Epiphany: Stories by Sams, Ferrol(September 1, 1994) Hardcover

by Ferrol Sams

Three new Sams Ferrol stories describing life inthe 50s in rural GA.

Genres: Fiction, Short Stories, Southern

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1994

Reviews

[Gill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have just finished reading the first of the three stories included in Epiphany. It seems to be the one that has given the book its title, although there may be a common thread to three stories.
Epiphany is an extremely powerful tale centred about the relationship between a doctor and one patient, although the doctor's relationship with the administrator of the clinic is also featured in the story.
I read Ferrol Sam's trilogy,Run with the horsemen, The whisper of the river and When all the world was young and enjoyed them to varying degrees. I enjoyed his short autobiographical book Christmas Gif! too, but this has made the strongest impression on me of all the Sams I have read to date. He has a way of getting right inside the characters, and yet retaining the ability to surprise and involve the reader in what happens.
I look foward to reading the conciser Harmony ain't easy next and finishing up with the longest of the three Relative and absolute.
I enjoyed the second story, but not as much as the two either side of it. It was the shortest, and I wonder if that had anything to do with it. Somehow the subject matter did not inspire me so much, but the third story was a real cracker, exploring the relationship between an old man and three teenagers who came to interview him about 'the old days' but returned to explore their changing perceptions of beliefs they had held to be absolute, and generalizations they were forced to challenge.

It is a book I would highly recommend, and probably my favourite Ferrol Sams to date.
I am going to pay for my pleasure in this book by reading a book I expect to be trite and trashy next, and that I got more by accident than design!

[Richard Barnes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent use of prose by Dr. Sams. He writes with a sense of humor I wish I could convey in my own writing. Of the three stories I enjoyed the first two the best:
- A physician's friendship with an illiterate ex-con.
- A seemingly biographical account of a road trip with his wife; hilarious.
Definitely worth reading.

[Jeanne]

1 star but I didn't finish the book, so I'm leaving it unrated.

I read the first story and chose not to continue reading. I can't complain about the writing. I want to be a broad enough reader to accept characters with widely differing lives and experiences from my own. I want to see how they grow...and the story did show Gregry's growth in some areas, even though it took far too many pages to get there. I just couldn't get past the point of view that allowed growth for the white character but absolutely no sympathy, understanding, or growth for any of the Black characters who were presented only as racial stereotypes of the worst kind.

[Stacy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I always enjoy Sams reflections on race in the South but these short stories were a disappointment. Try his other works.

[Greta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ferrol Sams is an interesting writer, medical doctor and resident of Fayetteville, Georgia. This collection of his short stories is creative conversation between people who don't know each other very well, as well as they would like or not at all. The twists and turns of getting to know people can be very entertaining especially when lies are being told to add variety to the conversation.

[Deborah Kramb · Rating 4 out of 5]

I reread this book after several years - remembering parts that were special then. Funny, I had forgotten more than half of the stories! And the one I thought special didn't strike me as the most important of the stories. I LOVE Ferrol Sams look at the world and these were worth a reread years later!

[Richard West · Rating 5 out of 5]

In "Epiphany" Ferrol Sams introduces the reader to Dr. Mark Goddard. Dr. Mark is near retirement, and practices medicine in a modern practice, with an administrator who monitors every facet of patient care. How many minutes a Doctor spends with each individual patient. How many Patients each Doctor sees in a work day. The administrator dictates patient care largely based on profitability.

Dr. Mark's epiphany is that he does not want to retire. Dr. Mark wants to practice medicine for the remainder of his life. Dr. Mark wants to practice medicine the way he was trained. Dr. Mark will not accept anyone dictating patient care solely based on profitability.

Dr. Mark's epiphany also addresses his favorite pastime. Dr. Mark will recite poetry whenever and wherever it pleases him to do so. Dr. Mark comes to realize that at the most basic level he is very simply a Doctor who recites poetry, and that to be himself, he needs to do both on a regular basis.

Dr. Mark's arrives at his epiphany largely thru the treatment of a single patient.

I think most adults will identify with Dr. Mark, and will recognize similar points in their own life where for a single moment in time decisions about our individual future's were chrystal clear. As we move forward from those decisions, it is necessary to reflect back on those single moments of clarity.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finding this book is why I enjoy used books stores--or in this case, shelves at the St. Pete Beach Public Library. Four books for $2--this may be the only one I actually read and enjoy and it was a treasure! Ferrol Sams was a doctor in Georgia and the protagonist of his book in two of the stories is also a doctor in Georgia. The first story was a heartwarming interchange between a patient and a doctor. The patient comes in with strep but gets treated for hypertension and depression. The doctor listens to a life far different than his own--prison life, violence, racism. The second story is a funny encounter of the doctor and his wife on their day off when everything goes wrong. The third story is an elderly man and three high schoolers who learn to respect each other--the respect goes both ways. I will look for more Ferrol Sams books--he wrote several.

[Steven]

I must admit I once did a conference presentation, as a grad student, on a story in this book. I was, at the time, aggressively attacked by someone on my own panel (!!!) for the reading of the story, until the moderator shut it down. SO, I have odd memories here. But, in fact, it's a compelling collection of short stories. Surely very few people are going to read this book who aren't fans of Sams Horeseman trilogy already, so all that's worth saying is that in some ways this book is a snippet with more wry observations of that same category. It does have one anti-gay narrative in it that I think reveals a certain kind of historical specificity of Sams himself, a man of his time and upbringing...

[Shirley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ferrol Sams is one of my favorite authors. I love the trilogy of books he wrote which are pretty much autobiographical, in my opinion.

The first of the three stories in this collection I found to drag on and on. The second story I loved. Dr. Sams at his best. The third story was very philosophical and had some great lines and simple, yet profound, insights. Well worth reading for the middle story alone.

[Kathy Campbell Mazzola · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read all of Ferrol Sams’ previous novels and loved them and I was so happy to discover these short stories. I was extremely disappointed when I read them. The first one was shockingly racist and homophobic, the second was boring and a little silly. The third was better, hence the two stars instead of one

[Margaret Elder · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have thoroughly enjoyed the works I've read by Ferrol Sams. I found this book of three stories to be thought provoking, philosophical, and especially in the story "Harmony," hilarious. I doubt that these would find a national publisher today in light of the reflections and attitudes of some of the characters about race. They are worth reading and pondering though I will admit that the first one, "Epiphany," might be upsetting to some. In that story, an aging doctor befriends a forthright, unschooled ex-con, the story's protagonist, who has numerous struggles, both within himself and with African-Americans and who finally arrives at an epiphany. The second story, "Harmony," concerns a doctor and his wife on an adventure in the mountains. It has been many years since a story caused me to laugh out loud so heartily! Sams is folksy and brilliant at picturing in writing people and especially is an outstanding writer in dialect. The final story, "Relative and Absolute," is his most philosophical of the three. An aged man is being interviewed by three high schoolers, and all the characters develop respect for the old man as he does for them. In answering their questions, the students and the readers are presented with interesting anecdotal characters and the wisdom of one dynamic character who has lived long enough to be independent in thought and honest and forthright in words.

[Gerald · Rating 3 out of 5]

Billed as 'three heartwarming tales' and recommended by a friend, I read the first story but found that was enough. It wasn't that I didn't enjoy it, but it did not have the same impact on me as it did on the person recommending it.

It is a story of a man overcoming adversity told in installments as he visits his local GP. The two men strike up an unusual and heartfelt friendship which develops as the story unfolds.

For me though, it felt as though the book was a kind of new age manual about good overcoming evil in a harsh and brutal world and just wasn't real enough for my taste. However, all credit to the author who pulls no punches when commenting on racial and homosexual issues through the eyes of his characters (situations that have only deteriorated since he wrote the book in 1995).

I will hold on to this book and may well go back and read the other two short stories contained within it's covers and if so, update this review accordingly.

[Sabrina · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing was great. Three short stories that drew you in. But the topics were hard. Two regarding race relations and words that I suppose I’m not comfortable with even in a story that’s discussing difficult topics at the time. I liked the perspective from the doctor in the first two stories since the author is a doctor himself. Overall it was enjoyable and a quick read. I picked it up used at a thrift store.

[Richard Brand · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three very different but very engaging stories

[Rebecca Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Three great short stories and all make you think.

[John Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. Beautiful writing. Thought provoking to all who are open-minded

[Peggy Bramlette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ferrol Sams really understood his patients. Their character comes through in the Epiphany stories. The second story in the book is my favorite. Comparison to my own marriage made me laugh.

[Hudson Jewell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gift from a friend who knows the author very well, I enjoyed it. 3 stories that to me showed the importance of patience, thoughtfulness, perseverance, and open mindedness.

[Katie J · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed "Harmony Ain't Easy" the most. Made me laugh out loud. Will read that one again.

[Wm Hammonds · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first story showed a lot of insight into the weighty problems of life in Atlanta. The story was interesting, but was slow and ponderous in places. It should have moved a little faster.

[George · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading the main story 'epiphany' again, it is about an older doctor who has strange encounter(s) with a (retirement aged) alcoholic who presents with chronic high Blood pressure, but attempts to treat in let's say somewhat unconventional ways ? His substitution Tenorim for Vascotec might seem to have been motivated by economy, but because of his `patient's` Gregrys' alcoholic behavior i am unclear whether this is just an insignificant detail OR at the core of the doctor's Story.

As i recall from the 1st reading it is then the drug ProzaC IS added to the mix, but it is really the doctor's (mark Goddard) use of a form of talk therapy that (combined with Prozac) is the miracle behind patient's transformation (awakening?) which reminded me of this non-fiction piece:

An interesting side story is Dr Mark's interactions with his own management concerning not just this one patient but the entire transcription process of medical records which has certainly run more amuck since the creation of this tome around 1994 just before the 'hi class' digitization of treatment opinions.

i think my favorite line ( prelude to the epiphany) is "... you want justice go to a whore house, you want to get f..... go to court ..."

the 2nd short story "Harmony ain't easy" was a bit more unremarkable, but the doctors encounter with the women whose home remedy explains some peoples disdain for let us say ALL modern medicine [ a subtle connection to a GB doctor named in the 3rd story ]. Ferrol Sam's seems to have a method of entertaining that transforms the serendipitous story into the sublime or is that absurd ?

which leads to the last story 'relative vs absolute' which in my eye was even more interesting than epiphany in that it encapsulates history as being somehow immutable to moral truths ?. Kind of like that old jamie Johnson song "In Color". You had to be there.

The use of metaphor's is big in this one. The tape recorder and it's appearance between the 1st and 2nd sessions is key to understanding that what has been recorded as history is NOT necessarily so. [ i too get greatly annoyed at 'well you know']. The allusion to such books and authors is appropo since how we view history is never absolute most always relative.

His analysis of the property document that proceeds slavery and his understanding (and passing that on) that the Emancipation Proclamation only freed slaves in the south is not only true, but maybe not commonly taught in the north or south ? ' i am afraid the south has become just like the north '.

He goes even further with his analysis of (which i have never read) and the 3 letter modern day heros ?. Further his concise recollection(s) of being `learn't` about Gueneviere, Bolin, and Onnassis put us all on guard about judging the past through some imaginary lens we refer to as the present.

Even his reference to Lewis carrol was illuminary, but a rather surprise ending brings to mind that he never actually names the 3 (wise children) who appear on his porch. Yet another subtle point about the recorder is that without turning it off for the first visit there probably would not have been a 2nd... or things are not as they would normally appear. visual proof the least convincing ??

[Tommy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sams has the gentle, confident way of the man who knows what he's able to do, and that he doesn't have to put on airs to show it off.

His writing style is conversational, lyrical. Lends itself very well to being read aloud. It's almost as if you're being told these tales on the front porch by the old neighbor across the way.

Auto-biographical and semi-autobiographical. That's his writing. Introspective, yet wry. Smart, but not afraid to write a beautiful passage that results in a fart joke.

Southern in the same vein as O'Connor.

Reminds me a lot of Virginia Woolf, believe it or not.

Only with more crap humor.

[Mark Valentine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sams has the narrative touch of a watercolor brushstroke, touching the parched paper of my imagination with his gentle grace and subtle elegance. Reading these stories reminded me of other such writers: Jon Hassler, E. B. White, Sarah Orne Jewett, and Willa Cather. Realistic characters in situations that require humor, grace and perserverence. Epiphany was my favorite story in this collection.

[Sterlingcindysu · Rating 1 out of 5]

Three short stories written in Southern dialect that focuses on an epiphany, a revelation born of an unlikely interchange. The author’s style has been compared to Mark Twain. I really didn’t see the epiphany in any of the stories.

[David Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

Epiphany: Stories by Ferrol Sams (Penguin Books 1994)(Fiction). Three novella length tales from the master storyteller of Middle Georgia. They are all gentle, lyrical, and conversational in tone. My rating: 7.5/10, finished 1995.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

As with his earlier works, Dr. Ferrol Sams is brilliant when it comes to painting a picture with words. I loved his semi-autobiographical trilogy and this was not a disappointment. I gave it to my mother (years ago) and her comment was "I laughed so hard I about peed my pants." Say no more.

[Emmanuelle Lamarche · Rating 4 out of 5]

~4. I liked the writing style of these stories a lot and I loved the homey Georgia setting. These were easy and pleasant to read while inducing just enough reflection. I especially liked the characters and their relationship in the first story.

[TheRealMelbelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my all time favorite short stories - Harmony Ain't Easy

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three novellas told in the inimitable Sams style. I loved these, and may haave to go back and reread the Run With the Horsemen trilogy.