Friends, Will and Barb Burke, gave me a gift recently, by recommending books they had read, and I have already ordered, and received one of them entitled, "The Essay", written by Robin Yocum, of Westerville, Ohio, copyright 2012. Yocum is a former reporter for the Columbus Dispatch, 1980 to 1991.
The book is a "tough but compassionate story about a poor teenager in southern Ohio who struggles to make good despite his harsh upbringing." According to a publisher's blurb, a quote by another, somewhat local writer, named Donald Ray Pollock, author of, "The Devil All the time and Knockemstiff."
The copy I read was a loaner from the Wellston, Ohio library, which I got from the Portsmouth Public Library. Yocum's 256-page novel, is one of those that was hard to put down for me, and I read it over two days last week. Now I recommend the book to others, and the setting for the story is Jackson, County, Ohio. The story is well crafted, and should be of interest to everybody who enjoys a good story, regardless of its location.
Oh, speaking of books, I spent Wednesday of last week, visiting Barbara Keyser Gargiulo, the Portsmouth native, and owner operator of "Little Miami Publishing Company, of Milford, Ohio. Barbara is putting together, my book; the compilation of several of my High Notes columns written over the past few years. I have written about many of the company's books through the years, and I am happy that Barbara has agreed to publish mine.
It is Thanksgiving week, and the Kegley clan, is gathering at Beaver Creek, near Cincinnati, for the holiday. Thanksgiving has always been special for the family of Forest and Mary Kegley, and I'm happy to report that six of their ten children are still living. We, except for brother George, now of Florida, will attend.