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The Barrowfields by Phillip Lewis

The Barrowfields

by Phillip Lewis

  • Critics' Consensus (2):
  • Readers' Rating (23):
  • Published:
  • Mar 2017, 352 pages
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There are currently 23 reader reviews for The Barrowfields
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Charla W. (Biloxi, MS)

Wish more stars were available because it deserves 10
It is my understanding that this book is Phillip Lewis' first, and if that is true then I cannot wait for the second. I absolutely loved this book! The writing is superb , the character development spot on, and the writing is beautiful.

This is the story of Henry Aster, Sr and is told by his son Henry, Jr. Henry, Sr was born in a desolate, dreary little town deep in North Carolina called Old Buckram. The people of Old Buckram were poor and uneducated. Henry, Sr stood out like a sore thumb, because from a very early age he was smart and he was never seen without a book in his hand. Old Buckram was a place wheremore
Rosemary

An Engaging Novel
I thoroughly enjoyed this beautifully written and engaging story and I was drawn into the world Phillip Lewis creates. A stunning debut novel that explores a families' bonds and a man's devotion to literature. I had a hard time putting it down and wanted more when it ended.
Terri C. (Litchfield, NH)

The Barrowfields
I enjoyed reading this book as the plot was good and the writing was wonderful. It was an enjoyable read- a book I looked forward to picking up and sitting with to unwind, relax and enjoy. Great writing and insights into everyday life made precious. Best one sentence description is indeed "Majestic and rich with the textures of life" as stated by Paul Yoon. I found that sentence to perfectly describe my reading experience of this novel.
Annie P. (Murrells Inlet, SC)

The Barrowfields by Phillip Lewis
This book captivated me from the first page to the very last! I was enthralled with Lewis' writing style (poetic, visionary, promising), giving me such a plethora of sights and sounds, accents and idioms, colorful words and sights, that my imagination was overloaded to the point of exhaustion. Lewis' use of "other than" words sent me repeatedly to the dictionary and Google, surprising me time after time that common words ("frowning brow") could be replaced by a magical phrase ("synclinal eyebrows") and still mean the same. I ended up with a page-long list of "I have an advanced degree in the English language"more
Jan Z. (Jefferson, SD)

Barrowfields
This was really quite an incredible book! I am having a hard time writing a review for it because I don't know where to start. The characters, place, relationships, voice - all were so important to the plot, and they were all handled so well.
I didn't always like what happened, or the characters, but that makes the book more realistic IMO, and when I didn't like the character or characters I could empathize with them. The main character Henry had a candor about him that drew me into his story completely, as did his honesty about his relationships with Threnody and Story.

I highly recommend this to people who likemore
Janice P. (South Woodstock, VT)

Like Father, Like Son, But....
Henry is named for his father, resembles his father, and takes after his father, a book lover from childhood, an eccentric, gentle man of melancholic temperament, lively imagination, and occasional sly wit. Both love storytelling, the piano, the solitude of nature.

Like his father, Henry grows up in Old Buckram, an isolated, rundown settlement of 400 in the far northwestern hills of North Carolina, where he is equally a social misfit. Like his father, Henry escapes after high school to make his awkward way into the broader world: college, law school, and love at first sight. And like his father, he will return,more
Darcy C. (San Diego, CA)

The Barrowfields: Please Don't End. Fabulous Story.
About 1/4 of the way into this heart-loving book I knew I LOVED this story. This family-centric novel and the very real characters ARE people in real life. Messy, paths not taken, missed love, wonderful love and family solidarity. I related to this protagonist, Henry, and LOVED his dog, Buller. I wish his girlfriend were less mysterious, but weren't we all trying to "be something" when we were in college, and trying to grow into something bigger than our parents.... The writing is lyrical, though not distracting. I thoroughly relished this book and cannot wait until the author's next novel. BTW, I have a bulkymore
Power Reviewer
Diane S.

The Barrowfields
As soon as I started reading I was intrigued and pulled into the story. The house, this gorgeous, spooky sounding house, a house with a tragic past, now home to a young Henry, his sister Threnody, mom and dad, Henry the elder. A man in love with literature, music, wanting desperately to write an outstanding novel, put meaningful words on paper. The gorgeous sounding library, with a huge amount of books, a house with nooks and crannies to get lost in, sitting on top of a mountain in a small Appalachian town. House envy, house lust. A house that will soon hold an inordinate amount of sadness, tragedy. Gothic tones,more
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