Rating: 
Summary: Charming character, charming book
Review: Much like its predecessor Run With The Horsemen, The Whisper Of The River is a delightful read if you accept it for what it is - a thoroughly entertaining, unpretentious novel that makes no claims to be more than that. Ferrol Sams is a talented storyteller with a gift for developing characters and settings rich in authenticity. In this novel, the second in Sams' trilogy, Porter Osborne, Jr. entertains us with his college years, full of new friendships, coming-of-age experiences, and fraternity pranks. The novel introduces an impressive cast of entertaining characters, including a crude, football-playing roommate, a pretentious French professor, and a spirited, jovial cafeteria employee. Porter forms special bonds with each character he encounters, and it is these friendships that form the heart of his college years.My one and only complaint is the same one that I had with the first book in the trilogy. The writing lacks any sense of realism, and feels a bit too sugar-coated. Porter is constantly doing good, and rarely experiences setbacks or hardships. Sams would have done well to take some risks in his writing. Instead, he chose the easier approach of simply creating a pleasant read.
Rating: 
Summary: Best coming of age book from south of Boston
Review: Sams book is the best coming of age book short of Catcher in the Rye. While it lack the raw cynicism of Salinger's classic, it puts forth, at least to me, a more shared experience. The entire trilogy needs to be read but this book is clearly the best. You'll laugh, cry, ache inside and change when you read this book.
Rating:
Summary: "A humorous, wise account of a Southern boy's growin' up."
Review: Sams' tale of Porter Osborne's road to maturity is nothing short of a Southern masterpiece. You will be enticed by the pranks and shortcomings that Porter brings to Willingham University as a younger adolescent and will be proud of Porter as he matures throughout his college days. The Whisper of the River is full of Southern flavor, yet universal, as it contains elements of relationships and society that make you think, philosophy and religion that make you wonder, and childhood and growing up that make you reflect. Whisper is a pleasure to read.
Rating:
Summary: Quintessential Southern Literature
Review: The second in Sams' series, The Whisper of the River accurately, humourously, and poignantly narrates a boy coming of age in college. In the shadow of war Porter Osborne grows not taller but stronger and wittier. He taught me how to "get even", innocently; he also taught me that it was quite all right to be an intellectual. Porter not only represents Sams growing up but also all Southerners who struggle daily with being good and right. An excellent, well-written book which keeps you bemused and rooting for the underdog
Rating:
Summary: WONDERFUL WRITING - GREAT STORY
Review: There was very little I did not enjoy about this book. The writing was great, characters were wonderful, it was funny, loved the story line and I could relate. I very much suggest you buy this one as you will want to reread it again and again. While younger people, i.e. 25 and below, will certainly enjoy it, I suspect that much of it's charm will be missed by some. Highly recommend this one.
Rating:
Summary: A Truly Fun Book to Read
Review: This book is the second book in Ferrol Sams trilogy about the adventures of "The Boy", otherwise known as Porter Osborne, Jr.. I read through the first entitled "Run with the Horsemen" and was bowled over by the wit, charm, hilarity, and just plain engaging writing style of the author. The first book ended suddenly at an event around graduation from high school and "The Whisper of the River" picks up shortly after as Porter prepares to go to the college his distant but beloved father went to. The events in this book are written simply as they happen and are to be enjoyed on that level. You are basically the 'fly on the wall' as the brilliant backwoods farmboy goes to college in the late 1930s. His adventures range from poignant to side splittingly funny (and it is hard to make me laugh) in a seemingly random way, but anyone who has lived on campus for four years will 'understand'. Porter learns much in and out of the classroom that he never knew existed back on his family's farm in rural Georgia. His campus time starts in the fall of 1938 so the events leading up to World War II and the ending of The Great Depression play active roles. If "Run with the Horsemen" brought smiles and enjoyment to you, you will absolutely not want to miss out on Porter's further adventures. I didn't think the mule named 'Pet' incident in the first book could be topped for screaming, side-splitting laughter, but Ferrol has several incidents in "The Whisper of the River" that may put you in the hospital from laughing til it really hurts! Sams is not Faulkner, but this is no beach fluff either. You will be much better for the effort. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: A Truly Fun Book to Read
Review: This book is the second book in Ferrol Sams trilogy about the adventures of "The Boy", otherwise known as Porter Osborne, Jr.. I read through the first entitled "Run with the Horsemen" and was bowled over by the wit, charm, hilarity, and just plain engaging writing style of the author. The first book ended suddenly at an event around graduation from high school and "The Whisper of the River" picks up shortly after as Porter prepares to go to the college his distant but beloved father went to. The events in this book are written simply as they happen and are to be enjoyed on that level. You are basically the 'fly on the wall' as the brilliant backwoods farmboy goes to college in the late 1930s. His adventures range from poignant to side splittingly funny (and it is hard to make me laugh) in a seemingly random way, but anyone who has lived on campus for four years will 'understand'. Porter learns much in and out of the classroom that he never knew existed back on his family's farm in rural Georgia. His campus time starts in the fall of 1938 so the events leading up to World War II and the ending of The Great Depression play active roles. If "Run with the Horsemen" brought smiles and enjoyment to you, you will absolutely not want to miss out on Porter's further adventures. I didn't think the mule named 'Pet' incident in the first book could be topped for screaming, side-splitting laughter, but Ferrol has several incidents in "The Whisper of the River" that may put you in the hospital from laughing til it really hurts! Sams is not Faulkner, but this is no beach fluff either. You will be much better for the effort. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: A Truly Fun Book to Read
Review: This book is the second book in Ferrol Sams trilogy about the adventures of "The Boy", otherwise known as Porter Osborne, Jr.. I read through the first entitled "Run with the Horsemen" and was bowled over by the wit, charm, hilarity, and just plain engaging writing style of the author. The first book ended suddenly at an event around graduation from high school and "The Whisper of the River" picks up shortly after as Porter prepares to go to the college his distant but beloved father went to. The events in this book are written simply as they happen and are to be enjoyed on that level. You are basically the 'fly on the wall' as the brilliant backwoods farmboy goes to college in the late 1930s. His adventures range from poignant to side splittingly funny (and it is hard to make me laugh) in a seemingly random way, but anyone who has lived on campus for four years will 'understand'. Porter learns much in and out of the classroom that he never knew existed back on his family's farm in rural Georgia. His campus time starts in the fall of 1938 so the events leading up to World War II and the ending of The Great Depression play active roles. If "Run with the Horsemen" brought smiles and enjoyment to you, you will absolutely not want to miss out on Porter's further adventures. I didn't think the mule named 'Pet' incident in the first book could be topped for screaming, side-splitting laughter, but Ferrol has several incidents in "The Whisper of the River" that may put you in the hospital from laughing til it really hurts! Sams is not Faulkner, but this is no beach fluff either. You will be much better for the effort. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Opionion of the Book
Review: This is book two in a trilogy by Ferrel Sams. It tells the story of a farm boy from the south who goes to college. This book had me rolling over in laughter at times, and almost crying at others. Whisper of the River is the best description of life that I have ever read. If you have not read it already, I recommend that you do so as soon as you can get your hands on a copy
Rating:
Summary: Best coming of age book ever
Review: Why schools still mandate that student plod through that old New England tale of Holden Caufield and his stuggles is beyond me. Sams writes a fresh energizing book devoid of the cynicism of Salinger. I'd rather my children experienced the joys and pains of Porter Osborne, Jr. Of course I have insisted they read the complete trilogy. However, it was something they wanted to do once started. Of the three Whisper is chronologically and artisyically the centerpiece. Our educational institutions should wake up and discover Porter and his journey to define himself
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