Sleepaway

by T.R. Pearson

A Blue Ridge camping trip goes sideways for two young brothers and their minder in this sweet, brief novel of calamity and kindness.

Genres: Fiction

100 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 21, 2019

About the author

Thomas Reid Pearson is an American novelist born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He is the author of seventeen novels and four works of non-fiction under his own name, including A Short History of a Small Place, Cry Me A River, Jerusalem Gap, and Seaworthy, and has written three additional novels -- Ranchero, Beluga, and Nowhere Nice -- under the pseudonym Rick Gavin. Pearson has also ghostwritten several other books, both fiction and nonfiction, and has written or co-written various feature film and TV scripts.

Reviews

[Valerie]

As always with a TR Pearson book, I wanted to read this aloud to someone, in order to share the rhythm and turns of phrase. Beyond the joy of the writing, this is a deceptively simple tale whose meanings and implications sink in over time. To say much more would spoil it. Just know that it’s about perseverance, kindness, community, acceptance and change—on top of funny, charming, and grotesque. Short enough to immediately re-read!

[Steve]

Thanks TR!

Another book I loved and couldn’t put down. I can’t wait for the next one! There’s no other contemporary writer I like more than you. Please keep it up.

[Kathy]

Some of this quite entertaining from the "simple" viewpoint of young man with bonus of survival skills in the woods; a quirky little book from Kindle Unlimited narrated by a boy scout.

[Michael Horton]

Classic Pearson and a lovely story. 92 pages of perfection, a one sitting read....

[Kim]

While this might not be a book I would have typically purchased (I like my crime & mysteries), after winning it in a Goodreads Giveaway of course I had to check it out. It was a good read with a great storyline, and it had its own unique feel-good moments. I'm really glad I won it & stepped outside my normal genre. Thank you!

[Charlee]

Thank you, Mr. Pearson! This was my first exposure to your work and I am impressed. You're now near the top of my favorite southern writers list. Your prose brought back vivid memories of childhood summers in a small southern town. I also wanted to read it for Stella - and all the shelter dogs who fill and break our hearts. <3

[Nola Beck]

An adventure into adulthood

This was a lovely read of happenstances, as told by from the view point of a young boy thrown into adult circumstances. You can relate to your own childhood at that age. An adventure for sure. The Author takes you to he hills and holds you captive. Highly recommended.

[Patrick Fitzgerald]

Another fantastic read!

I happened upon another novel by Pearson about a week ago on kindle unlimited (Devil Up) and enjoyed it a great deal so I decided to check this one out. It’s a short and quick read as far as novels go, but it’s a great story and even laugh out loud funny at points. Five stars, I highly recommend.

[Beth]

Loved it, and couldn't put it down. It was hilarious, scary, sad and one of those "can't quit thinking about it long after it's over" books. The setting was perfect, as was the time period. I was finished with it all too quickly.

[Adam Armour]

Another lovely story from one of our best storytellers.


Slight, but filled with the kind of heart and humor you should expect from Mr. Pearson. I've yet to read a Pearson novel I didn't enjoy. SLEEPAWAY is no exception.

[M D]

You can always count on T R Pearson to include quirky characters in his stories. ‘Sleepaway’, a novella, is no exception. There is the humor and sometimes silly antics that solidify a connection with the characters and, of course, Pearson’s exceptional downhome wordplay. The 11-year-old was pretty astute, beyond his years. The kindness of his family was heartwarming. An easy read that I recommend.

[caroljordan]

Didn’t care for this book

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxcxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxdxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxdxcxcccccccccccxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxcdid not like did not like….did not like…did not like…did not like…did not like.did not like.did not like…did not like

[cathernmcmullin]

Togetherness

I read it one day due to you never knew where you were going to be in the next chapter. It also shows ♐ how you can put people together in a weird sort of way. and they can almost become family.

[Wpayne]

Such a good story.

His stories are all so different and holds your interest. Great characters. Just hated for the story to end. On to looking for another story to keep me up all night.

[Josh reading]

A brief coming of age novella that is all heart. I really enjoyed this novella of two brothers and their minder having a pulse pounding encounter in the southern woods and how they are changed through their brief adventure. Looking forward to reading more by this author.

[Barb]

A camping trip goes sideways for two young brothers and their friend that wasn't right since he was in the war.

[Lily]

Cute little story. Not much to it.

[Sara Smith]

Short but oh so sweet

What a wonderful quick read. Full of humor and poignancy. Reminded me of , "Stand by me." I loved it

[Paula Collins]

Great Story

Told in first person. Loved the story. Interesting but light reading. Characters are unique. Highly recommend for everyone.
Eager to read more by this author

[Kathie Palazzolo]

What a pleasant read. Perfect for a quiet afternoon or evening. Loved the characters, the writing is smart and funny. And yet wise and insightful. Just a good reading experience.

[Sharon]

This was a great story. I love the colorful characters and the lyrical writing.
T.R. Pearson never disappoints.

[James Pilgrim]

Great Story

TR Pearson’s stories are like taking a journey to an unknown place with the assurance that it will be interesting, entertaining, insightful and funny.

[Thomas M. Muller]

Lovely

Sweet short novel about a young boy in a small town in the 60s. It's one I'll reread time and again.

[Jon Glazer]

Another wonderful book by TR Pearson, one of my favorite writers. Nearly every page has an evocative description or arresting turn of phrase, and there more laugh-out-loud moments in these 93 pages than in a decade's worth of sitcoms.

I dearly wish the novel would have been longer, but I realize the author's intent was to keep it very short. The last sentence of the book really pulled everything together beautifully.

Fortunately I also bought Serpent of Old at the same time as Sleepaway, so I've got more Pearson to keep me happy!

[Stephen Wahrhaftig]

You will love this one

If you are not yet a fan of TR Pearson you will be soon. This may be his shortest fiction book. TR like to populate his stories with strange, menacing backwood characters. They’re here this time, but more in the background.

The story takes place in post WW2 with a damaged vet, precocious Boy Scouts, and one of the most interesting immigrants you’ve ever come to know.

Short and satisfying, beautifully written, and practically free. Treat yourself to two or three days of great writing with Sleepaway.

[Mark]

A very good story with T R's classic humor

A good coming of age story in a time when things seemed much simpler. But even then, there were bad things that happened to good people. How we deal with adversary defines who we are inside. T R gives a wonder story about a young boy thrust into a scary situation and the family and friends that help him through.

[Barbara Dzikowski]

Pearson is a true original, kind of a modern-day Mark Twain, kind of strictly in his own lane. This is a brief, quirky read about the lost art of kindness and the beauty of people not typically seen as such. In an increasingly mean-spirited world, such a refreshing reminder to look inside.

[Susan]

Always a pleasure, it was too short, but kind of a sweet story, in a Pearson kind of way, filled with the phrases that make me laugh and bring me home. What an amazing way Pearson develops his characters! Always a pleasure.

[Leigh]

Could have read more

I enjoyed this and was quite surprised when it ended, as I hadn’t realised it is a novella not a full length novel. The author creates a convincing world in which two boys find themselves in trouble with hillbillies. Recommended.

[Lavender]

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I won this book via Goodreads Giveaways