Wendell Berry

In a novel set in a small-town "Heaven," the rural Kentucky farmer-philosopher returns to his fictional Port William to explore themes of love, suffering, and joy. Reprint. 40,000 first printing.

A Novel

Jayber Crow

Benjamin Smith

“The War and The Economy are everywhere making their noises.”

Rick Dobrowolski

More philosophy than fiction, Wendell Berry gives a look into the life of Jayber Crow, the town barber. This book is necessarily slow to read, as almost each statement packs a punch of meaning and leads you into deeper thoughts on the themes of life.

This is the first of Berry's books that I've read and will definitely not be the last.

Gabe Cortez

Melody Izard

In the front matter of this book, just after the author’s Acknowledgement and before the Contents, is a Notice by the Author which reads: "Persons attempting to find a “text” in this book will be prosecuted; persons attempting to find a “subtext” in it will be banished; persons attempting to explain, interpret, explicate, analyze, deconstruct, or otherwise “understand” it will be exiled to a desert island in the company only of other explainers. BY ORDER OF THE AUTHOR." 

Despite this warning I search for a description of the Novel, Jayber Crow. 

This is a book about the changing of the face of America, about the disappearance of community and simplicity. This is a book about deep, true love which can neither be explained nor understood. This is a book about Heaven and about recognizing it when you get there. This is a book about protecting our earth and protecting our neighbors and making sure our old mules are cared for even when they have ceased being productive. It’s a book that will send the electricity of well-being and hope and ecstasy through your body and cause tears to well up in your eyes if you will let it. Or it can just be a book about a barber in a small town in Kentucky.

Jayber Crow A Novel

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