The Whisper of the River [Bargain Price] [Paperback]

Ferrol Sams (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 4, 1986

Thousands came to know and love the boy in Ferrol Sams's brilliant, best-selling first novel RUN WITH THE HORSEMEN. Now the redoubtable Porter Osborne, Jr. is back - a little older, slightly more worldly, but just as full of mischief and curiosity as ever. With the power and grace which readily identify Ferrol Sams's writing, THE WHISPER OF THE RIVER confronts young Porter with a maelstrom of conflict, growth, and heightened sexuality. But beneath the turbulent surface of outrageous pranks and ribald humor, Porter finally senses a quiet and constant flow toward maturity. This is a story about loss of innocence, but it's also the story of an age, a family, and a place that will remain with you long after the last page.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A beautiful work of the storyteller's art. -- Syndicated columnist James Kilpatrick --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

FERROL SAMS was born and raised in Fayetteville, Georgia. He, his wife, and two of their four children practice medicine there today. He is the author of seven books, including Run With the Horsemen and The Whisper of the River. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 544 pages
• Publisher: Penguin Books; Later Printing edition (February 4, 1986)
• ISBN-10: 0140083871
• ASIN: B000GG4JMI
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 4.9 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #970,878 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars wonderfully poignant tale of college days in middle Georgia., August 21, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Whisper of the River (Paperback)

It's been over 10 years since I first read the book. Recommended by a fellow (presbyterian) clergyman, I looked at the jacket of the book he was showing me only to be stunned to realize that it was about a boy who attended the same college I attended, in a state far away. Not only that, but in reading the book, I discovered that I'd resided for a time in the same dormitory room, albeit several decades past the late 1930's. The book was painfully and poignantly real, from the descriptions of life in that particular dormitory room (I can see the room and scenery outside the windows even to this day) to life in Macon (some of the stories and experiences he went through were almost eerily familiar). Ferrol Sams is an incredibly gifted writer who I wish had started writing years earlier. His corpus of books, though relatively small, are all treasures and treasured. BTW, having graduated years earlier then a previous reviewer, let me point out that "Willingham University" was taken from what was then Willingham Chapel, not "Auditorium". It was during the 1970's that the former baptist church next door to Willingham Chapel was sold to Mercer and became the Newton Chapel at Mercer. At that point, Willingham Chapel became Willingham Auditorium.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A different world, June 24, 2005

By 

Mike in the Middle (Midwest) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Whisper of the River (Paperback)

I would disagree with those who say that these are entertaining stories and nothing more. These books are an amazing window looking on to a different time and place. While the individual events I this book have me laughing out loud, I also come away with a better appreciation of life in Georgia in the late 1930's. What is really amazing is that I didn't think I had any interest in that place and time.

While I love this book, I don't think it is perfect. It could have used a bit more editing; I think it would have worked better with at least 50 fewer pages. Also, Porter is sometimes a tad too sweet. I am not sure I could have stood to be around him in real life.

One interesting side note is the portrayal of John Birch, the inspiration for the nutty John Birch Society. He attended Mercer at the same time as Mr. Sams and clearly left a strongly negative impression on him.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Glued to the pages!, October 18, 2004

By 

S. Antle (MO) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Whisper of the River (Paperback)

If you are unaware of the author Ferrol Sams, you are missing a true giant in American literature. This second book of the Porter Osborne trilogy is just as golden as Run With the Horsemen. More than just a coming of age novel, Sams provides intricate detail into young Osborne's life, feelings and thoughts. Quite moving and actually sad when you find the last page is near, you'll quickly want to open up When All the World Was Young (#3). Dr. Sams is still practicing medicine in Georgia and has given us a treasure in his writings. Well worth it to purchase not only this book, but all three since you will find yourself thinking about them often after you've experienced them.