Reviewed by Mrs. Winnie Coalson in 1963, and Kristin in 2024
I came across a book review of the above title written by a
public librarian in the Bristol Herald Courier over sixty years ago. Mrs.
Winnie Coalson wrote many reviews, and is one of a long line of librarians who
have worked at the Bristol Public Libra
Mrs. Coalson discussed the informal nature of the book, and
said “it is generously seasoned with ‘salty’ stories of the picturesque characters
he knew in his early years.” I suspect that Mrs. Coalson’s idea of “salty” is
rather innocent compared to our current standards. In the first chapter, Ford
starts with a story of the preacher coming over for dinner and blessing the
food for a little too long, much to the consternation of Ford’s mother.
Ford starts with his early life and continues through to his
life in show business. He discusses the values he learned from his parents, and
how he was taught to treat every person with respect.
I appreciate the flavor of Mrs. Coalson’s review, and gave a
chuckle at the fast that she also said, “His book has no literary value, nor is
it meant to have. It is, and is mean to be, a thirty chapter ‘cracker barrel’
kind of…informal familiar conversation.” I imagine that his rambles in writing
must compare well to his conversational style in real life.
Complete with black and white drawings and several pages of
black and white photographs, this short volume is a lovely snapshot of
Tennessee Ernie Ford’s life. I am glad to have come across it, as well as this
found book review from the Bristol Herald Courier on December 28, 1963.
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