170 ratings | 0 reviews | avg rating:4.05

David Payne’s Followers (36)

David’s Bookshelves

to-read (0)
currently-reading (0)
read (170)
did-not-finish (0)

David’s Friends (6)

Ron

9 books | 70 friends

Randall

22 books | 511 friends

Naeem

1 book | 9 friends

Elisabeth Lucas

0 books | 6 friends

Julius Raper

0 books | 1 friend

Polly

847 books | 18 friends

David Payne

Goodreads Author

Born

The United States

Website

http://www.davidpaynebooks.com

Genre

Fiction, Memoir

Member Since

January 2015

edit data

David Payne was born in North Carolina and attended the Phillips Exeter Academy and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is the author of five novels-- Confessions of a Taoist on Wall Street, Early From the Dance, Ruin Creek, Gravesend Light, Back to Wando Passo--and a memoir, Barefoot to Avalon: A Brother's Story, forthcoming from Grove Atlantic in August 2015. Visit his author website at www.davidpaynebooks.com.

Linda Barrett Osborne, Washington Post Book World:
"[Payne] understands that place most families inhabit-somewhere between love and necessity, between truth and myth, between self and the expectations, the dreams and, ultimately, the separateness of others... Writing this fine evokes a past time, but also a state of b ...more

Combine Editions
David Payne’s books

Average rating: 3.78 · 1,994 ratings · 253 reviews · 6 distinct works • Similar authors

	Barefoot to Avalon: A Brother's Story 3.76 avg rating — 668 ratings — published 2015 — 7 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Early from the Dance 4.11 avg rating — 467 ratings — published 1989 — 16 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Ruin Creek 3.78 avg rating — 258 ratings — published 1993 — 8 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Back to Wando Passo 3.30 avg rating — 246 ratings — published 2006 — 25 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Gravesend Light 3.55 avg rating — 204 ratings — published 2000 — 13 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Confessions of a Taoist on Wall Street 3.89 avg rating — 151 ratings — published 1984 — 21 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by David Payne…

Quotes by David Payne (?)

“Bits of sentient jetsam floating on the ocean of this life, destined for disintegration and remaking”
― David Payne, Confessions of a Taoist on Wall Street

0 likes

“The commentary on Hsü went on: One is faced with a danger that has to be overcome. Weakness and impatience can do nothing. Only a strong man can stand up to his fate, for his inner security enables him to endure to the end. This strength shows itself in uncompromising truthfulness (with himself). It is only when we have the courage to face things exactly as they are, without any sort of self-deception or illusion, that a light will develop out of events by which the path to success may be recognized. The”
― David Payne, Confessions of a Taoist on Wall Street

0 likes

Polls

What shall we read in February, 2026? Books published in or before 1990.

Terms of Endearment, by Larry McMurtry

11 votes 34.4%

The Earl of Louisiana, by A.J. Liebling

7 votes 21.9%

Airships, by Barry Hannah

5 votes 15.6%

Journey for Joedel, by Guy Owen

4 votes 12.5%

Early from the Dance, by David Payne

3 votes 9.4%

To Make My Bread, by Grace Lumpkin

2 votes 6.3%

32 total votes

comments and details

More...

Topics Mentioning This Author

topics	posts	views	last activity
What's the Name o...: SOLVED. Fiction, adult, two love triangles, possible set in Texas, book set in past and present [s]	8	44	Apr 25, 2016 09:46AM
A Good Thriller: PIFM - September 2016 Read	16	64	Aug 30, 2016 01:41PM
A Good Thriller: PIFM - Chat/Banter/Review Your August 2020 Read	73	73	Aug 28, 2020 07:11AM
On the Southern L...: Now accepting nominations for February 2026 Group Reads	15	56	Dec 24, 2025 08:52AM
Catching up on Cl...: Bob's 2026 Free Grazing Buffet	53	62	Jan 19, 2026 12:46PM
Catching up on Cl...: * Current & Planned Reading	301	228	4 hours, 4 min ago

More…

David’s Friend Comments

No comments have been added yet.