This is a brilliant observation of rural Southern life from dark to side-splitting; always affectionate and often surprising. It is infused with the compassion of a skilled but humble healer. It is an unusual juxtaposition of broad literary and poetic references and the unique rural, Southern witticisms and dialect.

This novel is equal to some of the best works of American literature. In a style reminiscent of Mark Twain, but with a sure voice of his own, Ferrol Sams has crafted an absolute masterpiece. The first two books in this series were phenomenal, but When All the World was Young tops even them.

The book is structured as a series of stories, all interconnected as a narrative. Each of these episodes fits in nicely with the preceding and following stories. There are a few subtle references to the earlier books, but this novel can be enjoyed independantly. If you are unfamiliar with the series, I would reccomend that you read the previous books first.

This is the rare novel that manages to be both laugh-out-loud funny, philisophical, and touching all at once. Porter (the protagonist) struggles with religion, racism, Southern culture, his attitude towards his father, women, medicine, the Army, and World War II. He is an unforgettable character: very sympathetic - naive, yet somehow worldy at the same time.

If your reading interests include serious works of literature by contemporary artists, you simply must read this book. I could not put it down the first time I read it, and have come back to it again and again.

I can't believe the series is over (this is the last book of a trilogy), it is like losing a friend. I have loved seeing life through "Sambo's" eyes. Ferol Sams is a master story teller and anyone who wants to understand the South in pre-WWII America has to read this book. It recalls a different gentler time.

Ferrol Sams is one of the best authors in the US, not because of his writing, content or anything of technical nature, but because he does everything from the heart and makes it applicable to readers of all ages. I cannot think of a single soul who would not enjoy his works, as everyone seems to have a bit of Porter Longstreet Osborne, Jr. inside himself. I give this trilogy as birthday and Christmas gifts and have enjoyed them over and over myself. A definite read.

Much like its predecessor Run With The Horsemen, The Whisper Of The River is a delightful read if you accept it for what it is - a thoroughly entertaining, unpretentious novel that makes no claims to be more than that. Ferrol Sams is a talented storyteller with a gift for developing characters and settings rich in authenticity. In this novel, the second in Sams' trilogy, Porter Osborne, Jr. entertains us with his college years, full of new friendships, coming-of-age experiences, and fraternity pranks. The novel introduces an impressive cast of entertaining characters, including a crude, football-playing roommate, a pretentious French professor, and a spirited, jovial cafeteria employee. Porter forms special bonds with each character he encounters, and it is these friendships that form the heart of his college years.

My one and only complaint is the same one that I had with the first book in the trilogy. The writing lacks any sense of realism, and feels a bit too sugar-coated. Porter is constantly doing good, and rarely experiences setbacks or hardships. Sams would have done well to take some risks in his writing. Instead, he chose the easier approach of simply creating a pleasant read.

This book is the second book in Ferrol Sams trilogy about the adventures of "The Boy", otherwise known as Porter Osborne, Jr.. I read through the first entitled "Run with the Horsemen" and was bowled over by the wit, charm, hilarity, and just plain engaging writing style of the author. The first book ended suddenly at an event around graduation from high school and "The Whisper of the River" picks up shortly after as Porter prepares to go to the college his distant but beloved father went to.

The events in this book are written simply as they happen and are to be enjoyed on that level. You are basically the 'fly on the wall' as the brilliant backwoods farmboy goes to college in the late 1930s. His adventures range from poignant to side splittingly funny (and it is hard to make me laugh) in a seemingly random way, but anyone who has lived on campus for four years will 'understand'. Porter learns much in and out of the classroom that he never knew existed back on his family's farm in rural Georgia. His campus time starts in the fall of 1938 so the events leading up to World War II and the ending of The Great Depression play active roles.

If "Run with the Horsemen" brought smiles and enjoyment to you, you will absolutely not want to miss out on Porter's further adventures. I didn't think the mule named 'Pet' incident in the first book could be topped for screaming, side-splitting laughter, but Ferrol has several incidents in "The Whisper of the River" that may put you in the hospital from laughing til it really hurts!

Sams is not Faulkner, but this is no beach fluff either. You will be much better for the effort. Highly recommended.

It's been over 10 years since I first read the book. Recommended by a fellow (presbyterian) clergyman, I looked at the jacket of the book he was showing me only to be stunned to realize that it was about a boy who attended the same college I attended, in a state far away. Not only that, but in reading the book, I discovered that I'd resided for a time in the same dormitory room, albeit several decades past the late 1930's. The book was painfully and poignantly real, from the descriptions of life in that particular dormitory room (I can see the room and scenery outside the windows even to this day) to life in Macon (some of the stories and experiences he went through were almost eerily familiar). Ferrol Sams is an incredibly gifted writer who I wish had started writing years earlier. His corpus of books, though relatively small, are all treasures and treasured. BTW, having graduated years earlier then a previous reviewer, let me point out that "Willingham University" was taken from what was then Willingham Chapel, not "Auditorium". It was during the 1970's that the former baptist church next door to Willingham Chapel was sold to Mercer and became the Newton Chapel at Mercer. At that point, Willingham Chapel became Willingham Auditorium.

This is such a beautiful story. I loved all the characters, especially the young boy. You just feel so good as you read each chapter. Would make a perfect gift to anyone who loves to read.

A friend sent me a paperback copy of this book for a present recently. I had never heard of it before (I am a "Yankee" by birth) but, got around to reading it. (...) Ferrol Sams is one of the most witty and insightful storytellers I have ever read, and that includes Faulkner and Richard Ford! Anyone from age 14 on up who appreciates a great, fun read will absolutely love this novel. It is the first novel of a trilogy from this still writing Georgian author and doctor. You will feel the part of a kid again reading about the exploits of the brilliant but small "Boy" named Porter Osborne Jr. on his family's Georgia farm during the Great Depression. It doesn't matter what part of America you are from, you will love this brilliant example of true storytelling! BUY IT AND LET THE FUN BEGIN!!!

I always bought a lot of books in a local book store and , based on books I had purchased ,the clerk would occasionally recommend books she thought I would enjoy. She recommended Run With the Horsemen and I bought it. My husband and I always seem to read at night before falling asleep. This book turned out to be one that you couldn't put down. I would start laughing and couldn't stop. My husband read it as soon as I was finished. He reacted the same way. He said you'd think this would be a man's book (the author's service experiences) but even though the subject itself might not have caught my eye, the author has a way of writing that any avid reader would enjoy. I have since purchased the rest of his books and enjoyed them also.

I bought this book as a Christmas gift for my grandmother. It was the last gift, and probably the best I've given her. The Christmas Ferrol Sams describes was the different and, at the same time, the same as the Christmases I experienced as a child. Christmas Gift is a loving tribute to long passed days and the memories our families created and passed on from one generation to the next.

Each year, at Thanksgiving or near Christmas, we drive to a nearby town for the celebration of a family holiday. We take this audiotape with us. And after many years, it remains fresh and new. Ferrol Sams has not only the magic gift of story-telling, he also IS a storyteller. This is priceless.

This story allows one to get lost in a time gone by, when life was slower and simpler. Family was treasured then and you would have given your shirt to get home to that family, especially at Christmas. Ferroll Sams really shares some of the most endearing traits of the South that will make Southerners close their eyes to day-dream about their past, and leave other readers wishing they could truly relate.

Each story strikes a cord of familiarity. Wth funny, touching and heart warming recollections of what feel like real life events, Sams, as usual, makes you laugh and cry. One story reminded me so much of my father, I wondered if he was the model! The reader experiences the depth of involvement all good "old-fashioned docs" have with interesting patients. As well, one gets a humurous look at the restrictions placed on health care by ignorant bureaucrats, The interaction between husband and wife in another story hits home for all married couples who have laughed at adverse conditions together - and suffered through them to reach even greater understanding of each other. For all of us as we grow older and remember what it was like to be an all-knowing teen, the third story stops you in your tracks as you reflect on where you have been and where you are going. A wonderful read that reaches deep inside and grabs you where you "feel".