A SUMMER AGO

by George Scarbrough ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 1, 1986

Scenes from rural life in Tennessee comprise this first novel from the 70year-old poet. We experience one summer through the eyes of 11-year-old Alan McDowell, second son of a dirt farmer who drives a buggy (the time seems to be the 1920's). But this is a novel only in the loosest sense, for there is no plot, or fictional shaping of the heavily autobiographical material; and there are even precious few episodes in the rambling, repetitive catalogues of the creatures and flora and fauna of the secluded valley where Alan lives along with father Oscar, mother Belle, and older brother Lee. These are poor folks: they make their own soap, and have never slept On mattresses; once a year, they fill ticks with new straw. The major question for Alan through the summer is whether the sale of his bull calf in the fall will fetch enough for him to buy his schoolbooks. Yet the tone of the book (and this gives it an old. fashioned flavor) is one of piety and reverence for the farm, the valley and the boy's mother, a Ceres ""whose hands held in their small grasp all the true goodness of the world."" The reverence does not extend to his moody, inarticulate father, who does such a poor job of de-homing the calf that he almost loses it--and Alan's love; and while there is real tension between Oscar and Belle, it is always dormant, its dramatic possibilities left untapped. So summer winds down; Belle gives birth to a third son; the calf is sold for a goodprice, and Alan gets his schoolbooks. Slim pickings.

Pub Date: Oct. 1, 1986

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: St. Luke's Press

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 1986

Categories: FICTION