Tales from a Free-Range Childhood

by Donald Davis

"To hear Donald Davis tell these stories is a delight. To read these stories is an adventure. You are transported not only to his childhood but to yours as well. Each story sparks memories. Donald is a master of finding the story and humor in everyday life and taking you along for a joyful ride."David Holt, four-time Grammy Award-winning storyteller and musician"
In his first new book in six years, Donald Davis, considered by many to be the father of family tales, returns to recollections of growing up in the southern Appalachians, and especially of his relationship with his sibling Joe. Davis has remarked that he didn't learn stories, I just absorbed them from a family of traditional storytellers that has lived on the same western North Carolina land since 1781. Among this collection of 18 chronologically arranged stories, Davis explains why 28 second-graders petitioned the school board to reestablish paddling as their preferred form of punishment, instead of the new policy of suspension. He also spins family tales about how his mother was finally convinced to give his brother Joe's naturally curly, wasted-on-a-boy hair its first cut; how he and his cousin Andy got fired from their job of watching the baby; how his brother convinced their mother to adopt her first cats; and how he got a chemistry set designated for children over 10 when he was only eight.
Through his tender, often humorous stories about his life experiences, Davis captures the hearts and minds of readers while simultaneously evoking their own childhood memories. One reviewer described Davis's storytelling style this way: "He invites each listener to come along, to pull deep inside for one's own stories, to personally share and co-create the common experiences that celebrate the creative spirit." Even if you can't enjoy Davis's storytelling live, his written voice is so strong that you will actually hear these tales as you read them.

Genres: Short Stories, Memoir, Biography, Autobiography, Nonfiction, Humor

239 pages, Hardcover

First published February 23, 2011

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Donald Davis (born 1944) is an American storyteller, author and minister. Davis had a twenty year career as a minister before he became a professional storyteller. He has recorded over 25 storytelling albums and written several books based on those stories. His long career as a teller and his promotion of the cultural importance of storytelling through seminars and master classes has led to Davis being dubbed the "dean of storytelling".

Reviews

[Brad Erickson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I busted out laughing more than a few times reading this book. The authors upbringing was similar to mine in that he had a younger brother close in age. Although I once shot mine in the head with an arrow and pushed him off the hay mow into the manger, I still didn’t come close to having the adventures, breaks, and mishaps he had growing up. Can’t wait to read some of these to my great-nephews!

[Clint · Rating 5 out of 5]

United Methodist minister-turned-storyteller's latest group of stories from his western North Carolina childhood never fails to make one smile, look back and compare memories. This group involves mostly his immediate family — his parents, his brother and his maternal grandparents — and the occasional, good-natured trouble he got into. Though he's nearly a decade and a half older than me, many of his tales share details with those of other Southern boys who grew up in the middle of the 20th century. Have heard the author speak and read most collections of his personal stories. Wish there were many more.

[Kris · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is even better if you’ve heard Donald a Davis tell some of his stories so that his voice and southern accent are in your mind. My favorite stories were the first few, I laugh and laughed and laughed. Still enjoyed the rest of the stories and the easy format so that I could pick it up and put it down without losing my place.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can dip into these wonderful stories and so I savoured them over time. Donald Davis recalls my childhood, for I was born in the foothills of the mountains and grew up mainly in NC. You laugh, you cry, but most of all you remember those precious days of a simpler yet deeper life.

[Laurel S Nulty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Feel good book

This funny stories in this book triggered funny memories from my own free-range childhood. It is truly a delightful book!

[Margo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining, but I think it really needs his voice. Stories like this beg to be told aloud, vocal inflection is such a big part of them.

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

Down-to-earth stories, a great storyteller

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

After savoring hearing Donald Davis tell his stories on the island of Ocracoke on the 4th of July, I was delighted to discover his new book. While reading of his old fashioned mischievous escapades, I heard his distinct voice in my head. Wonderful tales of family and friends in a time when children and more freedom in some ways yet less in others. My favorite story was about Donald visiting the orthodontist in Asheville and missing his bus home on purpose to give himself the freedom to explore. A delight.

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Davis is a retired Methodist minister who now hits the road as a storyteller. The book is about his years growing up in North Carolina. His storytelling voice is evident throughout the book and in the yarns he spins - be it as a second grader who fears his teacher's "electric" paddle (upperclassmen told of a victim melting through the floor after being paddled by it) or a haircut deliberately gone awry on a little brother (picture a 5-year-old looking like Friar Tuck). A humorous read that harkens back to a simpler time.

[David Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tales From a Free-Range Childhood by Donald Davis (John F. Blair 2011) (Biography). Donald Davis writes brilliantly of a Southern small town or rural childhood in the 1940's and 1950's. He's a fantastic storyteller; these are collected tales that he has been presenting verbally for thirty years or more. The pick of the lot is a story of a Valentine's Day celebration at his elementary school called “Something Up Her Sleeve.” This is good stuff! My rating: 7.5/10, finished 12/18/14.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I give this book a solid 5 stars. It made me laugh out loud in several places and it reads just like the author is sitting in the room with you telling the story. Oh, to have those simplier times back! I could relate to the stories about the author, Donald, and his brother, Joe growing up in Waynesville, NC. Love all the tricks Donald innocently (and not so innocently) played on Joe and his cousins. My 11 year old daughter read it too and she also enjoyed it. Keep up the stories, Donald Davis!

[Richard Subber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Davis is a renowned storyteller, in person and in print.
He offers very believable recollections of his childhood in this exceptionally prosaic collection.
Tales from a Free-Range Childhood is a pleasing succession of reserved but spritely humorous accounts of the kind of joys and scrapes that you probably experienced, mostly.
Davis knows how to put it into words.
Read more of my book reviews and poems here:
www.richardsubber.com

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

My perspective on this is a little different because the author is my Dad's first cousin and I am related to everyone mentioned in the stories. However, it's a great book and readers not familiar with the actual people in the stories will love it!

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I need to own this book. The only thing that would be better is listening to Donald Davis tell the stories. He has an amazing ability. Many of the stories remind me of stories from my own family. I loved it!

[Laurie Long · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful storyteller.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really easy read and very funny, too! These stories go back in time when life was different, to say the least! I thoroughly loved these precious stories of times long ago!

[Ginny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I laughed outloud many times while reading this book. I'd love to hear Davis tell his stories in person.

[Dan Griffiths]

Love to listen to Dr. Rev. Davis tell stories.

[Peg · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the best humorists alive in NC today. Had the pleasure of listening to this former minister at The NC Storytelling Festival

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recommended as light reading for thoughtful readers and anyone interested in the art and craft of storytelling.