This book is based on the true life of Henry Stuart. Listening to this audio book was the best way to "read" this as the reader sounds just like I imagined Henry to sound.
Well written.

I'm more acquainted with Fairhope, AL than with Tolstoy and that has made all the difference (apologies to RF.) The name Sonny Brewer is vaguely familiar, I'll need to look him up. I went into a bookstore in Fairhope this time last year and wonder if it was his store. At any rate, this BookBabes pick was just the ticket for my mood this summer and the three stars says more about how I feel about that mood than about the book. So, take it as a three out of three stars. That's the max until further notice. Anticipating the discussion amongst the babes, all of whom are familiar with hurricanes and ospreys, I predict there will be good discussion, widespread approval of the choice, and maybe even some winking about the relationship that could have been....between Henry and Kate. looking forward to it!

Demands a trip to Fairhope

Just a few months I will be making a trip to Fairhope, Alabama . There is a round but there that is on our itinerary. This book is a must-read and Fairhope is a city that everyone must see .

I was out numbered in my book club, but many listened to the audio version, which was evidently well done. I made it 1/2 way, but didn’t finish it in time and have no desire to continue. I didn’t care for the writing style, which seemed to me to be in need of an editor.

A real treat and a glimpse into Henry George, a proponent of the "single tax" system in economics. Leo Tolstoy, a fan of George and his work was the framework of this book. A story of a simple man with a clear path of how to die was in fact based on a true story in Fairhope, Alabama where the author still resides. I do recommend this book and I should mention I, too, reside from small town, Alabama.

A stunning book that my 75 year old father gave me on my 51st birthday. Novel rich in content, context, history, spirit that I will read and re read again and again.

Completely unexpected. While set in the 1920's it is a journey we will all be taking someday. And it will be up to each of us to decide how we want to ...

A man seeking peace and acceptance in death

A beautiful story with characters you won't forget! Henry moves from Idaho to Fairhope, AL, seeking to fill his last days with meaning and purpose.

It took me awhile to get into this book; the writing style is definitely more challenging than most novels I've read lately and I wanted to be sure to read slowly and stay focused so I wouldn't miss anything. Soon I was able to do that more easily and could read more pages at a sitting. It is NOT a book to rush through like so many best-sellers are.

This book is for thinking people, who are willing to accept that Henry Stuart, with long white beard and no shoes, is not a crazy man but a deep thinking soul trying to live his life "in concert with others, if not being outright helpful, at least not causing harm. That learned, a life thus lived, allows one to die well." For much of the book he has yet to know this guidepost and therein lies the heart of the story.

For much of the book, I found Henry to be frustrating and I wanted to yell at him to change his ways and lighten up once in awhile. By the time I got to the last chapter I was reading through tears and felt great admiration for his learning process and how far he had come.

My favorite thing about this book is that as Henry goes through his days, things will happen that remind him of something he had read and found purposeful. The author brings forth those connections for us and so we meet Tolstoy, Rilke, Emerson, Dickinson, Frost, Black Elk, Jesus, Peter, and John, among others, all quoted lovingly and meaningfully. The book has a definite literary merit because of this, but never comes across as haughty or beyond reach. I liked that a lot.

Many reviewers of this book object to Henry's lifestyle and selfishness. If you can hold your judgement at bay until the climax and the resolution, it will all be satisfying and enlightening.

This is a great book.

This book is an example of why I love good reads. I would probably not have found it if I had not read one of my connections review. This is a slow meandering book that is full of philosophy and provoking thoughts. I really enjoyed it even though it is not my typical book. I actually was dreading trying to read it for fear it would be too slow, but in the end I could not put it down.

On one of my Thursday afternoon local library trips, this book stood out to me. I was intrigued by the older gentleman protagonist. And, as I have shared in other reviews, I have been reading a lot of stories lately that feature older protagonists. Perhaps I am trying to tell myself something. Or maybe I am being a bit revealing about myself through my reading choices. Or maybe I like the idea that at any age we have the opportunity to discover we are capable of anything. No matter what time of life we are in.

Even the author’s dedication says…

“This book is dedicated to four people who prove to me that getting old does not mean winding down.”

Beautiful, right?

The 4 people he chose in his dedication were individuals who were 92, 80, 80+ and 73. Obviously, his point being, that anything is possible at any age – especially advanced ages.

And, so, it is the same with Henry Stuart, his protagonist. Who in 1925, he learns that he is, at age 67, terminally ill with tuberculosis. Instead of lamenting his diagnosis, readers find Henry taking off his boots and walking home barefoot in the rain. Now doesn’t that put a smile on one’s face?

In the style of Tolstoy, his strongest influence, Henry decides to leave everything he knows – his Idaho, his two sons, his friends, and move to what he presumes will be an uncomplicated life in Fairhope, Alabama.

Why not? It will allow him a simple, final exit to his own life. He will build a round cottage for himself, be self-sufficient, find his inner-self, and then die peacefully.

But that isn’t quite what happens. Something more occurs.

And, that is what readers will enjoy most about this story – a touching peace that teaches and inspires us in ways unexpected.

I'll rewrite the review once I re-read this book. However, I find Sonny Brewer, new on the author scene, to be totally engrossing. His descriptions are so natural and wonderful that you feel like you lived the book rather than just read it. I picked this book to read together with a friend this summer. Although she ended up hating it, it's another illustration of how different authors reach peaople in different ways. I liked this book so much, I put an order in for his second book "A Sound Like Thunder" before it was released. I've told my friend she picks the next book we read together. Life is good! I'm still savoring this book the second time through, enjoying it even more.

I really loved this book! This is a novel written about a man who actually lived. I especially loved the reflections of the poet as he is contemplating how to live the last year the doctor has given him. I especially loved the quotes from poets, Tolstoy, other authors and the reprinting of the poems of the man himself. It is a book I have added to my permanent collection because I will read it over and over.