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River of Memories: An Appalachian Boyhood
 
 
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River of Memories: An Appalachian Boyhood (Paperback)

by David Thompson (Author)
Key Phrases: yer shoulder, sweat bees, delicious secret, River of Memories, Bowen Creek, Papaw Den (more...)
4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)

List Price: $14.95
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River of Memories: An Appalachian Boyhood + Growing Up Hard in Harlan County
  • This item: River of Memories: An Appalachian Boyhood by David Thompson

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Editorial Reviews

Product Description
David Lee Thompson has produced a caring and introspective personal account of the vanishing Appalachian culture. This way of life existed for over twelve generations, teaching its people the importance of family, community, and religion. Thompson s old home place, now empty and lonely, holds faint whispers of what was once alive with laughter and reminiscences. His boyhood memories of life on Bowen Creek represent the last vestiges of a time and place now nearly extinct.

About the Author
David Lee Thompson grew up in Bowen Creek, West Virginia. After serving his country during the Vietnam Era, he graduated from Marshall University with an M.A. in education. Now retired from teaching, he lives in Salt Rock, West Virginia, with his wife, Janet. They have two sons and two grandsons.

Product Details

  • Paperback: 226 pages
  • Publisher: IUniverse (December 5, 2002)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0595261949
  • ISBN-13: 978-0595261949
  • Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.6 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,201,834 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

9 Reviews
5 star:
 (8)
4 star:
 (1)
3 star:    (0)
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Average Customer Review
4.9 out of 5 stars (9 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Reader comments to me about River of Memories, June 17, 2004
By David L. Thompson (Salt Rock, West Virginia, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
The following are some of the comments I have received regarding River of Memories:

As I read well into Saturday night, I had the feeling you were actually writing about MY childhood. The winters, the one-room school, the stream, the grapevine swing (Snap! Thud! you lost your breath, and your body met the ground) and the challenges we faced but were so content, well fed, and happy we didn't realize how strong we would become because we learned that mountains were there to "go over, around or tunnel through." (Ginger Davis)

I bought a copy of your book at long last. I read it today. I really enjoyed it!!! You did a great job. Patrick was really talking up your book at our last meeting this spring. Mary Williams, one of our writing classmates, died last week. She, too, was looking forward to reading your book. (Brenda Beatty)

I wanted to share with you the inspiration I've had from the introduction of your book. I've many times mentioned that I should keep a journal for each of my girls with my view of things they do throughout their childhood. You statements in the introduction made me realize I should stop talking about it and do it before time slips away and they're no longer small children. (Che'rie Collins)

I have just completed your book, a gift from my daughter. It is a most enjoyable book, and you should take great pride in it. You capture our heritage and our humanness from crowning glory to warts. We live in a great corner of this world. Those of us, the senior generation, have been protected not by terrain but by culture, small enough to know and be known. (Jim Waugh)

While attending 'Festival of the Hills' in Ironton on Saturday, my wife and I visited your display and bought a copy of River of Memories. That next day, I took up temporary residence in our swing on our front porch and never ventured far from there until two thirds of your book had been read. It just wouldn't let me put it down! While my wife and I grew up in Waterloo, Lawrence County, Ohio, which is about as far north of Huntington as Bowen Creek is south, we both had a similar childhood as yours, but, you tell your stories much better. And, I'm sure others who have had the pleasure of reading your book can readily identify with it, too. Every little community had its unusual characters and an Emmitt and Lessie store. But, of all your stories, "Magnolias Forever" holds a special place for me. Your book is truly gratifying. Well done, David! (Duane Null)

Thank you for sharing your work with me and for using your talents to help preserve the culture and history of our state.
(Nick J. Rahall, II, Member of Congress)

Can't imagine any trip could be better than what you described in your book. Well done. "River of Memories" would make a great movie. You have shown how wonderful growing up in the '50s was for many. Laura wrote all her books (5 or 6) after she was 65 years old. Hope you keep writing. (Pat Phillips)

I finished your book last night. Please forgive me. I do not have your gift of expression in writing. I loved the book. What a wonderfully blessed life you have! Thank you so much. (Teresa Radcliff)

I absolutely loved this little book. I prefer this kind of personal reminiscing to works of fiction. I think what I loved most about it was the fact that your life in West Virginia, growing up was a bit similar to my own upbringing in Northwestern Nebraska. I also attended a one-room schoolhouse with an outhouse and a hand pump for water from 1st through 8th grade. Gee, it was fun! (Shelley Thorton-Roby)

Thank you for writing "River of Memories." I enjoyed, laughed (and cried a little). Many thanks for the memories. (Imogene Adkins Wilson)

I have read many books on Appalachian life, but yours was the best. I could actually see the house, smell the cooking, and hear you kids fighting and playing as I read the book. How lucky your family is to have all of this on paper to share for generations. (Debi Herbert)

I absolutely loved your book. You don't write...you paint a picture. (Jane Kolstad)

I finished your book last night. I read it in two sittings. It was the only book, other than the Bible I have read in years. I enjoyed it very much, and it touched on so many memories of my life. (Verlin J. Adkins, Jr.)

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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars wonderful story of rural life in America, January 8, 2003
By anita c adkins (west virginia) - See all my reviews
Mr. Thompson's is a wonderful tale of a young man growing up in rural America. It tells of a wonderful childhood filled with loving memories in a time when a child was still allowed to be a child. It has both good and bad memories that add up to the formation of an interesting individual and family that anyone would enjoy getting to know. If everyone could only be so lucky as to know someone like this it would improve the world as a whole.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars great read, May 1, 2004
By brenda k beatty (st albans, wv United States) - See all my reviews
I have just spent the day enjoying River of Memories An Appalachian Boyhood. It has taken me to a world I knew little of, growing up at the same time in West Virginia in very different circumstances.

What an engaginging and wonderful way to preserve the past!

This is a well written account of country life in West Virginia in the 40 and 50's.I could not put it down!
BeBe Beatty

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars A Coming of Age memoir in Appalachia and Vietnam
There once was actually a time and a place that the author David Thompson talks about; but I used to think that it was only in our collective dreams from the old movies of the... Read more
Published on October 27, 2006 by W. H. McDonald Jr.

5.0 out of 5 stars Fellow West Virginia author comments on this book
David L. Thompson's River of Memories: An Appalachian Boyhood is a walk back in time for Appalachians in general and West Virginians in particular. Read more
Published on October 9, 2005 by Ellen K. Hatcher

4.0 out of 5 stars A trip back in time.
I really enjoyed David Thompson's book River of Memories. I to grew up in WV and his words brought back visions from my own childhood. Read more
Published on March 11, 2004 by marilyn langley

5.0 out of 5 stars Authentic Appalachian hill culture--a must read!
A soothing massage for my soul! That is how Rivers of Memories made me feel after reading it. David Thompson's portray of his boyhood in rural West Virginia brought back... Read more
Published on September 18, 2003

5.0 out of 5 stars River of Memories
River of Memories: An Appalachian Boyhood by David L. Thompson is an excellent book for all people of all ages. Read more
Published on May 24, 2003

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspirations from Appalachia
In order for us to truly understand ourselves, we must look to our heritage. As Mr. Thompson recalls to his readers the vivid memories of an Appalachian childhood, he entangles... Read more
Published on May 3, 2003

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