Call number
FIC STY
Collection
Genres
Publication
Random House (1993), Edition: 1st, 142 pages
Description
In this brilliant collection of "long short stories, " the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Sophie's Choice returns to the coastal Virginia setting of his first novels. Through the eyes of a man recollecting three episodes from his youth, William Styron explores with new eloquence death, loss, war, and racism.
User reviews
LibraryThing member beckybose
Styron is simply a beautiful writer. Every word is used as if it’s his last and must not be squandered. He strips his characters back to the bones and forces you to feel the sting of life and death and what that means in each case through seemingly innocent and inconsequential anecdotes.
LibraryThing member JulieBaugh
I often find that one book leads me to another. In "Taken on Trust" Terry Waite had savoured every word of "Set This House on Fire" whilst being held hostage.
I was therefore keen to try this author and was able to obtain "A Tidewater Morning" from the library.
Styron was a pre-eminent American
I was therefore keen to try this author and was able to obtain "A Tidewater Morning" from the library.
Styron was a pre-eminent American
Show More
author, who seemed to me as eloquent as a modern day Shakespeare. Tidewater was the sort of classic book I would have studied at school, rather than necessarily something I would read for enjoyment. It consists of several short stories. He deals with some very difficult and disturbing subjects with beautifully expressed prose. Unfortunately I found it too disturbing and by the time I reached the third story, I found it too hard to continue and reluctantly gave up. Show Less
LibraryThing member labdaddy4
Few American authors write is such a stylized fashion. Styron is a "wordsmith" - so lyrical and descriptive. These three short stories are written from the perspective of a young man/boy a three critically different periods in his life. The themes of race, class, religion, approaching adulthood,
Show More
puberty, even life & death swirl through the pages. I do not know enough about the author to have a grasp of his personal beliefs but imagine these stories give a rather wide open glimpse into elements that helped him form his personal creed. Show Less
LibraryThing member CarolynSchroeder
This is such a beautiful novella in three parts, and felt much like a conversation with a man, learning about a few of the most poignant times of his life. There is something incredibly real and soothing about Styron's words. He is not particularly flashy or overtly skillful/technical, but just a
Show More
really great storyteller. I enjoyed each story equally. I will seek out other works by William Styron. Highly recommended. Show Less
LibraryThing member weird_O
Three long short stories make up this roughly 150-page book. All feature Styron's alter ego Paul Whitehurst; in each, Paul is a different age. In the first story, he's a young Marine, trapped aboard a troopship that's headed to Okinawa; the thousands on board are destined for an amphibious assault.
The second story, "Shadrack" tells of an ancient Negro who appears at the ramshackle house sheltering the family of 10-year-old Paul's best friend, Little Mole Dabney. The Dabneys are a family of nine—Vernon and Trixie and their boys Big Mole, Middle Mole, and Little Mole (ah, you have to read the story) and four girls As the story plays out, we learn who this man is, why he's there, and a good deal more about the Dabney family. And some Tidewater Virginia history.
The third story, set only two years after the second, depicts the protracted, painful death of Paul's mother. Cancer.
Show More
But there's a rumor circulating that the ship is part of a diversion force to mislead the Japanese about the exact location of the assault. As the men talk—what else is their to do?—they slowly sort out their feelings of disappointment and relief.The second story, "Shadrack" tells of an ancient Negro who appears at the ramshackle house sheltering the family of 10-year-old Paul's best friend, Little Mole Dabney. The Dabneys are a family of nine—Vernon and Trixie and their boys Big Mole, Middle Mole, and Little Mole (ah, you have to read the story) and four girls As the story plays out, we learn who this man is, why he's there, and a good deal more about the Dabney family. And some Tidewater Virginia history.
The third story, set only two years after the second, depicts the protracted, painful death of Paul's mother. Cancer.
Show Less
LibraryThing member ParadisePorch
(Fiction, Literary, Classic)
William Styron is one of those mid-twentieth century authors of literary fiction whom I’ve always meant to read. Tidewater Morning is a novella that I happened to have on Kindle which I had taken with on vacation.
Amazon says: “In this brilliant collection of ‘long
Styron’s prose is magical: calming, glowing. I loved this book!
4½ stars
William Styron is one of those mid-twentieth century authors of literary fiction whom I’ve always meant to read. Tidewater Morning is a novella that I happened to have on Kindle which I had taken with on vacation.
Amazon says: “In this brilliant collection of ‘long
Show More
short stories’, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Sophie’s Choice returns to the coastal Virginia setting of his first novels. Through the eyes of a man recollecting three episodes from his youth, William Styron explores with new eloquence death, loss, war, and racism.”Styron’s prose is magical: calming, glowing. I loved this book!
4½ stars
Show Less
LibraryThing member edwinbcn
Each of these tales, quite long short stories, is a well-crafted, finely poised story of American life.
LibraryThing member Chris.Wolak
I stumbled on this book at a local used bookstore. The title is what caught my eye--I love the Tidewater region. The three stories in this book contain some brilliant descriptions and imagery. I'm still pondering these stories and may read them again before offering a longer review.
Pages
142
ISBN
0679427422 / 9780679427421