God Was Just Practicing When He Made Men

What Makes Us Southerners #5

by Kathryn Tucker Windham

Down in Thomasville, Alabama, a long time ago ... Kathryn Tucker Windham's mellifluous Southern voice guides us by words alone through a town where a parrot sings along with the doxology at church and the telephone operator can tell you anything you need to know. We meet fascinating folks Mose T, who paints a mighty fine sunflower; a daddy who tells potato tales that would make Idaho proud; and Thurza the cook, who explains that "God was just practicing when He made men, but He knew what He was doing when He made women..." Just when you think you've heard it all, Ms. Windham surprises with a bit of original music played on a most unconventional instrument. "Words are fascinating," she says. These tales prove her point.

1 pages, Audio CD

First published January 25, 1986

About the author

Kathryn Tucker Windham was an American storyteller, author, photographer, and journalist.

Windham got her first writing job at the age of 12, reviewing movies for her cousin's small town newspaper, The Thomasville Times. She earned a B.A. degree from Huntingdon College in 1939. Soon after graduating she became a reporter for the Alabama Journal. Starting in 1944 she worked for The Birmingham News. In 1946 she married Amasa Benjamin Windham with whom she had three children. In 1956 she went to work at the Selma Times-Journal where she won several Associated Press awards for her writing and photography. A collection of her photographs is on display at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts. She died on June 12, 2011. The 2004 documentary film, Kathryn: The Story of a Teller, directed by Norton Dill, chronicles Windham's life and varied careers.

Reviews

[James Biser · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kathryn Windham is the voice of Alabama. This audiobook is fabulous to hear. I grew up listening to the "stories" of my Grandma, Aunts, and friends in West Virginia. Sitting on the porch swing talking is how you learn about life.

[lee! · Rating 3 out of 5]

my biggest fear is that someday i get stopped by a ‘what are you listening to’ person and i have to share whatever freak audiobook im enjoying that day