this is a good story about a sleepy little crossroads in Mississippi and ...
935548
Don't worry about the language, this is a good story about a sleepy little crossroads in Mississippi and there is no innuendo.  It is an accurate account of how Black people were treated 80 years ago.  The "N" word is ONLY USED ONCE.  The "obscene" part is how the Colored Folks were treated by whites.  The White narrator likes everyone and he struggles with the racism as well as the 'karma' dealt out at the end.  Good story, Good for children to read.
4268685
A good story about the Low Country growing up and some rouge guys who got caught.
3756817
A nice story of a gal from Tennessee, getting out of town following the death of her cousin. She is divorced and not looking. She rents a house by the beach up in Massachusetts. The guy who owns the beach house is a widower, and they become smitten in short time. I enjoyed the tale!
4965212
I know this is a children's book but I bought it because it looked interesting and I live close to Memphis.  I am old so I recognized many things and places described by the protagonist.  The story was well written, concise and a good story that was not predictable.  It was not "dumbed down" for children which made it interesting for older readers.  I hope Mr. Vawter  continues to publish more books.  I'll be watching for them.
2186705
This was a good little story.  I didn't realize that the story was less than 75% of the book though.  I read it in just a couple of hours.  That said, the story was something that held my interest and was a little bit of an escape.  Even short entertainment is fun.  :)
1204129
This book is well crafted. The author, through his well crafted words, has given us the slow relaxed way of life in rural Mississippi. When I first started reading the book it felt too slow and I wasn't sure I would to finish it, but I really liked the characters and the storyline, so I kept reading and I'm glad I did. The method of slowly developing the plot suited the locale and the characters. The author utilized dialect and phonetic spelling of certain southern pronunciations , but it is not distracting or overdone. Over all this is an excellent book and I highly recommend it.
2520054
Interesting story about the Natchez Trace and one woman's difficult and long walk.  She had her father and then her mother come along for parts of the trail walk which provided some sparks and laughter along the way.  This is a true story.  It is a part of the country that is not very well known and deserves more attention.
1780598
Good story set in a part of the country that is not often in the forefront of our thoughts, but maybe should be.
1080658
This story encompasses much of life in the south in the 1960s.  While there is some strife and conflict, most of the story is positive and upbeat which makes for an enjoyable read.

Missing Isaac is billed as a coming of age story, which I do believe it is, not only for Pete but for his love interest, Dovey.  The story follows Petes life from about 11 to 17 and how he reacts to the passing of his father; his friend Isaac that goes missing; and meeting the love of his life by chance while searching for his friend Isaac.  For Dovey, it is finding love; singing in public (church) and realizing that perhaps there is more to life than what she experienced growing up on the Picketts farm.  I found it interesting that since the book was set in the 1960s and in the south, that there not much mentioned about segregation in the town of Glory.  There is mention of visiting Tandys for ribs and Pete experiencing the blues for the first time, but any other mention was fleeting.

The book is also billed as Christian and there are many hymn lyrics quoted and of course there are events held at the Baptist church.  This seemed very appropriate because I associate Baptist and the South together.  There are some gentle pokes at the Methodists during an event, but nothing out of line.  In fact, most of it is treated as a joke from the pastors comments and it felt like it was in fun and not meant to be derogatory.

In small towns you can expect most of the families to be related in one respect or another  if not by blood then by friendship which is as strong as a blood relationship, if not stronger.  This is the sort of town I wouldnt mind residing because people look out for each other and it isn't because they feel obligated, but because it is taking care of family (blood or otherwise).  Ned Ballard is a strong patriarch and his kindness shines throughout the book.

This book also has a little bit of a mystery  what happened to Isaac?  I won't spoil it, but it is revealed what happened the night he went missing.  And I was surprised, but not surprised at the turn of events and those involved.  Seems like those that feel entitled do so no matter the decade.

Overall we enjoyed the slower pace of this book, the love stories and the mystery and give it 4 paws up.
405658
A story of life in rural Mississippi after WWII spotlights the characters in two families--one white, one black--and depicts the troubling issues of the times.

Narrated in the voices of six characters,&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Mudbound/dp/B003I1WY20/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Mudbound</a>&nbsp;thrusts the reader right into the midst of their lives, with the back-breaking work of farm life and the intimate portrayal of what it felt like in the Jim Crow era of the South.

Laura marries late for the times (in her thirties), just when she thinks her life will be all about spinsterhood and her work as a teacher.  Henry is also college-educated, but at some point shortly after their marriage, his desire to own land surfaces.  And the hardships, resentments, frustrations of this new rural life surround her, even as the poignant losses of her previous life fill her thoughts.  But she strives to be a good wife.  Which is not easy, since Henry's cranky, frustrating, and sometimes evil father joins them on the farm.

One solace comes in the form of Jamie, Henry's charming younger brother, who really notices her.  In ways that Henry does not.

Florence and Hap are sharecroppers who become a necessary part of their lives; at times, Florence becomes a confidante and a comfort to Laura.

When Hap and Florence's son Ronsell comes home from the war, the troubles begin.

What secrets hide within Ronsell, Jamie, and finally, Laura...and what harsh realities of the times soon descend upon each of them?  How do they deal with what happens next, and will any of them recover?

In many ways, I am reminded that the setting of Mississippi had been the seat of much violence in the years to come, especially during the 1960s when social change began to make an impact.  While these characters and their voices tell us much about the times, they also reveal a great deal about family, hardship, and dreams.

This was a very quick read, since I loved each of the characterizations.  The absence of a voice for "Pappy" felt very right, too; he was the least likeable character and symbolized the evils of a time we must never forget.  A definite five star read recommended for those who enjoy great writing, issues of social change, and wonderfully complex and layered characters.
4007518
This is a book that will be enjoyed primarily by those of us who can relate to living in a small town.  As a native Georgian, I don't understand why the author didn't check out her geography a bit more.  If the Tennessee River were in Georgia, we wouldn't have the water problems that we do in the Atlanta area!
463397
Yarbrough's description of a small, west-Texas town and its citizens brings back memories of the few visits I made to that part of the country.  Although his story entertains, it is his description of the characters that holds your interest.  If you have never visited rural Texas, this novel will take you there.
1625347
The author takes you along and makes you feel like you're there and that was interesting. Only problem is in the end portions of the story were taken out of context which was a letdown for me. I was expecting more stories of other people that had been blindsided by this horrific storm. I think about that every time I hunt on the Mississippi as I hunt in the same area where this took place.
648648
I liked this story but I didn't love it. The story is an example of how small town politics and rumors can ruin someone if they don't find a way to escape the small town. For those that are lucky enough to escape, the small town can somehow wiggle it's way back into your life if you let it.
3429912
There is a reason why this book was not published until recently. Lee is at her best when describing life in a small town. The conflict in this story is more nuanced than in To Kill a Mocking Bird. But, at the same time Lee seems a bit more preachy in this book and less kind to her characters.
141890
Moody, dark and a bit witchy, GODS OF HOWL MOUNTAIN carries us to eastern North Carolina right after the Korean War when moonshine and big American cars set the scene.  Of course, folk medicine and internecine battles between folks running moonshine, their competitors, and the law really define this tale that the author delivers in a pitch perfect style.  The characters are so alive they seem to reach out from the pages.  And these characters have a lot going on,  only half of which they are aware of; the other half is a work in progress.  That work is the topic of the novel as the story moves forward.  Its a good tale and well worth reading.  I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley.
2231843
"Libby Norstad and her friend Caleb try to help fugitive slave Jordan escape to the free northern states before Jordan's former master can find him and claim him under the recent Dred Scott ruling."

I did not read the first book in the series, maybe that is why I had a hard time really getting into this book. I like the geographical setting for the story, it reminded me a little of Tom Sawyer/Life on the Mississippi.
This is a cute and touching story for middle school aged children with enough adventure to keep even rambunctious boys reading.