An excellent read by the author of Sophie's Choice, this book presents a captivating collection. It consists of three long short stories, all interconnected through the same narrator, Paul Whitehurst. It is highly likely that Whitehurst is a thinly veiled version of the author himself.

In the first story, Whitehurst, an 18-year-old second lieutenant in the Marine Corps, is gearing up for Love Day, the momentous World War II landing on Okinawa. He grapples with both a sense of foreboding regarding the impending conflict and vivid memories of his days at age 11. At that time, his mother was dying of cancer, and his father was employed in a Navy shipyard.

The middle story introduces a much younger Whitehurst who encounters Shadrach, a 99-year-old former slave. Shadrach has walked all the way from Alabama to Tidewater Virginia with the hope of being buried at the plantation where he was born. The plantation owners, descendants of his former master, have seen their family's glory days fade away.

In the final story, 13-year-old Whitehurst takes on a paper route for a store owner of dubious cleanliness and reputation. Amidst this, he witnesses his father's profound grief and anger as his mother succumbs to a final coma. This collection of stories offers a rich tapestry of experiences and emotions, painting a vivid picture of different stages in Whitehurst's life.

Powerful, honest, and quite moving. These are the words that come to mind when I think about the works of Styron.

His writing has the ability to touch the deepest parts of our souls, making us feel emotions we never thought possible.

I have finally decided to explore more of his works, eager to discover the hidden gems that lie within his pages.

I anticipate being taken on a journey through different worlds, experiencing the joys and sorrows of his characters.

Styron's talent as a writer is truly remarkable, and I am excited to see what else he has in store for me.

I know that each book will be a unique and unforgettable experience, and I can't wait to embark on this literary adventure.

With each turn of the page, I expect to be drawn deeper into the story, losing myself in the beauty and power of Styron's words.

It is going to be an exciting and fulfilling journey, and I am looking forward to every moment of it.

Three of my (now) favorite short stories truly amazed me. They are painted with such clarity and finesse of phrase that you can vividly imagine yourself as Paul Whitehurst, the protagonist, in different stages of his life.

The themes explored in these stories are diverse and captivating. Childhood memories are brought to life, along with the concept of social determinism (or its absence). Artistic and philosophical inspiration, combined with a healthy dose of religion-rejection, add depth and complexity. The way the natural world seeps into one's bones is described with such accuracy and humor that it blows you away.

These portraits are anything but polite. They shine with authenticity and provide a unique perspective on the times, faces, and attitudes that shaped Styron's life. And by extension, they offer insights into all of our lives. If only we could express our own experiences and thoughts in such a masterful manner. This is some of the best writing I have ever read, without a doubt.

Three rather long short stories truly showcase Styron's remarkable talents.

These stories are brutally honest accounts of his childhood memories. At the tender age of 10, he was deeply traumatized by his mother's harrowing battle with cancer and the concurrent breakdown of his father's emotional well-being. Without a doubt, these events molded his life.

The first story offers unique insights into the complex emotions of a young marine eager to go to war – an experience that any young man can identify with. The second story is about an elderly black man who, at the end of his life, returns to his childhood plantation only to find it in a dilapidated state, nearly abandoned after 100 years. For me, this was the best story of the bunch as it vividly captured the 1930s in Virginia, where Jim Crow laws were in full force and racism was the norm. It was a beautiful narrative of a boy following his run-down white trash neighbors to their old plantation, accompanied by the ancient black man, and their strange connection over childhood joys and memories.

The last story is undoubtedly autobiographical,描绘了他生命中的某一天，母亲的痛苦已经达到了令人毛骨悚然的程度，父亲也濒临崩溃，而这一切都发生在弗吉尼亚低地一个闷热的日子里。孩子躲在一旁观察着父亲，父亲在一阵激烈的愤怒中痛斥来访的牧师和他的妻子。再次，孩子（作者）被父亲对上帝仁慈的怀疑和不确定的真实感受所创伤，因为父亲（他自己也是一名执事！）醉酒后痛斥牧师和他的整个会众。这是一个震撼人心的场景，我能感受到男孩的迷茫，当他的父亲和母亲同时崩溃时，他失去了方向。

Styron is an excellent writer; he made me feel his pain deep in my gut. I am grateful to him for that, lest I become complacent.

Below is just a sample of the young marine on the ship, visiting his lieutenant colonel in the way that young men sometimes idolize the masculinity of those slightly superior leaders (p. 13): “All the rest I could see was a rear view of his beautifully muscled torso; the shiny scar of a bullet wound near the armpit… I suspect he also liked to keep his handlebar (moustache) graphically emphasized. I admired this touch of panache... (p 14) I once thought that if you could distill the sheer masculinity he exuded, make of it some volatile essence, you would have an adman’s triumph - a cologne called Cock and Balls, smelling of leather, sweat, and gunpowder.” Pretty hilarious stuff here...

I'm planning to read all of Styron's works. He has been promoted to my A list.

Here are three short stories from the author's life that I found interesting.

The first story was about a time when the author was lost in a big city. They had taken a wrong turn and couldn't find their way back to the hotel. But instead of panicking, they decided to explore the area and ended up discovering a beautiful park and a charming little café.

The second story was about a challenge the author faced at work. They were given a difficult project to complete in a short amount of time. But with hard work and determination, they were able to finish the project on time and even exceeded the expectations of their boss.

The third story was about a friendship that the author made while traveling. They met a person from a different country and had a great conversation with them. They ended up spending the rest of their trip together and learning a lot about each other's cultures and lives.

These stories show that life is full of unexpected experiences and challenges, but if we approach them with an open mind and a positive attitude, we can turn them into something wonderful.

I truly relished this compilation of three stories.

Styron's writing is nothing short of exquisite. Every single sentence he pen down is a source of pure delight.

The way he weaves words together to create vivid images and engaging narratives is simply remarkable.

Each story in the collection has its own unique charm and allure, drawing the reader in and keeping them hooked until the very end.

Whether it's the complex characters, the intricate plotlines, or the profound themes explored, Styron's work is a masterclass in storytelling.

I would highly recommend this collection to anyone who appreciates great literature and wants to be transported to different worlds through the power of words.

I truly relished this book.

Certainly, there were some sluggish parts (a couple of pages here and there), but on the whole, it was captivating.

The idea of having three stories within one was quite appealing to me.

From this writing style, I felt as if I had gleaned a great deal about the character/author's life and the world they inhabited.

Specifically, I took great pleasure in the third section, "A Tidewater Morning."

The description of the parents' arguments was fascinating (yes, I know, it might seem strange).

They almost resembled letters.

Initially, I thought that was precisely what they were until I realized that the speaker was changing throughout this portion of the text.

It is difficult for me to envision that the author actually endured these arguments as they were written or based them on real ones, yet they appeared so genuine to me.

Perhaps I am not as well-read as I ought to be, but I have never before encountered arguments in a book that were so civilized.

Nonetheless, I believe that these passages captured more of the time period and the lifestyle of the novel than any other part of the text.

Tri poviedky sa nachádzajú v tomto výtvore, kde sa spolu s Styronom vracia do jeho detstva. Ide o americký juh, kde prevažujú ohromné horúčavy a dusnosť. Tu bolo aj otrokárstvo, a zároveň narastalo napätie pred druhým svetovým vojnovým konfliktom. Okrem toho, bola tu veľká hospodárska kríza, prohibícia a rodinná tragédia - ťažko chorá matka.

Všetko toto je však prezentované v zlatom nostalgickom osvetlení, z perspektívy dieťaťa. Styron dokáže zobrazovať charakteristiky postáv prostredníctvom jemných epizódy. Poviedky plynú hladko, bez náhlejších zvratov. Skôr sa vyvíjajú v rozprávaní smerom do hĺbky, dovnútra jednotlivých postav a vykresľujú konflikty a vypätie bežných ľudí v situáciách, ktoré sú v podstate obyčajné, ale zároveň môžu byť veľmi kruté. Je to niečo, čo môže byť alebo sa môže stať.

Styron nevystupuje s žiadnym moralizovaním, ale poskytuje množstvo láskavosti a úcty k svojim postavám. Výsledkom je knižka, ktorá je jednoducho nádherná a poskytuje čitateľovi široký spektár emócií.

This piece of writing is truly very evocative.

The descriptions are so meaty that you simply have to reread the sentences for the sheer magnificent use of imagery.

It has the power to transport the reader into a different world, painting vivid pictures in their minds.

The author's choice of words and phrases creates a sensory experience that is both engaging and captivating.

Each sentence seems to be carefully crafted to evoke a specific emotion or atmosphere.

Whether it's the description of a beautiful landscape, a tense moment, or a character's inner thoughts, the imagery used is truly magnificent.

It makes the reader feel as if they are right there, experiencing everything along with the characters.

Overall, this is a piece of writing that stands out for its evocative power and the masterful use of imagery.

Many people claim that they have the intention to write a novel. However, the vast majority of us never actually get around to doing it. Some may teeter on the verge of starting but, for some reason, still fail to take that crucial step. A few of us, like myself, are given a push. In my case, it was William Styron who "pushed" me. It may seem strange for an Australian to say this, but it is indeed true. "Sophie's Choice" had a profound impact on me and remained in my mind for a long time. In fact, the only way I could truly get rid of its hold on me was to write my own novel. I desired, in some small way, to have the same effect on a reader as Styron had on me. This has been my aim and still remains so.

Recently, I was able to bring the remainder of my books into the house from the garage. As I was putting them all away, I set aside this particular book to read. It was the last William Styron novel I had yet to read. Earlier this month, I began "Tidewater Morning" and was immediately reminded of why he is one of my favorite writers. And also why he pushed me. In a curious way, reading his prose felt like coming home. I also found it meaningful to read this book within a week or so of "Go Set a Watchman". These three stories seem to complement Lee's book. This is not surprising, as both authors were born within a few years of each other.

As Styron explains: "The tales are an imaginative reshaping of real events and are linked by a chain of memories. The memories are of a single place - the Virginia Tidewater of the 1930s."

The first story, "Love Day", is about a young marine on the verge of invading Japan during WWII. While listening to his commanding officer tell a long-winded story, our marine recalls a distant day with his parents after their Oldsmobile broke down beside a peanut field near the Virginia Carolina line.

In "Shadrach", an incredibly old and ill black man turns up one day at the property where he used to be a slave decades ago. "From Shadrach's breast there now came a gentle keening sound which, commencing on a note of the purest grief, startled me by the way it resolved itself suddenly into a mild faraway chuckle; the moonshine was taking hold. The pink clapper of a tongue lolled in the cave of the jagged old mouth. Shadrach grinned."

"Ask him how old he is, Paul," came the command.

I asked him. "Nimenime" was the glutinous reply.

"He says he's ninety-nine years old," I reported, glancing up from the ageless abyss.

"Ninety-nine! Well, I'll be goddamned!"

In the title story, the same narrator remembers the day his mother died. It is a powerful, yet subtle and heart-wrenching story.

I'll let his wonderful prose speak for itself.

"We heard the noise of shuffling feet, a thumping, raised voices. The doctor hurried through the living room and up the stairs while I followed, aware that the sound, or sounds, my mother was making was no longer a scream but a choked ebb and flow of breath, as if screaming had been so bottled up by exhaustion that all that could emanate form the core of her torment was a reedy and strengthless wail. Yet somehow she managed to form words, and the words I heard were: "Jeff, Jeff! Hold me!" Highly recommended.

I happened to come across this book in a local second-hand bookstore.

It was the title that really caught my attention. As you know, I have a deep affection for the Tidewater region.

The three stories included in this book are filled with some truly brilliant descriptions and vivid imagery.

These stories have really made me think deeply, and I find myself still pondering over them.

In fact, I may very well read them again before I can offer a more in-depth and longer review.

Each story seems to have its own unique charm and message, and I want to make sure I fully understand and appreciate all the details before sharing my thoughts with others.

I'm looking forward to delving deeper into these stories and uncovering more of their hidden gems.

I'm not usually a big fan of short stories. However, the author of this collection wrote about three times in his life, and the stories are connected, which I really liked.

His writing is extremely expressive and profound. It has the power to draw the reader in and make them feel as if they are a part of the story.

That being said, I was very disappointed in the first story. It just didn't live up to my expectations and was the only reason this book didn't receive a 5-star rating from me.

Overall, though, this is a great book club pick. I can't wait to discuss it with my fellow club members in February. There are so many interesting themes and ideas to explore, and I'm sure it will lead to some great conversations.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys thought-provoking literature and doesn't mind reading short stories. It's definitely worth checking out!