World Famous Comics: Walking Across Egypt (Ballantine Reader's Circle)
Walking Across Egypt (Ballantine Reader's Circle)
By: Clyde Edgerton Publisher: Ballantine Books Average Rating: Binding: Paperback Label: Ballantine Books Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 240 Publication Date: June 23, 1997 Release Date: June 23, 1997
Product Description: She has as much business keeping a stray dog as she would walking across Egypt–which not so incidentally is the title of her favorite hymn. She’s Mattie Rigsbee, an independent, strong-minded senior citizen who, at seventy-eight, might be slowing down just a bit. When teenage delinquent Wesley Benfield drops in on her life, he is even less likely a companion than the stray dog. But, of course, the dog never tasted her mouth-watering pound cake. Wise and witty, down-home and real, Walking Across Egypt is a book for everyone.
"Walking Across Egypt" Excellent character development. Quick, easy reading. Not what I call great literature but certainly very good fiction. The book left me with a couple thoughts that I will not forget. I will read more by this author.
Homespun charms, plodding and tedious plot I am in the minority of reviewers; I did not care for this story very much. It is funny in places and as a lifelong southerner, I know it is quite authentic in its details. If you like to read mostly easy-going character thoughts, motives and actions against a rural southern backdrop you may like this, but the plot line takes entirely too long to develop and is not very intriguing.
There are a few extensive scenes which do not seem to tie into plot development, but just character details and some cute humor. The first half of the book thoroughly introduces the main character Mattie, and her slow southern life, with some small preparation of the interplay between her and Wesley; but that's about it - first half the book, not much plot. It slowly builds thereafter.
A bright spot for the unabridged audio CD version - the reader is fantastic. He shows why he is an award winning reader by switching between character voices fluidly, singing as Mattie (rather well) and even as Wesley sometimes.
The contrast character to Mattie is Wesley. He is the anti-thesis of Mattie and I got where I could not stand to hear from him. He is an idiot, not even a competent criminal. I understand he is an adolescent and Mattie wants to help him, but I just wanted to ring his neck. Sadly, there really are such people but still Wesley sometimes seemed like a caricature of such a person.
I think this may not be the right sort of story for me, I was experimenting a bit since I normally read non-fiction, but I enjoy a little fiction as well - it is probably best to take my opinion with a grain of salt: this story has homespun, charming details, cute humor and a simple, nearly boring plot.
Southern fiction at its best If you're a fan of Flannery O'Connor, you'll love Walking Across Egypt. Though by no means does Edgerton surpass the greatness of O'Connor, he certainly rivals her ability to place us in a believable environment of Small Town South. Any writer's greatest attribute is when he or she makes us feel that we are square in the middle of their world. Though Robert Paul Blumenstein's Flirtin' with Jesus is set in "Big City South," the feel is the same, that both Edgerton and Blumenstein have captured that southern flavor in their works.
A few writers call themselves southern fiction writers simply because they set a story in the geographic area known as the Southern United States, while others are able to really capture the essense of southern people in their works. Southerns are different, which is neither good nor bad, it's a "just is." Writers like Flannery O'Connor have set the standard for southern fiction by recreating the essense of who these southern people are and I believe Edgerton certainly stands tall amongst contemporary southern writers who continue to uphold that standard.
Surprised delight. Reading this delightful little story provided me with surprising and pleasing experiences remembering family and neighbors very like Edgerton's characters. Also I found the themes of aging and family intriguing.
Funny and Sweet Mattie is a little old church going lady who lives alone and gets mixed up with Wesley, a 15 year old jailbird. Her children, a grown son and daughter, are horrified. So are the neighbors,and her fellow church members. But Mattie and Wesley are innocents; Mattie determined to "do good", and Wesley was just there for the cooking. At one point he tried to steal a cake. There is something special about this story, you'd have to read it to understand. And it is truly one of the funniest books I have ever read. The story is wonderful, but the five stars are for making me laugh out loud, not once but all thru the book.
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