I was really looking forward to reading 3 stories, but unfortunately, that wasn't the case.

This piece is rather brief, yet it manages to be touching.

It's quite remarkable how even a short work by William Styron can be so wonderful.

His writing has a certain charm and power that can captivate the reader in just a few words.

Despite its brevity, this piece leaves a lasting impression.

It makes me wonder what other great works Styron has written.

I'm eager to explore more of his literature and discover the depth and beauty within his words.

Great writing

Maybe in the future, I'll come across those 3 stories I was hoping for and be even more amazed by Styron's talent.

I read a review of this book on here and was intrigued by the story of Shadrack, an elderly black man who had once been a slave and returned to the plantation at the age of 99. The other two stories didn't seem as appealing, so I skipped them.

As I delved into this story, I was immediately struck by Styron's remarkable writing skills. I was eager to explore more of his works until I discovered that they were all rather depressing. One was about his own battle with depression, another likely autobiographical one dealt with a highly dysfunctional family, and then there was Sophie's Choice. What a letdown.

This story too, was a disappointment in some ways. However, I have to give it five stars because I recognize true genius when I see it. I craved more in-depth character development. I wanted to know more about Shadrack. This is precisely why I often dislike short stories; they often leave us wanting more despite making a valid point.

In the 1930s, Shadrack walked all the way from Alabama to Virginia to return to the plantation where he had once lived. If he managed to get a ride along the way, it was only from blacks who owned cars. Here, little snippets of information about racism in America begin to surface. America, as I've recently learned, has unfortunately become one of the most racist countries in the world. It's not much better now than it was back then. In this story, we see the police telling the descendant of the plantation owner that he can't bury Shadrack in the plantation cemetery where other blacks had been laid to rest. Instead, he has to go through one of the black churches and be buried on their church grounds. Of course, the man has no money to pay for the burial.

Meanwhile, the white family feeds Shadrack but never bothers to call a doctor to check on his fever. But above all, I'm disappointed because I yearned to know more about Shadrack. This short story just didn't satisfy my curiosity. Still, Styron remains a great writer. And perhaps, if he hadn't been burdened by depression, his books might be more widely read. But that's not his fault. Maybe, simply because I love his writing style, I'll give one of his other books or the other two stories in this collection a try.

Not since Melville has American English been spun so gracefully.

His words danced on the page, creating a symphony of language that entranced readers.

The way he crafted sentences, the rhythm and flow, it was truly a work of art.

As an alumnus, I can't help but beam with pride.

To think that I am part of a community that has produced such a literary giant is both humbling and inspiring.

Melville's influence can still be felt today, in the works of countless writers who have been inspired by his genius.

His novels, with their complex characters and profound themes, continue to resonate with readers around the world.

American English owes a great debt to Melville, and I am proud to be a part of this rich literary tradition.

I had never read Styron before. This was a slim volume consisting of three short stories. At that time, I was in-between books, not having a specific one to engage with. So, I randomly picked up this volume. To my surprise, I found that he is a really good writer. His words have a certain charm and power that draw the reader in. Now, after reading these short stories, I have a strong desire to read more of his works.

I remember that the movie "Sophie's Choice" broke my heart. It was such a tragic and moving story. However, I think I want to read the book as well. I believe that reading the original work might give me a deeper understanding and a more profound experience of the story.

Interestingly, I actually have "The Confessions of Nat Turner" in the Maxson library. I haven't read it yet, but now that I have discovered Styron's talent, I am looking forward to delving into this book and exploring the world that Styron has created within its pages.

Someone had left this slim book in my Little Free Library.

When I saw the name William Styron on the cover, I snatched it right away. Styron is the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Sophie’s Choice and a devastating memoir about his battle with depression among other works.

The three tales in “A Tidewater Morning” are fictionalized accounts from his youth.

In Shadrach, a 99-year-old former Black slave makes his way from Alabama back to Virginia to be buried on the plantation where he’d once been a slave. This creates a dilemma for the family living on the land now.

In Love Day, a young marine lieutenant on a troopship in the Pacific near the end of World War II prepares for an assault on Okinawa while recalling his father helping build some of the warships in the armada.

The strongest story, the title one, recounts a single painful and milestone day for a 13-year-old boy in 1938 whose mother is dying of cancer.

Considered one of the giants of twentieth-century literature, Styron grew up in Virginia. He was the son of progressive parents but the product of a racist community. His upbringing shows in these wonderful stories.

In A Tidewater Morning he writes: "I lived in a racist society and had been inoculated so early against the idea of equality that a part of me supinely went along with the prevailing view that Negroes were a lesser breed of human being. But parental enlightenment and my own conscience—I would like to think it was no more complicated than Huck Finn’s—caused me to know otherwise."

That passage is as relevant today as ever. Styron’s effortless, fluid, and mesmerizing prose style is not found often in contemporary writing. I think this book, at only 142 pages, is a great introduction to Styron. It will be appreciated by anyone who picks it up.

It offers a glimpse into the mind of a great author and the complex world he grew up in. The stories are engaging, thought-provoking, and beautifully written. Whether you are a fan of literature or just looking for a good read, “A Tidewater Morning” is definitely worth checking out.

I came to absorb the history of the Virginia Tidewater - that primordial American demesne where the land was sucked dry by tobacco, laid waste and destroyed a whole century before golden California became an idea, much less a hope or a westward dream. As I delved into this history, I realized that the Dabney farm must have been as nondescript and as pathetic a relic as any of the scores of shrunken, abandoned “plantations” scattered for a hundred miles across the tidelands between the Potomac and the James.

My husband and I share a “river” house with friends. It's a wonderful arrangement. I love the fact that we get along so well that we can own property with this other couple. After years of being friends, we truly feel like family.

I also cherish the fact that we share a love of reading. My friend has a remarkable ability to find books that are perfectly appropriate to our house's setting. Thanks to her eagle eye, I have learned about Smith Island and now Tidewater Virginia.

William Styron was an incredible author. He had a unique way of turning a phrase, using words in such a vivid way that I can clearly envision exactly what he was describing. In the second tale of this book, he used the words mentioned above. He was describing a home in King and Queen County, a place I am somewhat familiar with. I could easily picture the place he described. I know it in my mind's eye.

That is what I truly love about Styron. His words open up worlds to me and help me to understand the people who inhabit them. If you have not yet read Styron, I highly recommend these three long short stories. They won't consume a great deal of your time, but you will find yourself thinking about the people in them long after you close the book.

I truly relished this compilation of long short stories. There are three tales set in the different epochs of the fictional Paul's life, who seemingly bears a striking resemblance to the author himself. Among them, Shadrack was my absolute favorite. I found the voice and the depiction of the elderly black man to be deeply poignant and authentic.

I also had a great liking for the last story. It appeared to me to be so true-to-life regarding a family in the throes of a crisis. It was the era of the Great Depression, with the mother succumbing to cancer, and there were stark differences in the life views of the husband and wife. All of this is overshadowed by the 12-year-old boy, Paul, who is attempting to make sense of himself, his family, and the world surrounding him. The portrayal of Florence was spot-on. I have known family retainers with the same characteristics. I adored her and the way she cared for and safeguarded Paul.

The philosophical disparities between Jefferson and Adelaide were fascinating. She, a liberal, well-educated Northerner, exhibits some profound racial prejudices that she is reluctant to admit, which stands in sharp contrast to her husband, a rural Southerner who seems to be able to accept people at face value. I firmly believe that despite their differences and the dreadful, painful disease that was devouring Addy, they truly loved each other and also loved Paul. My heart went out to that lonely little boy.

Published in 1993, I happened to come across this book on my shelf and suddenly realized that I had never read it. It is a slim volume consisting of three long short stories, and I was by no means disappointed.

All three stories involve the narrator's recollections of his youth as he grew up in the Tidewater area of Virginia.

In the first story, a young Marine, who has been trained to kill and outwardly seems anxious to enter combat, silently acknowledges his relief when he finds out that his unit will not take part in an upcoming invasion.

The second story recounts an episode involving a family. On the surface, they may appear to be "poor white trash", but ultimately they display a compassion and humanity that is rarely seen.

The title story is a heartwrenching account of a thirteen-year-old boy. He is navigating his transition into manhood while coping with the terminal illness of his mother and the profound affect it has had on his parents and himself.

With exquisite prose and a host of memorable characters, Styron provides us with a deep insight into how our lives are not only affected by the experiences of our youth, but also by their memories.

The most captivating, poetic language and stories that emerged from the Mid-war years and the Second World War. However, this is not just a typical war book.

It delves deep into the lives of real people and explores their intricate inter-relations. Through these vivid accounts, we are able to witness the human side of the war, the emotions, the struggles, and the bonds that were formed.

It is a truly great read that takes us on a journey back in time, allowing us to experience the war from a different perspective. The language used is so beautiful and engaging that it draws the reader in and keeps them hooked until the very end.

Whether you are a history buff or simply looking for a good story, this book is sure to satisfy. It offers a unique and unforgettable look at a dark period in our history, while also highlighting the resilience and humanity of those who lived through it.

This was a happy accident.

I had ordered this book from the library, under the impression that it was Styron's non-fiction account of his battle with depression. In fact, the correct title of that work is Darkness Visible. However, what I received was a different kind of treasure.

This book is a collection of three stories, described as “semi-autobiographical” fiction. In reality, they are three coming-of-age stories from Styron's youth, presented as fiction with the names changed.

It was a strange choice, and one that I struggled with throughout the reading. I would have preferred if the author had offered them as a memoir.

Despite this gripe, I must say that the writing here is truly staggering. There is simply no other word to describe it.

I find it challenging to pick up a pen again, even to write a grocery list. Why bother?

When you witness the craft of writing elevated to this level, the only way to endure the pain is to curl up in the fetal position and suck on your fingers.

These three stories are set in the 1930s and 40s, mainly in the American South and Japan during World War II. However, it is more of a love letter to Virginia than to any other place.

The soft green acres that surrounded the place were Elysian; the ancient fields and the wild woods, filled with sweet gum, oak, and redbud, had reverted to the primeval glory of the time of Pocahontas and Powhatan.

The topics explored here are often uncomfortable: segregation, racism, sexuality, cancer, and dying.

It is not a “light” read, but personally, I would read it again and again.

This is a small collection (three) of Styron short stories.

These stories all center around a youth, presumably during his young years, in Tidewater, Virginia in the 1930s and 1940s.

Each story is concise and well-written, clearly demonstrating that Styron has also mastered the short story format.

I have a particular fondness for the first story, "Love Day".

The vivid descriptions and engaging plot of this story truly captured my attention.

It takes the reader on a journey through the experiences and emotions of the characters, making it a truly enjoyable read.

I would highly recommend this collection to anyone who has a penchant for good short stories.

Whether you are a fan of Styron's work or simply enjoy the genre, these stories are sure to satisfy.

So, pick up this collection and immerse yourself in the world of Styron's short stories.

The experience was pretty good but was also very different.

It was a unique encounter that left a lasting impression. At first, I was a bit hesitant as the situation was so unfamiliar. However, as I delved deeper into it, I began to appreciate the differences.

There were new perspectives to explore and novel ideas to consider. It was like opening a door to a whole new world.

The good aspects outweighed any initial concerns. I found myself learning and growing in ways I hadn't anticipated.

This different experience taught me to be more adaptable and open-minded. It was a valuable lesson that I will carry with me in the future.

Overall, it was a memorable and enriching adventure that I'm glad I had.