I decided to read this book after seeing the movie, SHADRACH, on television.

It was an extremely great movie that really captured my attention.

Once I discovered that it was based on William Styron's story, "Shadrach," my curiosity was piqued, and I immediately wanted to read the original story.

I managed to find it in A TIDEWATER MORNING.

The movie follows the story very closely, with the only difference being that it extends the story beyond the ending in the book.

All three of the extended short stories in A TIDEWATER MORNING are truly very good.

After reading this, I am now strongly tempted to read more of his work.

In fact, I have already read one of his books, DARKNESS VISIBLE, several times.

It is, without a doubt, the best book that accurately describes what depression is really like.

Styron's writing is so powerful and engaging that it makes me eager to explore more of his literary masterpieces.

I have a deep admiration for William Styron. His works have always intrigued me with their profound insights and masterful storytelling. However, this particular collection left me rather disheartened.

I found his writing in this collection to be deliberately pretentious. It seemed as if he was trying too hard to impress the readers with his literary prowess, rather than simply telling a good story. The language was overly flowery and convoluted, making it difficult to engage with the narrative on a deeper level.

Moreover, the themes in this collection were either too vague or too blatant. There was no nuance or middle ground, which made the stories feel one-dimensional. Some of the themes were so obvious that they bordered on being clichéd, while others were so abstract that I struggled to understand their significance.

In conclusion, this collection was a disappointment for me. While I still have a great deal of respect for William Styron as a writer, this particular work failed to live up to my expectations. I hope that in the future, he will return to the form that made him such a beloved author in the first place.

The title story is truly incredible.

Here, a 13-year-old Styron stand-in witnesses his mother succumbing to cancer. The way it is presented is poised, gentle, and as beautiful as a sunset. It serves as a perfect model for what a coming of age story should be. In fact, it can be considered the platonic ideal of a coming of age story.

However, unfortunately, Styron's racism mars both this story and the rest of the collection. I have the distinct feeling that he was raised in an intensely racist environment and then spent his entire adulthood attempting to shake off those ingrained beliefs. While he may have achieved some level of success in his own time, it is clear that his views do not align with the values of our modern era.

Nonetheless, despite this flaw, the title story still holds a certain charm and power that cannot be ignored. It is a reminder of the complex and often flawed nature of human beings, and how even our greatest works can be marred by our personal prejudices.

I'm not sure what was more cringe-worthy. Was it the run-on sentences that seemed to go on forever without proper punctuation? Or perhaps it was the flagrant racism that was so blatant and offensive. Yikes! It was truly a disturbing sight.

However, things took a turn for the better after an insightful book club. In that club, we delved deep into the stories, analyzing and discussing them from various perspectives. Through this process, I found a new and better appreciation for the stories. I began to see the hidden meanings, the complex characters, and the beautiful prose that I had previously overlooked. It was as if a new world had opened up to me, and I was grateful for the opportunity to experience it.

The book club had truly been a transformative experience, and I will always remember it as a time when my understanding and love for literature grew exponentially.

The central theme of these three stories is death, which disrupts the normal order of life by stirring up settled emotions and thoughts.

In the first story, death only emerges as a possibility. It lurks in the background, casting a shadow over the characters' lives. The anticipation of death creates a sense of unease and uncertainty.

In the second story, death becomes reality through the death of a stranger, an old man. This unexpected event forces the characters to confront the finality of life. It makes them question their own mortality and the meaning of their existence.

In the last story, death becomes as direct an experience as possible. The protagonist is faced with the imminent death of a loved one. This forces him to come to terms with his own emotions and feelings about death.

As a fully matured man conjures up his youth, the reader would expect that the dominant tone should be some kind of resignation or wisdom originating from unworldly consolation. But there is neither self-deception nor encouragement here. The readers, as well as the characters of the story, are facing the incomprehensible, immutable, and indigestible idea of death. It is a harsh reality that cannot be ignored or逃避. The stories explore the various ways in which people deal with death, from denial and acceptance to fear and grief. They show that death is an inevitable part of life, and that we must all learn to come to terms with it in our own way.

It truly feels like it is nearly Styron's writing. This implies that he always had the innate gift of writing. I absolutely loved these three short stories. They were so captivating and engaging that they made me eagerly desire more. The way the stories were crafted, with their unique characters and interesting plotlines, kept me hooked from start to finish. Each story had its own charm and essence, and I found myself completely immersed in the worlds that were created. I can't wait to explore more of the author's works and see what other wonderful stories he has in store. The writing was so good that it left a lasting impression on me, and I will definitely be recommending these short stories to others.

I truly relished these three captivating stories that vividly描绘了the experiences of growing up in rural Virginia during the 1930s and 1940s.

Each narrative offered a unique glimpse into a bygone era, filled with the simplicity and charm of country life.

The descriptions of the landscapes, from vast fields to small, sleepy towns, painted a vivid picture in my mind.

I could almost feel the warm sun on my face and smell the fresh air as I followed the characters through their daily adventures.

These stories not only entertained but also provided valuable insights into the values and traditions of that time period.

It was a fascinating journey back in time, and I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to experience it through these wonderful tales.

Three beautiful short stories. These stories are truly captivating and almost deserve a five-star rating in my book. However, for some reason, they just fall short of that perfect score. I'm not entirely certain why this is the case. It could potentially be due to the mood I was in when I read them. Despite this, there is no denying that they are beautiful stories. Each one has its own unique charm and appeal, drawing the reader in and taking them on a journey of emotions. The characters are well-developed, and the plots are engaging and thought-provoking. Overall, these short stories are a great read and I would highly recommend them to anyone looking for a bit of literary entertainment.

Bill Styron's works are truly captivating. They go down like a smooth velvet after dinner cordial, leaving a lasting and pleasant impression.

I find myself completely immersed in his writing, as if I could drink it in every single day. It has a unique charm and allure that keeps pulling me back.

Take 'Shadrach' for example. It was an exquisite piece of literature. The way Styron weaves the story, creates the characters, and sets the mood is simply masterful.

His words paint vivid pictures in my mind, allowing me to experience the story as if I were right there with the characters. It's no wonder that Bill Styron is considered a great writer.

His works have the power to touch the heart and soul, and I look forward to exploring more of his writing in the future.

This is probably the most enchanting drama I've read in the last 10 years.

When you start reading it, it's as if you are gently opening a door to a bygone era.

The story unfolds like a beautiful画卷, revealing a world that is both old and simple.

Each character is vividly drawn, with their own unique personalities and emotions.

The plot is filled with twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat, eager to find out what happens next.

It's not just a drama, but a journey into the past, a reminder of the beauty and sadness that exists in life.

Must read! It will touch your heart and leave you with a lasting impression.

Lots of great imagery of Tidewater in the 1930s is presented in this work. The detailed descriptions paint a vivid picture of that era, transporting the readers back in time. The stories are so engaging that they effortlessly sweep you in. Although the overall tone is not terribly uplifting, it is an absorbing read that keeps you hooked from start to finish. The author's ability to create such a captivating atmosphere and tell these tales with authenticity makes this a worthwhile literary experience. Whether you are interested in history or simply enjoy a well-written story, this work has something to offer. It allows you to explore the life and times of Tidewater in the 1930s, and gain a deeper understanding of that particular period.

There is an excellent sense of both place and time in these three stories. They are fictionalized accounts of different periods in the author's life in Tidewater Virginia.

I decided to read the book after seeing the movie Shadrach which is based on the middle of the three stories. The movie had piqued my interest and I wanted to explore the original source.

But the story I liked best was the third, the title story, A Tidewater Morning. It tells of one morning in young Paul Whitehurst's life as his mother lay dying of cancer. The description of the emotions and the setting was so vivid that it felt as if I was right there with Paul.

Styron had an amazing vocabulary and the ability to create interesting and well-developed characters. His words painted a detailed picture of the people and the place, making it easy for the reader to immerse themselves in the story.

Overall, I found the book to be a captivating read and would highly recommend it to others.