hannahmadden's review
4.0
Wendell Berry is an amazing storyteller! I listened to this on Hoopla, and the audio version was super engaging.
jbmorgan86's review
3.0
Jayber Crow is a long, winding, spiritual journey. Hannah Coulter is much shorter but also dreamy and profound. Nathan Coulter, however, doesn't compare to the other two. While there are moments of profundity, most of it is just a run-of-the-mill story about growing up on a farm. While the young Nathan Coulter is the protagonist of the novel (novella?), it is his Uncle Burly that steals the show. 3.5/5.
thewatersandthewild's review
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.25
kristidurbs's review
4.0
Great story of a boy coming to age, learning to love his family and their ties to the land.
bourbonandabook's review
adventurous
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
booksrock63's review
I thought the Wendell Berry books were supposed to be pastoral "gentle" reads. Two instances of gratuitous animal cruelty in the first chapters made me put this book down. I won't try anymore of this author's books even though I had intended to read the entire series. What the hell was he thinking?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty
connorreid's review
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0
indianajane's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this a lot more the second time, having read several other books about the Port William membership. It's still isn't ever going to be as loved for me as Jayber Crow or Hannah Coulter, but it has grown on me.
mhuntone's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
dave37's review against another edition
4.0
A fine start to the Port William stories. It lacks some of the depth of the later Berry books, but provides some integral pieces to the Port William picture. As a first novel, it's a bit amazing how much of Berry's style is present. As with all of the Port William books so far, reading them out of order has not been a problem.
On an unrelated note, our library consortium only has two copies of this one, and the copy I received was a first edition from 1960 that showed only 6 checkouts between then and mid-2011. Just one of those cool library moments.
On an unrelated note, our library consortium only has two copies of this one, and the copy I received was a first edition from 1960 that showed only 6 checkouts between then and mid-2011. Just one of those cool library moments.