As fine a coming-of-age story as I've ever read, set in the Kentucky mountains in the early 20th century. Young Sid, the narrator, spends much more time in sober reflection than his huge, comic clan of Tussies, short-sighted hedonists who live on the dole awaiting the next "big time" of dancing and drinking. The magician among the Tussie family is Uncle George, a virtuoso on the fiddle. The first two thirds of the book are fairly predictable, with the Tussies all chasing "easy livin" as hard as they can, but as Sid grows, he starts using his long-term perspective to make some real changes in the final third of the novel as he morphs from mere observer to mover and shaker. The ending was a complete--and delightful--surprise. ( )

A memorable book about an Eastern Kentucky family. Their son had gone to war (WWII) and gotten killed and they recieved some large sum of money from the government. Very much a picture of the time and place. ( )