Old Dogs and Children

by Robert Inman

Bright Birdsong, widow and mother of prominent politicians, relives the challenges and choices, frustrations and joys, of small-town life in the South. A masterpiece of old-fashioned storytelling that vividly evokes one woman's remarkable life and her struggle to make peace with the past. Reading tour.

Genres: Fiction, Southern, Historical Fiction, Novels

447 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1991

About the author

Robert Inman’s new novel, The Governor’s Lady, is available now from John F. Blair Publishers. Drawing on his a career as a journalist and creative writer, Inman has crafted the story of Cooper Lanier, a determined woman fighting to establish her independence in the tumultuous world of male-dominated politics.

The Governor’s Lady is Inman’s fifth novel, following Home Fires Burning (1987), Old Dogs and Children (1991), Dairy Queen Days (1997), and Captain Saturday (2002), all published originally by Little, Brown and Company, and now available in popular e-book formats. He is also the author of a collection of non-fiction work, Coming Home: Life, Love and All Things Southern, and an illustrated family holiday book, The Christmas Bus.

Inman has written screenplays for six motion pictures for television, two of which have been “Hallmark Hall of Fame” presentations. His script for The Summer of Ben Tyler, a Hallmark production, won the Writers’ Guild of America Award as the best original television screenplay of 1997. His other Hallmark feature was Home Fires Burning, a 1989 adaptation of his novel.

Inman’s first stage play, the musical comedy Crossroads, had its world premiere in 2003 at Blowing Rock Stage Company, a professional theatre in Blowing Rock, NC. His playwriting credits also include The Christmas Bus, Dairy Queen Days, Welcome to Mitford, A High Country Christmas Carol, The Christmas Bus: The Musical, and The Drama Club. Inman wrote the book, music and lyrics for Crossroads and The Christmas Bus: The Musical. Inman’s plays are published by Dramatic Publishing Company.

Robert Inman is a native of Elba, Alabama, where he began his writing career in junior high school with his hometown weekly newspaper. He left a 31-year career in television journalism in 1996 to devote full time to fiction writing.

He is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of The University of Alabama with Bachelor of Arts and Master of Fine Arts degrees. He has been selected as Outstanding Alumnus of the University of Alabama College of Communication and Information Sciences, and was inducted into the Alabama Communication Hall of Fame.

He is a member of the Authors Guild, Writers Guild of America, Dramatists Guild, PEN American Center, North Carolina Writers Conference, North Carolina Writers Network, and Alabama Writers Forum.

Inman and his wife, Paulette, live in Conover and Boone, North Carolina. They have two daughters: Larkin Ferris of Breckenridge, CO; and Lee Farabaugh of Atlanta.

Author's web site: www.robert-inman.com.

Reviews

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 rating. I just loved this book! A true small town Southern story!

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I managed to squeak this one in for 2022. It's an old book...written in the 90s. I think I got it at a thrift store. It's really a good, "feels" story. The main character, Bright Birdsong, is a complex woman with a complex background. She worshiped her father and that follows her throughout her life. I think the characters of her children could have been fleshed out a little more, but she is the focus of the book. Set in a Southern environment in the early 60s/70s. I really enjoyed it.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I’ve read in a long time. I look forward to reading more of Inman’s works as I have enjoyed public channel on Bookmark discussing with him other books.
Old dogs and children and watermelon wine.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Rambles a bit at times but still good Southern fiction and memorable characters.

[Irma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book.

[Ava Jaunzems · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a bad story. Not a great story either. Much that is predictable and a ton of cliches on civil rights and Southerners in general. Not near as good as this author's Dairy Queen Days. Still a good warming read when you're not in the mood for something more nourishing.

[Jane]

This took me a while to finish - a bit too much of a saga for my taste.

[Linda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cliche after cliche. Couldn't finish it.

[Lynne Block · Rating 3 out of 5]

Small southern town life/ok read

[Phoebe · Rating 2 out of 5]

Luckily I previously read three books by this author and know he can do better, otherwise I would not have given him a second chance. This book could easily have eliminated at least 100 of the 440-450 some pages, mostly by eliminating repetitions of already repeated material. Images repeated, descriptions of characters repeated(and despite this the only two characters I can clearly picture are the MC's dog and the invisible alligator!), explanations of situations repeated, insights repeated, etc. What was at first, and even perhaps third, enlightening, lost poignancy and became irritating by the fourth and fifth time. And Bright Birdsong's inner musings went on and on and on and...went nowhere but in repeated ways and circles. They often ended in ways I believe the author intended to be "Ah, ha!" moments, however I was most often left thinking, "That's it? All that for...?", because honestly I'm not sure what it was all about. Build up, a definite plan in Birdsong's mind, determination, and then..."That's it? All that for...?" There was a whole lot of over-pondering, trying too hard to keep us wondering, hinting at something truly big, and then...nothing much in the end.

[Mary Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't realize that this was a "Re-read" until I was over half way through the book. I love Robert Inman's style of writing, but I did feel like the story was a bit long at times. This could be because it was the second time for me. He sort of reminds me of one of my favorite authors, Ferrol Sams. They both recall the life and times of growing up in the south during the early part of the 20th century.

[Lynda Clayton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book to read, although it seems Bright, the main character, butts into other lives or is atleast there all the time.
The way of the south making it sound like Bright was born, raised, left for school, married and moved back to her same small town and never leaves.

[Ann Halligan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was ready for a long Southern story with a strong woman as the focus. I liked the prose and the subtle wisdom. Written in the 90's, its certainly relevant. Taking the phone off the hook to avoid calls made me smile......a more simple solution than with your cellphone.

[Jenny Dohner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice setting, good characters, some really good life wisdom, but depressing and way too long and drawn out, slow moving. Really had to push to finish.

[Pam · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read it for a dear friend who is no longer with us. It had a few memorable characters but was too long and tedious for me, although it is well written.

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! Took longer to read that What's usual for me,but it was worth it. Could have done without a couple of characters,but guess they were needed. I'll let you read it and find out!

[Susy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I delightful vacation read.

[Peggy Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great little book that takes on the role of women and tracks the civil rights movement. I loved the voice of Bright.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Treat yourself! This engrossing narrative of the life of Bright Bascombe Birdsong entertains, infuriates, and compels. Bright is 70 at the start of the story and is looking forward to a visit from her daughter and family. In one short weekend she faces conflict with her daughter, a growing appreciation for her son-in-law, spending time with grandson Jimbo, wins %50,000 and deals with racial conflict in her small Southern home town with all its inherent inter-relationships. She is a wise woman whose parental influences color her decisions but she learns the hard way they aren't always reliable.
Along the way we visit most of the highlights of American history for the first 70 years of the 20th century. Unfortunately in an effort to cover all this history the story becomes inordinately long and bogs down in the beginning of the second half. Most long books can usually shave off 50 to 100 pages and not lose any of the quality of the book. This holds true for Old Dogs and Children.

[Lindahobbs64 Hobbs · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those books that takes a place for itself in your heart. I find myself recommending it to friends even years after having read it, when they ask what my favorite books are. It is one of the few books I hold on to. The reader is so drawn into the story that it becomes a genuine experience. This is a book with depth, heart and humor. Most importantly, it makes us cherish our own passing days with a little more appreciation for the beauty and value in everyday things, be they old dogs, children or the myriad details that make a life. I applaud the author, Robert Inman for this enchanting gem.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

The old dog is the most minor character. The children a little more than minor. The picture on the cover says more about the story than the title. Bright Birdsong, the daughter of the a lumber mill owner and the leading employer in a small southern town who is the wife of a congressman and the mother of the governor, is ready to rest on her laurels and let the life of the town move on without her. When her son and daughter return to her with their needs and her old cronies come demanding her influence, she struggles to keep her backstage role, but eventually succumbs to the role given her at birth - that of the voice of reason and arbitration. Sweet, gentle, fun read.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very good southern novel. It is the story of one girls/woman's life growing up in the South during civil rights movements and the world wars. I thought the characters were well thought out and the author shows the dilemma of making choices that affect not only yourself, but also those you love. Life's triumphs and disappointments and what life is really about. It is a very good read. I must also clarify that this book has some mature content.

[Kim Hildreth gnoinski · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid 3.5 stars. The book rambled on at times, but I was definitely interested in what happened to the main characters. The old dogs and children are literally and figuratively in each character. How the characters relate to their childhoods, their own children and parents is the overwhelming theme of the book. Entertaining.

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you like simple Southern literature with lots of quirky characters and hidden secrets in a small town, this is a book for you. The plot is a little slow and the main character takes a while to develop but I finished it quickly and enjoyed it overall.

[Mary Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book!! I have read it twice--once when I first bought it and again to discuss with my book club, who all liked it too. Robert Inman tells a fascinating story that has lots of twists and turns in it. And his characters are believable too.

[Joanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This author is one of my favorites! I have read Captain Saturday, Home Fires Burning and Dairy Qeen Days as well and enjoyed them all.
Great characters, great stories.

[Michael S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable southern story. Title based on a great song lyric- "only three things in this world that are worth a solitary dime--that's old dogs and children and watermelon wine"

So true!

[Susan]

Brownell Library Sale 5/28/11 (Library copy)

[F H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it