Run with the Horsemen (Penguin Contemporary American Fiction Series)
by Ferrol SamsSign in to Goodreads to see your friends' reviews of this book.
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Read in March, 2008
recommended to George Bradford by:
Scott
Run with the Horsemen is a wonderful book. It's a terrific story with a fascinating central character. And it captures all the aspects of life in rural Georgia during the Great Depression.
It took me a while to get into the story. The narrator writes in the past tense, refers to himself in the third person ("the boy" aka Porter Osborne, Jr.) and the sentences run long. But I adjusted to the prose and was rewarded for the effort. This first volume of Porter's life story s...more
It took me a while to get into the story. The narrator writes in the past tense, refers to himself in the third person ("the boy" aka Porter Osborne, Jr.) and the sentences run long. But I adjusted to the prose and was rewarded for the effort. This first volume of Porter's life story s...more
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Has a copy to sell/swap
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Read in January, 2004
recommends it for:
Everybody
This trilogy is underrated. Porter Osbourne should go down as one of the classic characters not just in Southern Lit, but in literature in general.
The first book is as a good a rumination on adolescent male sexuality as Roth's "Portnoy's Complaint," and also examines race relations and generational distance in the agrarian early-20th century South. The second find Porter disillusioned with life and medical school, as well as losing his virginity to the unforgettable Vashti. Th...more
The first book is as a good a rumination on adolescent male sexuality as Roth's "Portnoy's Complaint," and also examines race relations and generational distance in the agrarian early-20th century South. The second find Porter disillusioned with life and medical school, as well as losing his virginity to the unforgettable Vashti. Th...more
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Read in March, 1992
recommended to Peter by:
The author
This series is a must read for everyone who grew up in the South, moves to the South, loves a person from the South, or just needs to know what it means to be "Raised Right.
Turns out I met all the criteria save the first. I fell in love with the stories, the moods, the lessons, and what makes all of the above more precious than is seemed before.
This book is the hook of the trilogy - it's impossible not to love the story of the boy growing toward manhood. If you had the plea...more
Turns out I met all the criteria save the first. I fell in love with the stories, the moods, the lessons, and what makes all of the above more precious than is seemed before.
This book is the hook of the trilogy - it's impossible not to love the story of the boy growing toward manhood. If you had the plea...more
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Read in September, 2007
recommends it for:
teenage boys
I had to read this for a book discussion, but great coming of age story for boys. The story is about Porter Osborne and it traces his life from elementary age through high school graduation. At the beginning of the book, we see how incorrigible he is by a couple of "pranks" that he pulls. Later, we see him as a cross between Robin Hood (instead of stealing from the rich to give to the poor, he defends those who cannot/ will not defend themselves) and Eddie Haskell from Leave It to Beav...more
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Yes, it is yet another loosely disguised autobiography about growing up in the changing south on a farm in Georgia. However, I don't mind saying that Sams' trilogy is different in the fact that in that the aw, shucks good-ole-moments are few and far between. Our boy is too busy lighting mules' farts on fire (and if you think it was easy for me to think or type that word, you are dead wrong - witness my devotion to Ferol Sams!)
Sams has this uncanny ability to recall with vivid detail all the ...more
Sams has this uncanny ability to recall with vivid detail all the ...more
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When I'm not familiar with an author's work, I have a 3-step process to determine whether I should bother with said unknown author's books or not.
I look at the cover.
I read the back of the book.
I read the first few sentences on the first page.
If I'm not completely sold on the book, I give it one more chance by randomly choosing a page and reading a few more sentences.
That is how I ended up buying this book. It was a great decision.
The entire trilogy is on my top ten list of g...more
I look at the cover.
I read the back of the book.
I read the first few sentences on the first page.
If I'm not completely sold on the book, I give it one more chance by randomly choosing a page and reading a few more sentences.
That is how I ended up buying this book. It was a great decision.
The entire trilogy is on my top ten list of g...more
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Read in January, 1990
The boy is endearing, precocious, funny, and at the same time forever trying to measure up to his father's expectations. A must-read series if you love Southern coming-of-age. Incidentally, I have attended a couple of book-signings by Ferrol Sams, and the man is amazing. He's not a quick scribbler, but actually spends a half-minute or so talking to each reader, then...BAM! writes a perfect line or two in your book, like he's known you forever. Snap!
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recommends it for:
all people
John read this book to me when I was pregnant with Rowan and too sick to read. He had to stop so often for me to catch my breath. I've read it many times since then.
The language is rich and the stories are priceless. Tell me when you get to the part about the mule.
The language is rich and the stories are priceless. Tell me when you get to the part about the mule.
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recommends it for:
Anyone
Describing growing up in the South is a very involved process. This book would help those not from the South to understand a little, and afford folks native to the South - and of a "certain age" - some opportunities to reminisce about a thing or two.
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Read in January, 2006
This three book series is humorous, gentle, and generous in its portrayals of a boy growing up in the south. Life lessons about growing up, and some damn fine writing, lend for a good read during the fall or winter.
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Read in January, 1994
recommended to Diane by:
Myselfrecommends it for: lovers of Southern literature
Loved reading about Macon in this one. Reminded me of my college days at Wesleyan. When I grew up and married, I found out that Ferrol Sams had been my husband's family's doctor many years ago.
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Read in July, 1996
Dad gave me this book to read and it was wonderful. Well written by someone who becomes a physician - and is from the same era as Dad - wonderful story teller of growing up in the south - 1920's to 30's.
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I started this book 3 times before I got past the first three chapters... after that I was HOOKED... couldn't put it down... same with WHISPER OF THE RIVER and WHEN ALL THE WORLD WAS YOUNG...
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this series come highly recommended by my doctor. I started it and found it well written, though intellectual and I felt I needed a dictionary sometimes! What I've read so far is entertaining.
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This is book 1 in the Porter Osborne series--what an ornery main character! Check out book 2 (The Whisper of the River) and book 3 (When All the World Was Young).
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Read in January, 1992
I really liked the trilogy. Was living in the South myself, although in a later time. Still, it made sense, and the humor and aspirations worked.
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Read in May, 2008
I found this book close to home....the South. Interesting, funny, scary....all the necessary things to make you keep reading.
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Read in May, 2008
Great characters--easy to read chapters that read like short stories. Perfect illustration of Southern life "back then".
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Read in September, 2008
recommended to Robert by:
DreamPacker
Wonderful insight into a boy growing up. It is humorous, insightful, and sometimes tragic. Wow!
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if you grew up in the south and ever wondered what made your Grandparents act that way...
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