Tuesday, March 8, 2016

South of the Etowah - The View from the Wrong Side of the River

Idgie Says:
I have always found Raymond to be a lyrical writer.  His words flow so prettily and his characters become amusingly alive with their dialogue and quirks.  This collection of essays is different from his novels in that he is the star character of the book and the story is his life in chapters.   

Throughout the book Raymond maintains his amusing tone as he gently makes fun of himself and his various life events.  I found myself smiling and nodding in agreement through his discussion of raising children, forgetting their names, owning a home that frequently breaks, going to the Opera and so much more.  

A perfect book to leave out on the coffee table and grab a chapter or two with a coffee, or to carry in your purse (mine is always big enough to haul a book around in) for a few chapters at lunchtime. 

If you don't already know Raymond, you would more than welcome the opportunity to sit down and chat on the porch with him after reading this book. 

Page 9


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Mercer University Press
March, 2016

Novelist Raymond L. Atkins offers a lighthearted change of pace in this collection of humorous essays. 

He explores a diverse range of topics as seen from the porch of his home on the southern bank of the mighty Etowah River in northern Georgia. From this lofty height he holds forth on holidays, parenthood, cars, home ownership, aging, travel, medicine, technology, ballet, movies, marriage, Shakespeare, dogs, cats, music, swimming pools, vintage television, nicknames, amusement parks, restaurants, school projects, language, computers, hair, bad jobs, William Faulkner, weddings, advertising, Broadway plays, yard work, hospitals, cooking, Elvis Presley, moving, money, art, college, dinner theater, and a variety of other subjects. Atkins lives and writes on a river, and the view from South of the Etowah is unique. It is funny, irreverent, wise, and well worth the trip. 

So come along! There is plenty of room on the porch, the coffee pot is on, and a cool breeze is blowing up from the river.