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Superb writing in an outstanding and for me, absolutely memorable geographic placement. 80/ 100 miles either side of the Alabama / Georgia border-toward the North.

What a gift for Christmas week this family tale and Father Charlie's life story is. For sure the best and most singular to exact metaphor, dialect, comparisons and bonding emotions that I've read in many a year. And this goes in my top 5 for this decade (all I have read) without question. My book has a 2001 copyright and Bragg's works are not in great numbers within my library system. That I can possibly change.

Ava and Charlie and their 8 offspring! And the years of the Great Depression! And all the wild open river lands of these back woods and hills! And the before and the afterwards of "better than before". But always moving from rental to rental. All of them as they are added. And also Hootie too, don't forget Hootie! All alive, so alive. Within lyrical and poetic spirits of varying but also of highest natures' tales. Anger served too for purposes justified.

It's chronological, it's inclusive (no cliff hangers unrevealed to their conclusions) and it's just the best savvy nuance writing too. Altogether and as strongly Southern as Charlie's "homemade" product.

Too many good quotes to add just a couple. Many made me laugh. As the comparison to the "in house" alcohol producing stile outfit which made Charlie's insignificant, be it next door that particular year. Charlie's was noticed "as much as a gum bubble pop at Mardi Gras". Lovely, lovely succinct phrasing- just like that but natural world splendor never over looked in the longer and lyrical descriptions.

He (Charlie) should have a stone or brass statue in the center of the square in Jacksonville standing today. The 19th century working man! Father, husband, friend, woodsman swinging his hammer.

No question that I will read his other novels. He writes people and place into life.