.
It also reminds one of Tom and Huck and other tales of a young boy growing up in another time in another America.
But, perhaps, most of all it is a tribute to a loving, energetic and inspiring mother. A woman who went to work in a cotton mill after dropping out of the sixth grade but who made sure that her children lived her dream of a better life through education.

Rating:
Summary: Why so many hillbillies became successful - A Momma!
Review: This is a story of a boy growing up in the Appalachian Mountains and being guided, directed and inspired by his mother to exceed expectations and in reality live her dreams. It is a story familiar to hundreds of people born in the hills and mountains of Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina and a dozen other states who broke out and through drive and support of their families became successful.
It is also a story, told in a series of short stories, of a time long past. These stories reveal the enormous benefits of growing up in a community where a child has grandparents, aunts and uncles and first, second and third cousins as well as parents to guide the process of growing up. A time of innocence and a time of comforting security not present in America today.
It also reminds one of Tom and Huck and other tales of a young boy growing up in another time in another America.
But, perhaps, most of all it is a tribute to a loving, energetic and inspiring mother. A woman who went to work in a cotton mill after dropping out of the sixth grade but who made sure that her children lived her dream of a better life through education.

Rating:
Summary: A book that grows on you and will grow in popularity
Review: This novel was written by a high achieving educator who has sritten a nmuber of technical and educational books. It is about growing up in the south during the 1930s and 1940s and has fascinating stories about coon hunting, playing ball, brushes with the law and getting paddlings in school but most of all it is about a boy and his mother. There are not many books that gives real insight into that relationship on a very holistic level but Wade Gilley who became America's youngest college president in 1967 at age 28 was inspired by his mother to always do his best...and more. The book could have used some additiional editing but surely it will receive that in a future edition.
Russell James

Rating:
Summary: A book that grows on you and will grow in popularity
Review: This novel was written by a high achieving educator who has sritten a nmuber of technical and educational books. It is about growing up in the south during the 1930s and 1940s and has fascinating stories about coon hunting, playing ball, brushes with the law and getting paddlings in school but most of all it is about a boy and his mother. There are not many books that gives real insight into that relationship on a very holistic level but Wade Gilley who became America's youngest college president in 1967 at age 28 was inspired by his mother to always do his best...and more. The book could have used some additiional editing but surely it will receive that in a future edition.
Russell James