Customer Reviews

Farewell: A Memoir of a Texas Childhood

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Three nights ago I had the pleasure of meeting Horton Foote when he spoke and signed at an Austin bookstore. One hears his clear, distinctive voice in the cadence of his prose. Mr. Foote doesn't romanticize the past; he just tells the story of his childhood, leaving the reader with a vision of life in a time when family counted for all and people spoke in whispers about the same types of violence, bigotry, and family secrets that now assail us in the media. For an established playwright, Foote meets the challenge of prose writing successfully. Readers of this book will want a sequel--to know what happened to the teenage Foote who says "Farewell" to small town Wharton, TX and travels by bus to Pasadena, CA intending to launch a career as an actor. Including a geneology page would have helped this reader. I found myself drawing a scribbledy graphic of Foote's multi-branched family tree to keep all the "greats" and uncles and cousins under control. Overall, this was a delightful read putting me back in touch with the world of my parents and grandparents.

I just finished re-reading this book, and enjoyed it more this time than previously, probably because I literally devoured the first read. I come from a rather limited circle of family and was enchanted by the seemingly endless supply of relatives and their stories. To be embraced by such an environment as a child and to relate this to the reader is to share a very precious gift. Thank you Mr. Foote,and please give us a sequel.

As someone who grew up in a small town in Texas, I can identify with so much of this book. My late Mother's childhood and her stories of growing up in a rural area with colorful characters are very similar to Mr. Foote's story. If you didn't grow up in this era or in a small town, these stories may not have the charm I feel about them, but Horton Foote could bring a tear to a glass eye with his charming memories, and I will bet that he can tug at your heartstrings as well. There is a place for sentiment and burnished memories in this busy life of ours, and I found myself wanting more after reading this memoir. As I read this book, I found myself envisioning the whole story in a pleasant sepia toned, soft cocoon of a state of mind. You come too.

Reading Farewell, it is hard to imagine how Horton Foote ever followed the path in life that he ultimately took. Yet the tiny town of Wharton, Texas, did produce a legendary American writer, and his memoir about growing up in small-town Texas is a charming, well-crafted pleasure to read. The book brought back some similar childhood memories. But Foote's clean writing and vivid descriptions will also delight readers unfamiliar with this forgotten way of life.

Think life in a small town is idyllic? Think again. Horton Foote gives us a portrait of his home town, complete with the details many wish to forget. Pettiness. Alcoholism. Racism.

At the same time, Foote describes his childhood in tones that leave a lasting impression of roots and home. Of growing up and new responsibility. Of family.

Foote has shared with us his appreciation for small town life in such great works as "To Kill a Mockingbird", "The Trip to Bountiful" and now "Farewell". Enjoy.

Among all the facinating characters of the small town, Mr. Foote must be the town gossip (but not a malicious one). Seems like Mr. Foote knew EVERYONE... and I don't think he left anybody out, either. Fun to read, good storytelling style, but it seemed more like a series of great characters sketches than a "real" memoir. At the end I was frustrated that I didn't find out more about how he got started as an actor/playwrite/etc. But that's nothing a sequel won't solve.