The Front Porch Prophet

by Raymond L. Atkins

What do a trigger-happy bootlegger with pancreatic cancer, an alcoholic helicopter pilot who is afraid to fly, and a dead guy with his feet in a camp stove have in common? What are the similarities between a fire department that cannot put out fires, a policeman who has a historic cabin fall on him from out of the sky, and an entire family dedicated to a variety of deceased authors? Where can you find a war hero named Termite with a long knife stuck in his liver, a cook named Hoghead who makes the world's worst coffee, and a supervisor named Pillsbury who nearly gets hung by his employees? Sequoyah, Georgia, is the answer. After a long absence, A. J. Longstreet finds his best friend since childhood, Eugene Purdue, on his doorstep. Eugene now has terminal cancer, and he confronts A. J. with the dilemma of executing a mercy killing when the time arrives. An adventure into the past begins for the both of them, and soon one must make a decision that will alter his life forever.

Genres: Fiction, Humor, Ebooks, Southern, Friendship, Book Club, Literary Fiction

308 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

Raymond L. Atkins resides in Rome, Georgia, where he is an instructor of English at Georgia Northwestern Technical College. He lives in a 110-year-old house with a patient wife and a fat dog. His hobbies include people-watching, reading, and watching movies that have no hope of ever achieving credibility.

His first novel, The Front Porch Prophet, was published by Medallion Press in 2008 and was awarded the Georgia Author of the Year Award for First Novel. Midwest Book Review called it "an intriguing and clever tale, highly recommended for community library fiction collections."

His second novel, Sorrow Wood, was published by Medallion Press in 2009. As noted in Publisher's Weekly, "Subtle humor and mostly pitch-perfect prose distinguish Atkins's compelling mix of mystery and romance, set in 1985 with flashbacks to the 1930s and '40s. Atkins smoothly weaves past into present as the action builds to a final poignant twist."

His third novel, Camp Redemption, was published by Mercer University Press in 2013. It was awarded the Ferrol Sams Award for Fiction and won the 2014 Georgia Author of the Year Award for Fiction. "Camp Redemption showcases the best of Raymond Atkins’s talents in Southern fiction: characters who move in with us, for better or worse; a plot that keeps the pages turning; and the stately, elegant prose of a born storyteller. Alternately hilarious, sad, and downright scary, this is Atkin's best novel yet." Melanie Sumner, The Ghost of Milagro Creek

His fourth novel, Sweetwater Blues, will be released by Mercer University Press in September 2014. "Raymond Atkins is a marvel. As one of Georgia’s most talented authors, he magically weaves complex stories from believable characters. You know the people he writes about; they are flawed, complicated, and real. From the first page to the last, Sweetwater Blues takes the reader on a journey filled with consequences, courage, and redemption. Using his remarkable wit and masterful gift of storytelling, Atkins brings us full circle. When you close this book you will wonder, what else has he written? Then you will rush out to buy his other award-winning books." Renea Winchester, In the Garden With Billy

Reviews

[Maryann · Rating 5 out of 5]

While The Front Porch Prophet is described as a humorous work of Southern fiction about two young men who come of age in North Georgia, it is at times as serious as a rattlesnake. In those moments, the author does not hold back when it comes to the tough issues of broken relationships, death and dying, divorce and a myriad of other not so pleasant moments along life’s journey.

A.J. Longstreet and his friend Eugene Purdue have been through a lot since their carefree childhood days spent playing football, pulling pranks, and trying to be the first to lose his virginity. The most recent being a dispute over Eugene’s ex-wife that left the friends estranged for several years. Yet, the toughest days are ahead.

One day Eugene asks A.J to come to his cabin – no easy feat as A.J. has to get past Rufus to get there. Rufus is described as a “cross between a Great Dane and a bear” and he guards the mountain that is home to Eugene’s cabin. A.J. does not even attempt the climb without his Louisville slugger.

The point of the visit becomes painfully clear when Eugene tells A.J. the latest news from the doctor. “I have cancer. I’m rotten with it. It’s terminal.” After that pronouncement, there is a long silence described this way, “His words hung over the clearing like a gas attack over the Argonne. A gentle breeze blew through the branches, but the words would not disappear.”

There is much to enjoy in this wonderful book, and the use of language that is so precise and so evocative is just one aspect. The dialogue is some of the best ever written. It is natural, true to each character, and so funny in places readers will be hard pressed to stifle their laughter when finishing the book at work because they couldn’t bear to leave the story at home.

On the flip side of the humor is the very serious matter of death and dying and the fact that Eugene wants A. J. to put him out of his misery at the end. “You must be crazy. If you want to shoot yourself or blow yourself up, go ahead. But leave me out of it.” A.J. felt like he was breathing mud. “I know ten or fifteen people who would be happy to accommodate you. Hell, Diane’s daddy would pay you to let him do it.”

“I’d do it for you.”

For nearly six months, A.J wrestles with that request, and during that time the two men visit weekly and sift through the experiences of their lives and try to make sense of it all.

The remembering is as poignant for the reader as it is for the characters.

[June · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book to be read and absorbed. Mr. Atkins is definitely a "word craftsman." The characters were indeed, characters. Lots of back stories, very excellent character development. I especially loved the ever-changing names of the local diner.

I think the overriding theme of the book was loyalty to friends, and promises made, and how to fulfill them.

My very favorite character in the book was Rufus. Somehow I thought in the end he would end up not so much among the living, but Mr. Atkins surprised me. I liked the surprise.

A definite regional favorite, much along the lines of "Big Stone Gap."

[Bob · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book surprised me. When my E-Reader was new and short of titles, I worked to fill it up. Since this was a Nook Free Friday selection, I figured why not. So a quick down load, then the passage of a year, and suddenly I’m reading an amazing story. The first thing that appealed to me was the fact that the story is set in the Northwest Georgia Mountains and has a wonderfully slow country feel. The characters are full and complete and even the minor characters have depth. The two main characters remind me of McMurtry’s great duo of Augustus McRae and Woodrow Call from the book Lonesome Dove. Both are ruff around the edges and somewhat abusive to each other, but are lifelong friends with a deep affection for one another.

More than a few times this story made me laugh out loud and I kept a smile going thru most of it. The ending is inevitable and emotional. The depth of friendship is tested. An incredible decision must be reached and in the end I think friendship prevails. It is a wonderful story about life and death. A reminder that life is a one way ticket and the destination is the same for everyone, but what counts is how you make the journey. It’s the family and friends we travel with that count. This is an extraordinary story and I encourage you to give it a try. Well done Mr. Atkins.

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can hardly do this book justice, but I will try. If you are curious about this book, you truly need to sit down and absorb it. I can assure you that it will not be what you are expecting.

Atkins is a genius with words. His writing is Mark Twain, William Faulkner and Stephen King rolled into one.

Yes, I said Stephen King. I do not care for King's subjects and foulness, but I can't help but admire his way with words and describing scenes. Atkins has that same aptness, without the foulness.

Upon finishing this book, I find that I want very much to live in Seqouyah, Georgia and eat at "The Lord is My Shepherd; I Shall Not Want Thick and Frosty Milkshakes Drive-In."

Beyond bringing a fictional town and set of characters to life, Atkins gives the tough story of pancreatic cancer, a rough and tumble friendship and euthanasia a humorous, fair and poignant treatment.

I will definitely be returning this book-- both in thought and in re-reading it.

PS. Who knows, maybe someday I'll name a kid Ray Atkins Williams.

[Ken Medernach · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Front Porch Prophet' kept me between tears, that is tears of human emotion and tears of laughter.

Up in the Northwestern corner of Georgia, live a folk like everywhere in Appalachia, torn between the old ways and the new, life in the country and "just makin' do" and the life in the 'mill town', these are the folks that Ray captures and inserts in the lines of "The Front Porch Propet", I say that Ramond captures these characters because no one could "make them up" , he hsd to have been there.

Ray has nailed the country folk of this small North Georgia region with it's daily life and the down home humor. I am looking forward to Ray's next venture , there is a real literary talent lurking in North Georgia in the guise of Raymond L. Atkins.

[Steve Diamond · Rating 4 out of 5]

A surprising gem. Beautifully constructed, very moving, and very enjoyable to read.

Atkins gives us deeply felt portraits of life in rural Georgia, alternately laugh-out-loud funny, deadly serious, and poignantly personal -- sometimes all three at once. Don't be put off by the setting if you think you don't like "southern novels." The message and the characters are universal.

Some of the set pieces are a little too pat. Otherwise I'd give it 5 stars. Highly recommended.

[Gayle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book - funny, poignant, Southern, characters I recognize.

[Gail · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book would have so much more enjoyable if some of the language had been cleaned up. The writing style is excellent, I just don't enjoy the 'F' word, I think it's crude and unneccessary. The story is about A.J. and his best friend Eugene and various family members and others in a small GA town. Mostly the wild escapades of the two. Eugene lives up on a mountain in a cabin, A..J. is married and lives in town. Some rather wild things happen such as a house being moved by helicopter and the porch falls off and lands on one of the characters dog. Rather unrealistic, but the writer adds a lot of humor from the situation. Not that having a dog die is funny, far from it, but the way the situation is handled is funny. Eugene has lived a rather wild & crazy life and A.J. is a stable guy with a wife, kids and a job, yet the two have been friends since they were young boys. Eugene gets cancer and A.J. manages his care giving. Eugene requests that when the time comes & the pain gets to be too much that A.J. will shoot him so he doesn't have to suffer. A.J. tells him that there's no way he will do it. But then toward the end he sees him in extreme pain and nothing left off him, but skin & bones, just a shodow of what he once was. Does he do it or not?

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a free download for the Nook a while back and it sat there on my Nook kind of rotting. I finally got around to reading it this week, and I was pleasantly surprised. The reason why I was putting off reading it was because I wasn't entirely convinced I was going to like it, but the more I read, the more I realized it was right up my alley. A book about a terminal cancer patient and his (and everyone elses') coming to grips with the finality of his condition? What more could an aspiring nurse want, really?

There was humor interspersed throughout, and although I don't know anyone who I can directly compare to AJ or Eugene, I still felt like I could identify with them, which was a nice touch. The nook book had an excerpt from the author's next novel, Sorrow Wood - which I might end up borrowing from a Nook friend. (LendMe is a fabulous thing lol)

[Kelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a wonderful book of friendship, reconciliation, family, love, and a mean dog named Rufus. Porches drop from the sky, you can't bury dogs in the people cemetery, green jello is better than the alternative at Thanksgiving, you can't really hide a school bus. Read this one, y'all.

[Benjamin Sobieck · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most fun I've had in a long time. Give this book a chance. I wanted to write a lengthy review, but I finished it too long ago. The feeling I got from it is still fresh in my mind, though. It's sad and funny at the same time. One of my new favorites.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I stretched this book out as long as I could. That's what I do when I fall in love with characters. One of the best reads this year and that is saying a lot because I've read a lot of great books. Strongly suggest this book.

[Paula W · Rating 5 out of 5]

July 2023 is the month of not purchasing any new books but instead reading through some things I already own. I found this ebook I got probably 10 or more years ago for free from Barnes and Noble on my Nook, which I never use anymore. It is a short book, only 227 pages, so I decided to dive in.

Goodness! I want to slap myself for letting it sit on my shelf for so long. I laughed, I cried, I laughed so hard I woke up my dogs, and I cried so hard I woke up my dogs.

There is no mystery. We find out very early on that Eugene is dying of pancreatic cancer that has spread throughout his entire body. There’s no way out, and only one ending to this book. There is no miracle. Eugene will die before this book ends. And it’s sucks. But that’s not what this book is altogether about. It is about the friendships strengthened and relationships mended while waiting out the inevitable.

Set in the rural mountains of Georgia, readers get to meet a variety of different southern country folks and get to see things that only happen in places like that. As a southern country folk myself, I recognized so many of these characters. I recognized so many situations (when you must borrow a huge piece of industrial machinery from an estranged family member to clear a road to someone’s house? And I don’t mean clearing snow; I mean making a road through trees and shrubs and bushes where there used to be a road but not so much anymore. Been there, done that). Towns that have no traffic light, only one diner that hilariously gets the advertisements wrong every day, one doctor, a reverend who tries to convert people at funerals, and citizens who work at any number of mills and factories that are stripping away the natural resources of a place using underpaid labor.

But that is all background info. The story focuses on the lifelong friendship between the terminal Eugene and our main character A.J. They are as different as two people could be, but they understand each other. And what they try their best to understand over the course of this book is this: What is A.J.’s responsibility during this time? and Can Eugene repair some burned bridges?

But the best thing is the quotes from Eugene’s posthumous letters that we see at the beginning of every chapter. Giving a business funds to set up a scholarship in his name sounds amazing, but it is even more amazing (and almost made me fall out of my chair laughing) if you had read the preceding chapter and understand exactly what it meant.

This book deserves more readers and more reviewers. It is in the running for my favorite read of the year so far.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very funny book, although it took me a while to get into it. At first I thought it was just a bunch of stereotypical rednecks getting drunk and shooting things - and it is. But it made me laugh out loud, which is rare. And the hero, A.J. Longstreet, is an all around good guy, who loves his wife and children, while also enjoying a drink (or seven) and a smoke of medicinal weed when necessary. He has to deal with all the misfits and losers of the small town of Sequoyah Georgia, while trying to care for his friend that is dying of cancer. I think I will need to read some other works by Mr Atkins.

[Sally Kilpatrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re looking for a wonderful Southern yarn, look no further than The Front Porch Prophet. Atkins has carefully crafted a southern town full of richly drawn characters amidst very real conflicts. Front and center, you’ll find A.J. Longstreet who must not only face the impending death of his best friend but also that same friend’s desire that A.J. dole out a swift mercy killing.

The Front Porch Prophet traces A.J.’s story, a meandering, thoroughly southern tale that understands that the past is just as important as the present. Atkins is so skillful at weaving in engaging back story at the most relevant times that you’ll feel as though you’re listening to your favorite front porch prophet tell the family stories that have always made you both laugh and cry.

Best of all, though, are the characters of the story. A.J. is the straight man to the host of eccentric, often laugh-out-loud funny characters who live in Sequoyah, Georgia. His wife—part of a clan who names their children after their favorite writers—complements him well, meeting his every witticism with one of her own. Eugene will remind you of that good-natured, ne’er do well that seems to live in every community, and Eugene’s dog is a character in his own right. And those are just the main characters—prepare to meet a cook who can’t brew coffee, a grandmother who really doesn’t like birds, and a little old lady who can’t drive but who can shot a house right out of the sky.

I didn’t expect The Front Porch Prophet to be a page turner, but it didn’t take many pages at all before I was so wrapped up in the lives of A.J. and the other denizens of Sequoyah that I couldn’t put the book down.

[Jennifer Dunn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm from North Georgia where this book is set and The Front Porch Prophet is the unicorn (Bigfoot?) of a novel that I look for - one that evokes the region without, as a professor of mine once called it, "too much country store." The characters are colorful but realistic, nobody kicks a good dog, and the main character, A. J. Longstreet could just as well be my dad. Heck, the town, known if it's cotton mill "famous for its denim products and its abuse of the hired help" could be my town!

Atkins is a true Southern wordsmith, and my Kindle version of this book is well-highlighted with phrases that rang true, such as "Billy was an old country boy who had done extremely well for himself by adhering to the simple belief that every vehicle had some problem that could be repaired by Billy."

I highly recommend this book to North Georgians and anyone who has suspected that their Southern fiction is stuffed with a little too much country store.

[Trish · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Front Porch Prophet is a must-read for anyone into Southern Literature. The characters jump off the page and into your life. When A. J. loses his job, it gives him ample time to care for his longtime friend, Eugene, who is dying of cancer. In caring for Eugene, A. J. also comes into contact with other characters of that wonderful southern town and integrates them easily into his and Eugene's life. A. J. made sure Eugene had someone with him at all times, even if he couldn't be there. That freed A. J. up to take care of his family, help his Dad around the house, and work out things for Eugene's passing - in order to make sure his wants are met. I don't want to give too much away, because I truly think any book worth its salt has to be read and critiqued by each individual reader. Happy Reading, and make sure to check out the rest of Mr. Atkin's books. You'll be happy you did!!

[Tasha · Rating 2 out of 5]

I never usually give up on books, but this one I had to. I actually found myself skipping whole pages at a time. At first the book was awesome but then the author kept delineating from the main plot with all this nonsense stuff from the character past.

I'm all for using the past to tell a story but (an actually example from the book) I don't want to hear about the main characters Co-workers life from when he was born, then continue on to the girl the co-worker liked and he whole life story, which included her father and his whole life story. at that point I wanted to scream: I don't care about these other characters! I just want to know what happens with A.J. and Eugene.

Thank God I got this book as a Free Fridays book through Barnes & Noble.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the best books I have ever read. Hard to find as it is out of publication which is sad. Well written and poignant story of two lifelong friends in a small Georgia town. One of the few books that I made a point to read slowly because I was concerned that I would miss something clever. I laughed out loud in every chapter. Looking for more books by this author, who needs more recognition!

[Lissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not my usual read, but I rather liked this book anyway. I found the characters interesting and I enjoyed getting to know them all through flashbacks and the musings of the main character, AJ. More than once I found myself identifying with AJ's wife. I laughed out loud more than once and even teared up a couple of times. All in all, I'm glad I picked it up.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing. Loved the tone, the language, and the characters were incredible. A great read for a lazy summer afternoon--or any day of the week.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

The funniest book I've ever read. Not what I was expecting, what a fun find,

[Ashley Clark · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was okay, giggled at a few parts. Didn't finish it all because i got bored with it.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a satisfying read. The description doesn't begin to do it justice.

[Newt Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another solid Southern yarn from Raymond Atkins.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a sucker for a story set in a small town with a quirky cast of characters. This one was charming, laugh-out-loud funny, and moving.

[Cindy Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like stories that take place in small southern towns with quirky characters, then this is a book for you.

[Susan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very disappointing. Started strong with interesting characters and history woven into remembrances effectively and naturally. Left some relationships undeveloped and questions unanswered. Though the novel covers the theme of mercy killing, the characters' only real discussion of life beyond self--"the Big Imponderable" was shallow at best and offensive at worst, when , in the final chapter, terminally ill Eugene says, "...I bet if you buried a Penthouse for two thousand years, someone would think it was sacred when you dug it up." There's no motivation for Eugene's half-hearted attempts at restoring broken relationships . There's no source for A.J.'s moral dilemma of helping Eugene end his life. In fact, the last line sums up the attitude toward God pretty succinctly. When Truth, the lesbian who has married Eugene's ex-wife claims that she "just hates being an abomination in the eyes of God," A.J. reassures her with the response, "I wouldn't lose too much sleep over it. He's looking elsewhere most of the time." Is THAT the point Atkins most meant to communicate? I read plenty of books whose point of view is not my own, but to tack this on at the end as though it had anything to do with what happened on the previous 307 pages was cheap. I've seldom been angry about having wasted my time on a book--there's almost always something to learn or appreciate. But this was beyond frustrating.

[Nd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Raymond Atkins' writing style and turn of phrase were sublime in their surprise. His understated, tongue-in-cheek descriptions are exceptional, unique, and hilarious, even (or especially) when they addressed solemn and weighty subjects. In mountainous and thus fairly isolated Sequoya, located in an Appalachian valley on the Georgia side of Lookout Mountain, protagonist A.J. Longstreet was born into an established Sequoya family. There was a nickname and/or a backstory for nearly everyone in town, all related by Atkins via placid, matter-of-fact descriptions no matter now shocking or hilarious the circumstances. There was a tiny drag for a very short while about three-quarters through, but the events, characters, and stories during that time remained consequential and contributory to the book as A.J. and his friend Eugene distilled and processed life's unanticipated twists and turns. I would not be able to edit out any of the events.

[Karen H · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Front Porch Prophet was the first book placed on my to read list. It was put there in 2008 ( has been in my Nook account almost as long) thought here in 2022 maybe I would just get it read. Now I am asking myself why I waited so long to read it! It was wonderful. I laughed so hard I cried and then I cried because it was so tragic. So many feels. All the characters are idiots, they are wise, they are thoughtful and thoughtless, sometimes they drink too much and tease their children a bit. They have to watch their mothers, their friends and brothers and their pets die. Kinda like real people...