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River Season
Sharing the boyhood rites of summer in 1966 Texas with his two best friends, thirteen-year-old Jim befriends an older African-American man who tells Jim his experiences as the son of an alcoholic, a Negro League baseball player, and a black man in a racially strained community. Reprint.
- GenresFictionComing Of Age
208 pages, Paperback
First published July 28, 2003
38 people want to read
About the author
Jim Black
11 books1 followerA lifelong Texan, Jim Black was born in Center, Texas, and grew up in Archer City (Pop.1750). Despite its small size, Archer City High School has turned out a bevy of successful writers including Pulitzer Prize winner Larry McMurtry (Lonesome Dove), award winning Western writer Benjamin Capps (The Trail to Ogallala), Ceil Cleveland (Whatever Happened to Jacy Farrow?), Bill Crowley (Hollywood, Texas) and Jim Lewis (Life with Bingo).
Today, Mr. Black lives in Wichita Falls with his wife, Lorrie.
Today, Mr. Black lives in Wichita Falls with his wife, Lorrie.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
May 30, 2017
Probably one of the best stories I have ever read! And to borrow a phrase from Bruce Lee from the movie "Enter the Dragon" this book is filled with "emotional content"
November 30, 2019
"I think my mom’s patience with Charles, Gary, and myself stemmed from years of working on the pediatric floor at Methodist Hospital in Lubbock. Maybe seeing so many sick and dying kids makes you look at your own in a different light. I don’t know. I do know she was not overly protective or strict back then. I really think she just wanted us to enjoy the privilege of being kids, and I’ve always loved her for that. It was easier back then, too, because times were different. In our small town, we really did sleep with doors unlocked and windows open. I know now those were the best of times."
Jim Black was thirteen in the summer of 1966. Growing up in Archer City, Texas with his two best friends, Gary Beesinger and Charles Luig, life was great. This summer, Jim had big plans: playing baseball, mowing lawns, and hanging out with his friends. What he didn’t plan on was meeting Samuel “Sam” Joseph Washington, an older black man from the other side of town. This man, who decided to take up residency at his favorite fishing spot, would not only grow to be a father figure to Jim, but would also become his friend and would show Jim the value of acceptance, generosity, and love.
In an interview with Brothers Judd (brothersjudd.com), Jim Black explained that "There’s a River Down in Texas" (which, after the addition of fifty pages, would later become "River Season") is largely autobiographical with the remainder being pure fiction. "River Season" gives us a warm, sometimes bittersweet, and nostalgic look at growing up in small-town America during a time when the only things on a boy’s mind were baseball, pretty girls, hanging out with friends, and getting into just enough mischief to make life interesting but not enough to get you arrested. It was a simpler time when you knew who your friends were and, more importantly, who your enemies were. Bullies were never anonymous and disagreements were settled swiftly resulting in either an inflated ego or a black eye.
I picked up "River Season" at a secondhand book store and after visiting Black’s website (jimblackbooks.com), this may be the only way for interested readers to obtain copies of his books. Black explains that all contracts with his publisher have been cancelled and his books are no longer being produced. I hope lightning strikes twice and I am able to find his sequel "Tracks" so that I can follow a fifteen-year-old Jim as he tackles high school, bullies, and a broken heart.
Although "River Season" does touch upon the racial tensions that occurred in the 1960s South, Black is not overly preachy on the subject. He could have easily made this the focal point of his story, but he instead concentrates on the friendship between himself, Charles, and Gary, as well the touching bond he shared with Sam. American author and businessman, Arthur H. Glasow, once said, “A true friend never gets in your way unless you happen to be going down.” Most of us would be fortunate to have just one friend like this. Jim Black was blessed to have found three.
Jim Black was thirteen in the summer of 1966. Growing up in Archer City, Texas with his two best friends, Gary Beesinger and Charles Luig, life was great. This summer, Jim had big plans: playing baseball, mowing lawns, and hanging out with his friends. What he didn’t plan on was meeting Samuel “Sam” Joseph Washington, an older black man from the other side of town. This man, who decided to take up residency at his favorite fishing spot, would not only grow to be a father figure to Jim, but would also become his friend and would show Jim the value of acceptance, generosity, and love.
In an interview with Brothers Judd (brothersjudd.com), Jim Black explained that "There’s a River Down in Texas" (which, after the addition of fifty pages, would later become "River Season") is largely autobiographical with the remainder being pure fiction. "River Season" gives us a warm, sometimes bittersweet, and nostalgic look at growing up in small-town America during a time when the only things on a boy’s mind were baseball, pretty girls, hanging out with friends, and getting into just enough mischief to make life interesting but not enough to get you arrested. It was a simpler time when you knew who your friends were and, more importantly, who your enemies were. Bullies were never anonymous and disagreements were settled swiftly resulting in either an inflated ego or a black eye.
I picked up "River Season" at a secondhand book store and after visiting Black’s website (jimblackbooks.com), this may be the only way for interested readers to obtain copies of his books. Black explains that all contracts with his publisher have been cancelled and his books are no longer being produced. I hope lightning strikes twice and I am able to find his sequel "Tracks" so that I can follow a fifteen-year-old Jim as he tackles high school, bullies, and a broken heart.
Although "River Season" does touch upon the racial tensions that occurred in the 1960s South, Black is not overly preachy on the subject. He could have easily made this the focal point of his story, but he instead concentrates on the friendship between himself, Charles, and Gary, as well the touching bond he shared with Sam. American author and businessman, Arthur H. Glasow, once said, “A true friend never gets in your way unless you happen to be going down.” Most of us would be fortunate to have just one friend like this. Jim Black was blessed to have found three.
March 18, 2021
The story, as told by the narrator as he looks back over thirty years to his childhood, more specifically the year in the 1960s when he was thirteen, is set in Archer City, a small town in America. That was the year the young Jim Black met and befriended Sam, an ageing black American, a decent and wise old man. Their friendships started as they were both fishing and grew from that with many discussions about fishing, baseball and life.
Jim also tells of the many escapades he and his two close friends, Gary Beesinger and Charles Luig, playing practical jokes and making their own adventures. Gary and Charles are initially wary of Sam but are eventually won round by Jim, but there are still those townsfolk who disapprove of the friendship, and along with Sam's account of his past we are aware of the prejudices of the time, but not in such a way that this takes over the story, it is just how things were.
River Season is a beautiful and gentle story of a time when three young boys could make their own entertainment, get up to mischief without getting into trouble and yet at the same time to perform acts of great kindness. Jim becomes very attached to Sam, who in turn thinks the world of Jim; and Jim's friendship with his two pals Gary and Charles is something to be admired.
While this is presented as a novel, it is in fact largely autobiographical, a story where the names have NOT been changed - the story having first been self-published and circulated among the author's friends. As word of the book got out, the book was enlarged and published but still keeping the real names of the characters.
What it amounts to is a most appealing account, the numerous chapters are very short making it a very easy read, there is no great drama or plot, although sad things do happen, there is also a tough of mystery or rather the unexplained, but as with other aspects of the story there is no great emphasis on this - it all adds to the atmosphere of a more peaceful, less hectic era.
Jim also tells of the many escapades he and his two close friends, Gary Beesinger and Charles Luig, playing practical jokes and making their own adventures. Gary and Charles are initially wary of Sam but are eventually won round by Jim, but there are still those townsfolk who disapprove of the friendship, and along with Sam's account of his past we are aware of the prejudices of the time, but not in such a way that this takes over the story, it is just how things were.
River Season is a beautiful and gentle story of a time when three young boys could make their own entertainment, get up to mischief without getting into trouble and yet at the same time to perform acts of great kindness. Jim becomes very attached to Sam, who in turn thinks the world of Jim; and Jim's friendship with his two pals Gary and Charles is something to be admired.
While this is presented as a novel, it is in fact largely autobiographical, a story where the names have NOT been changed - the story having first been self-published and circulated among the author's friends. As word of the book got out, the book was enlarged and published but still keeping the real names of the characters.
What it amounts to is a most appealing account, the numerous chapters are very short making it a very easy read, there is no great drama or plot, although sad things do happen, there is also a tough of mystery or rather the unexplained, but as with other aspects of the story there is no great emphasis on this - it all adds to the atmosphere of a more peaceful, less hectic era.
February 11, 2022
I was disappointed with the ending, where Jim believes he encountered a ghost ( though it could thankfully be interpreted as just his imagination). Otherwise, it was a beautiful story of friendship. Sam reminded me of a dear friend of mine, Brother Green. It was nice to see a story about a friendship between a child and adult. To my surprise, it focused even more on Jim’s friendship with boys his age, which was even more enjoyable to read about.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 2, 2019
4 1/2 stars
September 17, 2009
A story but partly an autobiography. Simple language. Clear images. Uplifting. A range of 'real' characters-- some likable, some not at all. The book rings true. A story of a white boy of thirteen and his friends and an older man, Sam,black, who becomes a "father-figure" for the boy. About the prejudices of the South and the goodness in human hearts.
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August 6, 2011I liked this book narrated by 13-year-old Jim Black, a boy being raised by his mother after his father dies while drunk driving. Jim and his two best friends Gary and Charles have a ton of adventures in their small Texas town in 1966. If you like fishing, dirt bikes, camping or baseball, this book would interest you.
October 30, 2012
Jim learns about "The River Big" during his 13th summer. Friendship, love, death, and adventure of three boys growing up in a small town in Texas.
August 10, 2013
interesting time in history. Loved that it was set in a small Texas town. Great story of boys and their antics and friendships.
December 2, 2013
a very beautiful story.. .soul-stirring... emotional and a very inspiring ending
February 1, 2017
This book made me realize how important summers are in shaping our own character. Fantastic moving book.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews