What do you think?
Rate this book
The Falls of the Wyona
In The Falls of the Wyona by David Brendan Hopes, four friends growing up on the banks of a wild Appalachian river just after WWII discover, almost at the same time, the dangerous, alluring Falls and the perils of their own maturing hearts. Seen through the eyes of his best friend Arden, football hero Vince falls in love with the new kid, Glen. They have no context for their feelings, and the next few years of high school become a tense, though sometimes funny, artifice of concealment. The winner of Red Hen’s Quill Prize, The Falls of the Wyona is the first of three achieved (and several more projected) novels by this author imbued with the magical atmosphere of Appalachian culture.
203 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2019
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
December 20, 2020
Real Rating: 3.5* of five
I RECEIVED A DRC OF THIS BOOK FROM RED HEN PRESS VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.
The thing about historical novels, ones set in a past deep enough to have lost its currency, is that they might as well be fantasy novels. On the other hand, historical novels that take place when one's parents were getting married and having their first children are in a peculiar place between contemporary and stuffy-old-fashioned nostalgia fests.
I went on this journey, to be sure, knowing where I was headed. The historical part wasn't that historical to my frame of reference; the queer part contained my frame of reference; so what was I doing here, exactly? Touristing a bygone age's homophobia, knowing it would end badly? Or listening to the gift of a story told by a person whose life was more firmly rooted in that time and place than mine? In the end, it's a matter of semantics, distinction without difference. I went to the Wyona River and I saw the Falls, felt the way it broke the people of its town into parts. Boys and girls led very separate lives when I was growing up, too, but the river being so exclusively (in the narrator, Alden's, mind) male rang me like a bell. The funny thing for me was seeing how open Vince, the coach's only child, was about his love for Glen...but only by the maleness of the Wyona.
Keep reading at Expendable Mudge Muses Aloud after 6:30 EST Sunday, 20 December 2020. Or, you know, don't...I'm not your boss.
I RECEIVED A DRC OF THIS BOOK FROM RED HEN PRESS VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.
The thing about historical novels, ones set in a past deep enough to have lost its currency, is that they might as well be fantasy novels. On the other hand, historical novels that take place when one's parents were getting married and having their first children are in a peculiar place between contemporary and stuffy-old-fashioned nostalgia fests.
I went on this journey, to be sure, knowing where I was headed. The historical part wasn't that historical to my frame of reference; the queer part contained my frame of reference; so what was I doing here, exactly? Touristing a bygone age's homophobia, knowing it would end badly? Or listening to the gift of a story told by a person whose life was more firmly rooted in that time and place than mine? In the end, it's a matter of semantics, distinction without difference. I went to the Wyona River and I saw the Falls, felt the way it broke the people of its town into parts. Boys and girls led very separate lives when I was growing up, too, but the river being so exclusively (in the narrator, Alden's, mind) male rang me like a bell. The funny thing for me was seeing how open Vince, the coach's only child, was about his love for Glen...but only by the maleness of the Wyona.
Keep reading at Expendable Mudge Muses Aloud after 6:30 EST Sunday, 20 December 2020. Or, you know, don't...I'm not your boss.
June 23, 2019
This book felt like many things to me. The story is one long, campfire tale… or an epic poem of old. It’s beautiful and sad and bears witness to times we shouldn’t be quick to dismiss or forget.
Hopes takes readers on a journey to the world inhabited by young boys just after WWII. The tale is told by Arden, looking back on his youth from his adult life. Perhaps Arden’s reminiscing is colored in some ways by the life he’s lead since his youth, but the memories seem vivid as he begins his tale.
Arden, Vince, and Tilden are inseparable as young men. About the time Arden realizes Vince is his best friend, Glen arrives on the scene. Vince is immediately drawn to Glen in a way that Arden doesn’t really understand. He accepts the new closeness, even when he’s a little envious or feels left out.
The boys come together at Wyona Falls. It’s a location that the town doesn’t speak about really. People have died there, it’s dangerous, but for the boys, it’s a right of passage. The falls are like a secret because bad things can happen there – but that just seems to make it more important that they are found and shared only with close friends.
Vince invites Glen to the falls and when Glen does a reckless handstand on the edge of a cliff high above the falls, Vince feels different for the first time in his life. He sees Glen in danger and can’t put into words the way the emotion whirls dangerously inside him. Arden sees his friend’s discomfort and realizes that there is a bond between Vince and Glen that is unique… even if he’s not equipt to understand it.
As the boys grow older, their relationships ebb and flow. They make misguided choices. They don’t always understand the consequences of their actions. They become young men in a post-WWII world that still has very tight definitions of masculinity.
Hopes’ writing is artful and poetic without ever straying from its intended course.
I’m at a bit of a loss as to how to describe this book. It’s a story about the raw and unbreakable bonds of young friendship, it’s about the love between two boys during a time when it wasn’t accepted at all, it’s about becoming a man, learning to be passionate about things and realizing things aren’t as ideal as we wish they were.
All the characters in this story are on their way to becoming someone different, whether it’s a legend, a tragedy or a man reminiscing about his youth.
This book is full of the heat of almost-forgotten summers, the spark of first love, and the fierceness of friendship. There is misplaced hope, family bonds, promises, and adventure.
Hopes takes readers on a journey to the world inhabited by young boys just after WWII. The tale is told by Arden, looking back on his youth from his adult life. Perhaps Arden’s reminiscing is colored in some ways by the life he’s lead since his youth, but the memories seem vivid as he begins his tale.
Arden, Vince, and Tilden are inseparable as young men. About the time Arden realizes Vince is his best friend, Glen arrives on the scene. Vince is immediately drawn to Glen in a way that Arden doesn’t really understand. He accepts the new closeness, even when he’s a little envious or feels left out.
The boys come together at Wyona Falls. It’s a location that the town doesn’t speak about really. People have died there, it’s dangerous, but for the boys, it’s a right of passage. The falls are like a secret because bad things can happen there – but that just seems to make it more important that they are found and shared only with close friends.
Vince invites Glen to the falls and when Glen does a reckless handstand on the edge of a cliff high above the falls, Vince feels different for the first time in his life. He sees Glen in danger and can’t put into words the way the emotion whirls dangerously inside him. Arden sees his friend’s discomfort and realizes that there is a bond between Vince and Glen that is unique… even if he’s not equipt to understand it.
As the boys grow older, their relationships ebb and flow. They make misguided choices. They don’t always understand the consequences of their actions. They become young men in a post-WWII world that still has very tight definitions of masculinity.
Hopes’ writing is artful and poetic without ever straying from its intended course.
I’m at a bit of a loss as to how to describe this book. It’s a story about the raw and unbreakable bonds of young friendship, it’s about the love between two boys during a time when it wasn’t accepted at all, it’s about becoming a man, learning to be passionate about things and realizing things aren’t as ideal as we wish they were.
All the characters in this story are on their way to becoming someone different, whether it’s a legend, a tragedy or a man reminiscing about his youth.
This book is full of the heat of almost-forgotten summers, the spark of first love, and the fierceness of friendship. There is misplaced hope, family bonds, promises, and adventure.
April 3, 2021
I honestly found no fault in this story other than it did not captivate me. For such a short book, I did not imagine it should take me more than a day to read, but the story just did not pull me in, and instead took the course of three partial days.
I do give considerable praise to the author for certain parts, seen through the eyes of the narrator. Being as this book was constructed as somewhat of a storytelling by the narrator of times long past, when dealing with bits that today are problematic (the homophobia, and the general bullying nature of Coach, and the “varsity stock” ended his tutelage), it made sure to preface these bits as of a memory retold with wisdom from the future; that these were clearly not how things should have been allowed to be, but that with the innocence of youth, and the social structure of the time, they were taken as “normal,” back then. It did not make to excuse the behavior, but merely to let the reader (listener as it is a storytelling) know that it is the past, and cannot be changed for as much as the present has taillight us to see things differently. It allowed us to ease past these cringeworthy moments in order to reach an understanding of how truly sad the unfortunate outcomes would be, and how damaging and changing the experience was upon the characters over time.
I cannot praise this as a great novel, but it does have its moments for those who can ease through the darkness for a glimpse of the troubled ways of the past. It made me appreciate not having a happy ending, in order to see in a better light how good it is to have grown up in a society that is learning to reject such behaviors. We have come a long way, and yet have so far yet to go, and I get an understanding of that through the evolution of Arden as a bystander/witness to events.
I do give considerable praise to the author for certain parts, seen through the eyes of the narrator. Being as this book was constructed as somewhat of a storytelling by the narrator of times long past, when dealing with bits that today are problematic (the homophobia, and the general bullying nature of Coach, and the “varsity stock” ended his tutelage), it made sure to preface these bits as of a memory retold with wisdom from the future; that these were clearly not how things should have been allowed to be, but that with the innocence of youth, and the social structure of the time, they were taken as “normal,” back then. It did not make to excuse the behavior, but merely to let the reader (listener as it is a storytelling) know that it is the past, and cannot be changed for as much as the present has taillight us to see things differently. It allowed us to ease past these cringeworthy moments in order to reach an understanding of how truly sad the unfortunate outcomes would be, and how damaging and changing the experience was upon the characters over time.
I cannot praise this as a great novel, but it does have its moments for those who can ease through the darkness for a glimpse of the troubled ways of the past. It made me appreciate not having a happy ending, in order to see in a better light how good it is to have grown up in a society that is learning to reject such behaviors. We have come a long way, and yet have so far yet to go, and I get an understanding of that through the evolution of Arden as a bystander/witness to events.
December 26, 2022
This is a story just riddled with tension. Like the entire time you’re just waiting for more and more. I had to remind myself more than once to relax my jaw because the story just gives you little bits by little bits of the parts you want.
The story itself was strong. I really liked the story being told from an almost 3rd party viewpoint of the friend. I obviously wanted more about the romance between Vince and Glen, but I think part of the reason we don’t get more is because V and G also wanted more and didn’t get it.
At one point I was thinking I wished the book was told from Vince’s POV, but that would’ve been a MUCH different story.
I loved the brotherhood friendship situation between the friends. The bond they had was really great to see play out. Although there was A LOT of man-on-man platonic affection that was hard to navigate when there was so much queer bashing. So is it cool to kiss your bros or not?
The falls themselves also play such an important role, almost the antagonist of the story, which was such an interesting take. And I really liked the ending with everything starting and ending with the falls.
Overall, great book. Big fan. Would be interested in reading more from this author. Is this a Booktok excitement level book? No. Was it strong in so many ways and tell a really great story? Absolutely. Definitely recommend.
The story itself was strong. I really liked the story being told from an almost 3rd party viewpoint of the friend. I obviously wanted more about the romance between Vince and Glen, but I think part of the reason we don’t get more is because V and G also wanted more and didn’t get it.
At one point I was thinking I wished the book was told from Vince’s POV, but that would’ve been a MUCH different story.
I loved the brotherhood friendship situation between the friends. The bond they had was really great to see play out. Although there was A LOT of man-on-man platonic affection that was hard to navigate when there was so much queer bashing. So is it cool to kiss your bros or not?
The falls themselves also play such an important role, almost the antagonist of the story, which was such an interesting take. And I really liked the ending with everything starting and ending with the falls.
Overall, great book. Big fan. Would be interested in reading more from this author. Is this a Booktok excitement level book? No. Was it strong in so many ways and tell a really great story? Absolutely. Definitely recommend.
July 9, 2020
Rubery Book Award Shortlisted 2020
A coming of age novel set in mid-century rural America just after WW11. It centres on four friends growing up in a small town near some dangerous but captivating falls on an Appalachian river. Trips to the Falls are a rite of passage for the friends, Arden, Vince, Tilden and Glen, and a place in which they explore their masculinity, including a sexual relationship between Vince and Glen. It’s complicated by the fact that Vince is the local heart-throb and football hero and his conservative, ultra-masculine father coaches the school football team. This is a tragic love story, psychologically convincing. The writing is sharp, often lyrical, and sometimes humorous; the narrative is well paced with a tension that builds gently as the characters' conflicts are revealed. A very enjoyable, succinct and sensitive novel.
www.ruberybookaward.com
A coming of age novel set in mid-century rural America just after WW11. It centres on four friends growing up in a small town near some dangerous but captivating falls on an Appalachian river. Trips to the Falls are a rite of passage for the friends, Arden, Vince, Tilden and Glen, and a place in which they explore their masculinity, including a sexual relationship between Vince and Glen. It’s complicated by the fact that Vince is the local heart-throb and football hero and his conservative, ultra-masculine father coaches the school football team. This is a tragic love story, psychologically convincing. The writing is sharp, often lyrical, and sometimes humorous; the narrative is well paced with a tension that builds gently as the characters' conflicts are revealed. A very enjoyable, succinct and sensitive novel.
www.ruberybookaward.com
November 12, 2024
This is a beautifully written coming-of-age novel, set in the post-WWII era. Not necessarily YA. It took a bit to draw me in, but once it did, I was hooked.
It was emotional, but more in a 'What does it mean to be a man' kind of way. I saw many of the men and friends in my life reflected in this story. And the reflections were not often pleasant, but they were there, and they were mine.
As the father of a gay son in these times, I can't help but worry that the attitudes of that post WWII era might be coming back again. As we take giant leaps forward in acceptance, we occasionally take a few steps back. I just hope this is a temporary setback.
It was emotional, but more in a 'What does it mean to be a man' kind of way. I saw many of the men and friends in my life reflected in this story. And the reflections were not often pleasant, but they were there, and they were mine.
As the father of a gay son in these times, I can't help but worry that the attitudes of that post WWII era might be coming back again. As we take giant leaps forward in acceptance, we occasionally take a few steps back. I just hope this is a temporary setback.
November 23, 2021
Really nice queer YA novel set in WWII-era Appalachia. Strongly explores the theme of intimate male friendship vs. homoerotic tension in context of teenage relationships. The straight but knowing and tolerant narrator offers a refreshing perspective within the genre of lgbt fiction. Finally, the setting of a town in the woods of Appalachia with a magical falls was captivating and felt special, having ties to the region personally.
3.5-4 stars for quality of writing, but 5 stars for the fresh narration and mountain setting.
3.5-4 stars for quality of writing, but 5 stars for the fresh narration and mountain setting.
July 25, 2024
Provocative and poetic. Arden provides an engaging narrative of friends growing up among the western North Carolina mountains in the middle of the 20th century. Each finds a way forward or doesn't, as is the way with life. The natural disaster—the storm in the last chapter—provides a good backdrop for the final scenes, as such disasters serve Robert Morgan's Gap Creek, Silas House's Southernmost, and Charles Dodd White's How Fire Runs.
May 7, 2020
Beautiful, funny, gripping. This one will stay with me for a while.
August 9, 2025
The back cover summary is a bit misleading, and the story goes back and forth in time, making it a bit confusing, but i enjoyed it.
October 21, 2025
who knew things would end badly for gays in rural North Carolina in the 1940s :(
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 13, 2019
When I first heard of the concept for this work, I thought that this would be just another coming of age/coming out work. However, Hopes makes his novel so much more. As he follows a group of closely linked friends from preteens to college, the story highlights the bonds that are developed. One really gets a sense of the friendships between and among the group. The setting in the town of Wyona and with the ever present falls outside of town are very well established. The winning device in Hopes novel is that he tells the story through one of the characters, and not the gay character whom you would expect to tell the story. We see the action through this character and his observations. There is much the reader doesn't know and it works wonderfully in this novel.
Thanks goes to Abovethetreeline.com for providing this electronic version.
Thanks goes to Abovethetreeline.com for providing this electronic version.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews