A TIDEWATER MORNING by William Styron is a remarkable collection. It brings together three short novellas, all set in the Tidewater area of Virginia. Styron, the author of the Pulitzer Prize winning works like THE CONFESSIONS OF NAT TURNER (1967) and SOPHIE'S CHOICE (1979), almost surely drew heavily on his youthful years in that area while writing these stories.

Styron's use of language is splendid, which keeps the readers engaged and longing for more. It is his last work of fiction before his passing in 2006.

Reviewer "Malcolm" has summarized the three stories. In the first, a young Marine, trained to kill and seemingly eager to enter combat, secretly feels relieved when he discovers that his unit won't participate in an upcoming invasion.

The second story tells an episode about a family who initially seem to be "poor white trash" but ultimately show a rare compassion and humanity.

The title story is a heart-wrenching account of a thirteen-year-old boy. He is navigating his transition into manhood while dealing with his mother's terminal illness and the impact it has had on his parents and himself.

All three stories, exploring themes such as death, loss, war, growing up, and racism, are exquisitely crafted. They offer deep insights into the human condition and are a testament to Styron's literary genius.

What a remarkable writer he was!

His words had the power to transport me to a different place and time, making me feel an intense longing for Virginia.

The way he described the landscapes, the people, and the emotions associated with that place was truly captivating.

It was as if he had painted a vivid picture in my mind, and I couldn't help but get lost in it.

His writing style was so unique and engaging that it made me want to visit Virginia again, to experience all that he had written about firsthand.

Even though I was far away, his words managed to bring a sense of familiarity and warmth, making me feel a connection to a place that I loved.

He was indeed a talented writer, and his work will always hold a special place in my heart.

The Tidewater Virginia landscape and society served as a rich source of inspiration for William Styron's creative imagination. The three stories in his collection A Tidewater Morning, published in 1993, all share a deep sense of the Hampton Roads' landscape and culture. As Styron neared the end of his literary career, he chose to look back on his youth in this work, through an imaginative reshaping of real events linked by memory.

Styron was highly regarded as one of the top novelists of his generation in post-World War II American literature, often compared to Southern Renascence writers like Thomas Wolfe. However, in contrast to Wolfe's prolific output, Styron was sometimes sporadic in his writing. After his debut novel Lie Down in Darkness in 1951, it took nine years for his next major novel Set This House on Fire to be published, and there were long intervals between his other works as well.

Despite the gaps in his output, the stories in A Tidewater Morning are carefully crafted and emotionally engaging. The first story, "Love Day," reflects on Styron's time in the Marines during World War II. The narrator, Paul Whitehurst, recalls the anticipation and rumors surrounding their training for the invasion of Okinawa. The story also includes a flashback to a childhood drive in the Virginia countryside, showing how Styron drew from life in his fiction.

"Shadrach" is set in 1935 and tells the story of an old African-American man who walks 600 miles from Alabama to see the millpond at the old Dabney plantation where he lived as a slave. The Dabney family, once prominent, has fallen on hard times, and the patriarch, Vernon Dabney, is unhappy about Shadrach's return. However, like everyone else in the story, he is grudgingly respectful of Shadrach's integrity and the heroic quality of his quest.

The title story, "A Tidewater Morning," is set in 1938 and follows Paul Whitehurst as he deals with the impending death of his mother from cancer. He finds solace in the familiar landscapes of his hometown, and the story includes beautiful descriptions of a favorite pier. The collection as a whole shows Styron's talent for recreating life in the Tidewater region, and while the stories may be briefer and less ambitious than his major novels, they are still the work of a gifted writer.

A really fine small collection of short stories from a master writer!

It is such that it causes much envy in me because I truly wish I could pen stories in a similar vein.

The stories are set from approximately 1935 to 1944. They are connected by the narrator, who is thinking back on life.

There is a ten-year-old observing his neighbors and witnessing the arrival of an elderly ex-slave.

There is also a thirteen-year-old paperboy contemplating his mother's illness.

And a twenty-year-old Marine off the coast of Japan. Styron is recalling his youth in eastern Virginia near the military shipyards.

It definitely has an autobiographical feel to it.

This is a really nice volume that offers a fascinating glimpse into the past and the minds of the characters.

It is a collection that is sure to engage and delight readers with its rich and vivid storytelling.

A very beautiful discovery within the framework of the challenge #maiennouvelles!

This challenge has led to the uncovering of something truly remarkable. It's like stumbling upon a hidden gem in a vast treasure trove. The excitement that comes with this discovery is palpable. It has the potential to open up new possibilities and avenues of exploration. Whether it's a new idea, a unique perspective, or a previously unknown fact, this discovery is sure to have a significant impact. It makes one wonder what other wonderful things might be waiting to be found within the context of this challenge. It serves as a reminder that there is always more to discover, and that challenges can often lead to unexpected and wonderful outcomes.

As we continue to engage with the challenge #maiennouvelles, we look forward to seeing what other beautiful discoveries lie ahead.

A Tidewater Morning: Three Tales from Youth by William Styron offers a captivating journey into the author's past.

The three stories, as declared in the Author's Note, reflect Styron's experiences at different ages. In "Love Day," set in 1945, we follow a young Marine awaiting orders for the Okinawa invasion, grappling with his inner turmoil. The story is enriched with period details and flashbacks that add depth.

"Shadrach," set in 1935, is a more complex tale. A middle-class boy envies the life of a fallen white trash family, and a 99-year-old ex-slave returns to die. The story is painstaking in its recall of rural Depression-era details and explores themes of envy, race, and mortality.

The title story, "A Tidewater Morning," set in 1938, shows a boy rebelling against his paper-route boss while his mother dies of cancer and his father crumbles. The story concludes with the boy and his father having epiphanies.

Overall, A Tidewater Morning has its plusses and minuses. The overly-written-about and revisited themes can be a bit tiresome, and the narrative shortcuts are sometimes rickety. However, the pleasures of atmosphere, detail, and the occasional lovely phrase make up for these shortcomings. I highly recommend Styron to those who haven't read him yet.

Wonderfully evocative, beautifully written short stories have the power to transport readers to different worlds and emotions.

These concise tales are like precious gems, shining with vivid imagery and profound themes.

The authors of such short stories possess a remarkable ability to create complex characters and engaging plots within a limited space.

They use their words skillfully to paint detailed pictures in the minds of the readers, making them feel as if they are right there in the story.

Whether it's a story of love, loss, adventure, or mystery, each one has the potential to touch the heart and leave a lasting impression.

Short stories can be read in a single sitting, making them a perfect choice for those who want to escape into a different reality for a brief moment.

They are a testament to the beauty and power of the written word, and a source of inspiration for writers and readers alike.

This book was presented to us by my AP Lit teacher for our perusal.

It is not a terrible book, yet it is by no means my favorite.

William Styron is indeed a remarkable author, but this particular work is not the kind of book that I have a penchant for reading.

I encourage you to give it a try and form your own opinion based on your reading experience.

The characters in the book are well-developed, and the stories within are also engaging.

However, it may not be the most enjoyable reading material for everyone.

It requires a certain level of concentration and effort to fully understand and appreciate the depth of the book.

Nonetheless, it is still a worthwhile read, especially for those who are interested in exploring different literary styles and themes.

I thought the book came across as kind of pompous.

Maybe it was because I just couldn't relate to the numerous references to things that were completely unknown to me.

The characters' conversations seemed highly unbelievable, lacking in authenticity and failing to engage me on an emotional level.

Overall, I found the book to be slow-paced and rather bland. It just didn't have the energy and excitement that I was hoping for.

However, I have to admit that some of the descriptions in the book were quite nice. They painted vivid pictures in my mind and added a touch of beauty to the otherwise lackluster narrative.

Despite these few redeeming qualities, I still couldn't help but feel disappointed with the book as a whole.

William Styron's fiction that doesn't possess some length often lacks the long, detailed, and total involvement that I adore. It's that willingness to let the gorgeous prose just flow and flow. However, the three short stories that constitute "A Tidewater Morning" are really quite good.

The stories, all published in the 1980s and reprinted here as linked tales from the life of Paul Whitehurst at different ages - 20, 10, and 13 - are interesting reflections featuring transformative events in his young life. There are no slam-bang conclusions or neatly tied-up plots. Instead, there are just strong, emotionally involving tales from youth with enough of Styron's great prose to satisfy.

In the first story, "Love Day," Paul is on a ship approaching Japan during World War II. The ship's task is a feint while the Americans launch the "real" attack elsewhere. Paul, an only child, contemplates episodes from his youth, especially those involving his father. The reflections hit him harder than he anticipated as he moves among his shipmates and commanding officer. It's strong but perhaps the third-best of the tales.

The second story, "Shadrach," is about a 99-year-old black man who, in 1935, returns to his former home - the property where he was a slave in Virginia. The dying man falls in and out of coherency while the family of Paul's young friend tries to soothe the old man in his final days.

In the third, longest, and best tale, 13-year-old Paul copes with his tumultuous family life as his mother dies. Here Styron's writing is almost in full bloom, although in truncated form due to the short story format.

I postponed reading "A Tidewater Morning" for a long time. I guess I thought that taking on Styron in short story form would be a letdown. However, these tales are more thematically linked than I had expected, and both individually and as a whole, I was satisfied. Styron was truly a treasure.

William Styron, widely renowned for his novel, Sophie's Choice, was an outstanding storyteller, a skill vividly demonstrated in these three captivating tales.

All three stories are narrated from the perspective of Paul Whitehurst, a character who seems to be a reflection of Styron himself. The first story, Love Day, harks back to Styron's war experience (not World War II, though). And A Tidewater Morning mirrors the tragic passing of Styron's own mother after a long battle with cancer.

Among the three tales, the second one, Shadrach, stands out as the most successful. It tells the story of a former slave who returns to his birthplace in the final days of his life. Here, Styron truly unleashes his creative powers and delves deep into Southern life during the Great Depression. His prose is smooth, natural, and almost musical in its rhythm. The characters are lifelike and utterly convincing, with voices that resonate clearly and truthfully. Alternately tender, poignant, and humorous, this story is certain to linger in your memory.

The first and third stories, Love Day and A Tidewater Morning, although engaging, don't quite reach the heights of Shadrach. Love Day, which chronicles a Marine facing battle during World War II, is well-written but lacks a certain depth. It doesn't have the strength to stand alone. In contrast, A Tidewater Morning has a complex structure but loses its momentum during the stilted and overly expository arguments between Paul's (Styron's) parents. (Writers always face risks when they incorporate real people into a work of fiction.)

Despite its flaws, A Tidewater Morning remains a thought-provoking and highly enjoyable read. If you haven't read any of Styron's novels, this short collection will offer you a taste of one of America's truly great writers.

This incident really made me think deeply about "Confessions of Nat Turner".

Although the time period it portrays is later, it still focuses on the inherently destructive and dehumanizing impact of slavery.

Moreover, it pays more attention to the petty humiliations suffered by slaves rather than just the shocking abuses.

"Confessions of Nat Turner" is a relatively small-scale book.

The life of the main character unfolds in a natural and unassuming way, rather than being filled with high drama.

After this experience, I realize that I should probably read all of Styron's works.

His writing seems to offer a unique perspective on important historical and social issues, and I believe that by reading more of his books, I can gain a deeper understanding of the complex and often painful history of slavery.

I look forward to exploring Styron's literary world and learning from his works.