Woodrow's Trumpet

by Tim McLaurin

The sleepy Southern town of Oak Hills, gradually transformed by the influx of new, younger residents, becomes the scene of a funny, tragic battle when long-time resident Woodrow Bunce refuses to conform to the town's new ordinances

256 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1989

Reviews

[Tyrone Everett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tim McLaurin was a Southern born and educated writer who eerily captured both the White & Black southern culture of the 50's 60's and 70's. He had an ingenious mentality for putting the reader in the shoes of all of his characters. However, he had a tendency to over-use regional vernacular that may hinder the readers' ability to accurately comprehend the characters' thought processes. I strongly encourage anyone interested in having all 5 of their senses tweaked to read a Tim McLaurin book. Although, I must warn you...if you are thin skinned about race-relations....be patient. Tim will not let you down but, he will not lie to you. Sometimes the good guy does not end up on top.

[Bob Brinkmeyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I taught Tim McLaurin Freshman English at North Carolina Central University many years ago, after he had returned from military service and was thinking of becoming a writer He was at this point just trying his hand at fiction, and needless to say, I didn't have a whole lot to teach him. I urged him to transfer to UNC-Chapel Hill, where he would get instruction from the creative writers there. I'm happy he did. I kept up with him through the years (including traveling to his home place in rural NC) and was so sad when he died so young. He was a character, in the best sense of the word.

Anyway, this is not my favorite book of Tim's, as I think he forces the issue of cultural change a bit too hard, with the traditional South giving way to modernization and change in a community outside of Chapel Hill, NC. There are certainly some fascinating characters here--Tim is great in portraying downhome, genuine folk--but I feel the novel races toward a conclusion that is so extreme that it undercuts some of the complexity and nuance of the issues from which the novel elsewhere works.

[Aimee McHale · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this book after hearing an homage to the late Chapel Hill author, Tim McLaurin, on our local NPR station. His friends who spoke about him - profs at UNC and Duke, I think - made him sound as fascinating as his stories. I am really enjoying it so far, and would encourage anyone else who finds the patchwork of old Southerners and new transplants, tradition and progressivism, country and cosmopolitan here in the Thrill as fascinating as I do to order the book.

[Priscilla · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a little gem of a book by a virtually unknown author from North Carolina. I loved the characters more than anything about it and it’s such a unique story. Will definitely read more by this author.

[Emily]

I did not expect the ending to be SO DRAMATIC OMG. The characters Woodrow, Nadean and Ellis are so endearing but what a sad story of injustice and lack of empathy.

[Alan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was set in Chapel Hill NC, the town where I grew up and the place where I hope to return to raise my family. It tells the story of a conflict between liberal, affluent yuppies moving into a new housing development and the rural people who have lived in the area for generations.

The story struck a chord with me partly because of the familiarity of the setting and story, but more because it explores the theme of whether, in a world that it changing quickly, one can actually return home.

[Meshel Levitan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. Easy read. I highly recommend!

[Hancock · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book filled with unusual but believable characters and an unpredictable plot.