Porch Talk: Stories of Decency, Common Sense, and Other Endangered Species [Paperback]

Philip Gulley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 12, 2009

Evoking a time when life revolved around the front porch, where friends gathered, stories were told, and small moments took on large meaning, in today's hurry-up world, Philip Gulley's essays remind us of the world we once shared—and can share again.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

It is no insult to this occasionally moralizing humorist and Quaker pastor to say that he is a smalltown raconteur who writes tales tailor-made for readers who would never dream of living in one. In the compilation of anecdotes, recollections, riffs and barely disguised homilies that constitute his 14th book, Gulley, best known for his Harmony novels as well as theological ruminations like If Grace Is True, skillfully mines his personal history and that of his neighbors for inspirational morsels. Family, friends, faith, community and even current events figure in meditations that span such topics as the architecture of his home, the virtues of intellectual inconsistency, his wife's passion for exercise and healthy eating, and whether it is indeed possible to have too many friends. While not afraid to be provocative on controversial subjects like creationism or politics, Gulley's general tone is straightforward, whimsical and irenic. One often wishes that he would spend more time with a particular topic, instead of giving it glancing attention before moving on. But urban readers who imbibe their literature with their lattes will find him as refreshing as do those who actually create the tapestry of homespun life Gulley so unpretentiously chronicles. (June)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

Gulley's little pieces aren't stories. They're old-fashioned personal essays, conversational, calmly opinionated, and comfortable. Since Gulley's a Christian pastor, trying to live good rather than just well informs every piece. Since Gulley's a Quaker pastor, and since Quakers believe every person capable of and obliged to practice ministry, he never preaches or cites scripture (that would be too presumptuous), which makes him nonthreatening to the Christ-averse and especially safe for those who like Garrison Keillor, Annie Dillard, Wendell Berry, and Kathleen Norris, even if they are "that way." He shares such writers' concern for family, neighbors, people one sees and interacts with often, old houses, country stores, venerable ways of doing things; like them, he doesn't have a neocon bone in his body. He writes as cleanly as they, and perhaps with greater range, encompassing the tooth fairy, cheap shoes, middle-age spread, chairs, and simplicity. He is a terrific buffoon when he wants to be, and his piece about sitting in a Quaker meeting may be the best this side of John Greenleaf Whittier. Ray Olson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: HarperOne; Reprint edition (May 12, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061689823
• ISBN-13: 978-0061689826
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 5.6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #272,558 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Philip Gulley has become the voice of small-town American life. Along with writing Front Porch Tales, Hometown Tales, and For Everything a Season, Gulley is the author of the Harmony series of novels, as well as If Grace Is True and If God Is Love, which are coauthored with James Mulholland.

He hosts "Porch Talk with Phil Gulley" on the Indiana PBS affiliate WFYI television's flagship show Across Indiana.

Gulley lives in Indiana with his wife, Joan, and their sons, Spencer and Sam--in a rambling old house with Gulley's eclectic chair collection (64 at last count) and a welcoming back porch.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Pleased...but hoping no more politics, July 23, 2007

By 

Terri C. "A Janet Hendershot fan!" (La Harpe, Illinois) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Porch Talk: Stories of Decency, Common Sense, and Other Endangered Species (Hardcover)

I own all of Philip Gulley's books - and love them all. I did enjoy this one - but was disappointed at his injection of politics. One reason I read books such as this is to not have to deal with politics - I get enough of that from television, newspapers and magazines. I purchase books such as Porch Talk just for the purpose to reflect, to be amused and to enjoy. I did enjoy the book but it was marred by the politics.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A perfect gem !, May 31, 2007

By 

Holly Kincaid "Book addict" (Indiana, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Porch Talk: Stories of Decency, Common Sense, and Other Endangered Species (Hardcover)

I have to admit right up front that I LOVE everything Philip Gulley has written. Thank goodness I love this one, too. His wit and his wisdom are unparalleled. Each story/essay is absolutely perfect. I wanted to start at the beginning and not to stop until I reached the end, but I knew it would be better to read a few a time and savor the flavor like a fine bit of chocolate or very good port. Each story is exquisitely crafted and an utter delight.

I am in the process of clearing out a large amount clutter from my home and getting rid of huge volumes of "things", however ..... my Philip Gulley books (including this one) are STAYING.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Pearls of wisdom abound in this neat little book., July 22, 2007

By 

Paul Tognetti "The real world is so much more... (Cranston, RI USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Porch Talk: Stories of Decency, Common Sense, and Other Endangered Species (Hardcover)

In this case the sub-title seems to say it all. "Porch Talk" features "Stories of Decency, Common Sense and Other Endangered Species". Author Philip Gulley's 14th book is a compilation of some 30 short essays on topics ranging from the demise of the local hardware store to the simple pleasures of a summer night spent with family and friends on the front porch. Gulley makes a compelling argument that it was in just such settings that so much wisdom was passed from generation to generation in years gone by. And he laments the fact that many of these comfortable and familiar settings are simply not available to most folks anymore. It really is a shame.

In an essay simply entitled "Camping" Gulley reminisces about camping overnight in nearby woods with a couple of his closest friends at the age of 12 or 13. Such simple pleasures and such wonderful memories! He describes those nights as "the source of my most pleasant childhood memories." In another essay he discusses "The Tornado" that struck his hometown back on Good Friday in 1948. Seems folks still talk about it today and if you look real closely around town you can still see evidence of that frightening day so long ago. But for me the most interesting essay is one Gulley calls "The Slow Life". Readers are introduced to Leon, owner of the local Dairy Queen. Leon is a real anomaly these days. While the lives of most folks in town resemble those of hamsters on a Habitrail, Leon has made the conscious decision to live his life at a much slower pace. As a result, Leon has time for those who seek his counsel and friendship. In this essay Gulley quotes a passage from a book called "In Praise of Slowness" by Carl Honore. Honore compares the fast-life vs. the slow-life. He observes: "Fast is busy, controlling, aggressive, hurried, analytical, stressed, superficial, impatient, active, quantity over quality." In contrast, "Slow is the opposite: calm, careful, receptive, intuitive, unhurried, patient, reflective, quality-over quantity." Now you might disagree with this point of view but there sure is an awful lot to ponder in that quotation. And in "My Conflicted Life" Gulley worries about those individuals who are so cock-sure that they are right that they refuse to change their minds about an issue no matter what the evidence might indicate. Unfortunately, these seem to be the types of people who dominate the scene in Washington D.C. these days.

Now since there are some 30 of these essays in "Porch Talk" you will more than likely find yourself at odds with the authors point of view on at least a few of them. I certainly did. But that is not the point. Many of the topics presented in "Porch Talk" are subjects that really do lend themselves to debate by family members, neighbors and friends. In the course of such discussions you just might change your mind about a few things and be instrumental in helping someone else to look at a given issue just a little bit differently. Philip Gulley longs for a return to a lifestyle that sees the value in such discussions. There is a lot to be said for "chewing the fat" with your family, friends and neighbors. I really did not get the feeling that Philip Gulley was interested in telling people how to live their lives. In fact, Gulley pokes funs at his own foibles, failings and inconsistencies throughout the book. Rather, I suspect he is trying to encourage each one of us to evaluate how we live our own lives. At the end of the day I found "Porch Talk" to be a pretty thought provoking book. Any one of the essays would provide the basis for a great discussion around the family dinner table. Great summer reading and a pretty good bathroom book as well. Recommended!