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A Year on the Tump
. . . turn onto Chincoteague Road. . . just past the rockets at the NASA Visitor Center, open the car windows. The road bends to the right and a massive horizon opens up. Breathe in the smell of the marsh. Get ready to be home - for the first time, or forever.
"A Year on the Tump" unveils the seasons of life on Chincoteague Island - the wonder of its natural surroundings, its hearty down-to-earth people, and life in a small community. Told with artistic imagery and humor, where the sights and sounds of the front porch are more intriguing than television or the internet, Daniel Thomas takes the reader to a place where everyone knows your name, or at least your business.
For newcomers, here is an introduction to a magical place surrounded by water and sky. For Teaguers, Come'ere's and Been-heres who think they know the Tump well, you might just reconnect with all that makes the Island HOME.
"A Year on the Tump" unveils the seasons of life on Chincoteague Island - the wonder of its natural surroundings, its hearty down-to-earth people, and life in a small community. Told with artistic imagery and humor, where the sights and sounds of the front porch are more intriguing than television or the internet, Daniel Thomas takes the reader to a place where everyone knows your name, or at least your business.
For newcomers, here is an introduction to a magical place surrounded by water and sky. For Teaguers, Come'ere's and Been-heres who think they know the Tump well, you might just reconnect with all that makes the Island HOME.
345 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 9, 2019
8 people are currently reading
360 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
August 30, 2022
An open an honest description of a year in the life of a man who now lines on Chincoteague Island with his wife. A lovely diary, but a bit opinionated.
I received this book free from Goodreads in exchange for an honest review.
I received this book free from Goodreads in exchange for an honest review.
August 21, 2019
Having visited this wonderful place, I appreciated a local author's view. It was a very enjoyable read. I want to think more about a review as I have just finished it, i want to think about it a little bit. Overall, though it was very enjoyable.
August 25, 2019
Enjoyable read about life and some of the many characters on Chincoteague Island.
December 20, 2020
A lavish tribute to the author's overwhelming sense of his educational and cultural solitude in a sea of misfit, classless local rubes. The author's fondness of the area is clearly limited to perhaps three geographical locations (his own home, the Wildlife Loop, and the beach) which afford him the appropriate space to elevate himself to an even higher plane of arrogance, as he clearly finds no locals equal to his well-travelled and well-educated status.
One can envision the author staring down his nose at all of the silly little peasants surrounding him as he penned this diatribe against a community that survived for several centuries without his condescending input.
I am thankful that this book was a gift, for if I had spent one thin dime on its purchase, I would feel the need to recoup my expenditure with a pound of flesh from the author.
My identity is withheld, as I would rather the author wonder who among his neighbors considers his book to be a hurtful attack on the kind people who accepted him at face value. You may want to start looking over your shoulder instead of down your nose, old chap.
One can envision the author staring down his nose at all of the silly little peasants surrounding him as he penned this diatribe against a community that survived for several centuries without his condescending input.
I am thankful that this book was a gift, for if I had spent one thin dime on its purchase, I would feel the need to recoup my expenditure with a pound of flesh from the author.
My identity is withheld, as I would rather the author wonder who among his neighbors considers his book to be a hurtful attack on the kind people who accepted him at face value. You may want to start looking over your shoulder instead of down your nose, old chap.
September 9, 2019
This book made me want to be on Chincoteague. I now have a list of things to look for when I finally get a chance to visit! I love the stories, and feel like I already know a lot of people in town.
May 30, 2020
It was a good read and I would definitely recommend it to anyone visiting Chincoteague. It does get a little long winded when describing the birds or the views on the island but it gives the vibe of the slower life on the island and does justice to the beauty. My only issue is how often it judges and complains about the various visitors on the island like the references to people who have their phones or even complaining about someone changing a baby's diaper on the beach
July 9, 2025
I really wanted to love this book but I just struggled the whole time to finish it. I think the author is a great writer and a very interesting human being but I just found myself constantly bored. The author also seems to occasionally have a very negative view of others as if he’s above them which I did not like. I would skip this one.
January 28, 2023
I received a free copy of A Year On The Tump in a Goodreads giveaway and I am voluntarily leaving a review. I found a new place I would like yup visit. I would love to see the wild life, especially the ponies. The scenery and the beaches sound beautiful.
December 29, 2023
I have visited Chincoteague several times, and it was interesting to read an account of someone who moved to the island. I definitely learned some things about the island but found the author to be judgmental toward visitors to the island who differ from him.
February 9, 2020
2.5 stars.
It was just okay to me, but did have its moments. Unfortunately, said moments--of quirky locals, the author's experiences with selling his art, the natural elements of seasonal changes and wildlife--are bogged down and lost in a tedious amount of minutiae. I feel like this book could've benefited greatly from a ruthless edit to tighten up the story.
*Received from Goodreads giveaway.
It was just okay to me, but did have its moments. Unfortunately, said moments--of quirky locals, the author's experiences with selling his art, the natural elements of seasonal changes and wildlife--are bogged down and lost in a tedious amount of minutiae. I feel like this book could've benefited greatly from a ruthless edit to tighten up the story.
*Received from Goodreads giveaway.
August 3, 2020
I agree with another reviewer, this book would be a bit more enjoyable if the author did not get bogged down in minutiae and a love of hearing his own voice. In addition, I found his characterizations of some of the locals and other homeowners quite mean spirited and juvenile, almost bullying in nature.
August 3, 2020
As a local, if I could give this no stars I would.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews