Customer Reviews

Coming Home: Life, Love & All Things Southern

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Robert Inman is the author of genial southern novels such as "Dairy Queen Days" and a keen observer of the human condition. He is also one of the best guides to the writing life, as sampled in the final chapter of his autobiography "Coming Home, Life, Love and All Things Southern". Inman takes a clear-eyed look at the southern style of life and the reasons we southern people are the way we are. The stories and reminices are tender and warmharted and a treat to read. The best part of thei book is Inman's explaination of why we in the south always ask "who are your people?" and the way we try to find the common link. As Mr. Inman says, we are just trying to say "I am prepared to like you, and would be honered to be your friend...". A wonderful read, a joy for its warmth and quick wit.

I love Robert Inman's writing. I am from the south and appreciate how he manages to bring out the south in his works. But you must understand that this is not an Inman novel. It is a collection of essays, most about the south, but not intended to be woven into a story. Some of the pieces I loved, such as the explanation of why those of us in the south have to understand "who our people are." He is spot on in his observations here and it is obvious Inman knows southern people. Another delight in this book is that you come to understand where the stuff of his novels comes from. Inman tells of the summer job of his youth, mowing lawns, that comes out in "Captain Saturday." He tells of a relative who wins a prize at a grocery store which is a major thread in "Old Dogs and Children." So we get a handle on the source of Inman's work. My problem with the book was that Inman seemed to be trying a little too hard to be Robert Fulghum and he doesn't succeed at that. Read Inman's novels. They are wonderful. Read "Coming Home" as well, but understand it has no depth as his novels have.