The Essay

A Novel

De: Robin Yocum

Narrado por: Fleet Cooper

Jimmy Lee Hickam grew up along Red Dog Road, a dead-end strip of gravel and mud buried deep in the bowels of Appalachian Ohio. It is the poorest road, in the poorest county, in the poorest region of the state. To make things worse, the name Hickam is synonymous with trouble. Jimmy Lee hails from a heathen mix of thieves, moonshiners, drunkards, and general anti-socials that for decades have clung to both the hardscrabble hills and the iron bars of every jail cell in the region. This life, Jimmy Lee believes, is his destiny, someday working with his drunkard father at the sawmill, or sitting next to his arsonist brother in the penitentiary. There aren’t many options if your last name is Hickam.

An inspiring coach and Jimmy Lee's ability to play football are the only things motivating him to return for his junior year of high school - until his visionary English teacher cuts him a break and preserves his eligibility for the coming football season. To thank her, Jimmy Lee writes a winning essay in the high school writing contest. When irate parents and the baffled administration claim he has cheated, his teacher is inspired to take his writing talent as far as it can go, showing him the path out of the hills of Appalachia.

Terrific characterizations, surprising revelations, gut-wrenching past betrayals, and an unforgettable cast of characters born of the dusty, worn-out landscape of southeastern Ohio make The Essay a powerful, evocative, and incredibly moving novel.

©2012 Robin Yocum (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

Reseñas de la Crítica

"Yocum writes like the reporter he used to be. He’s observant and still has his eye for detail and nuance." ( Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Absolute Wonder of a Story<br /><br /><br /><br />

I have been so moved by this book. I can't recommend it enough. This is a rare story that will stick with me quite a while. I will no doubt listen to it again and will buy the hard back copy just to own it. I love books, and read often, but this story touched me as few do this much.

Inspiring and a solid story!

I enjoyed this story a lot, it was full of perseverance and strength. If you ever think you are not good enough, read this. The narrator was very good, enjoyable to listen to. The story made me think about the importance that teachers and coaches play in the lives of young people.

Honest, Raw, Hopeful

I thought this was a great story about love, adversity and hope. The narrator adequately conveyed the author's tone and the idiosyncratic space and culture that hosts the characters. I listened in one sitting.

New favorite author for my list

I liked everything about this one. Great storytelling, uplifting, drama, the narrator was great. Looking for more from this author

Surprisingly good

A really good story, uplifting but not overly sentimental. I was a bit skeptical of the many positive reviews, but they are deserved. This is an engaging story; very good narration.

A pure dose of happiness

If you are one of those people who believe a book isn't good unless everyone dies, everyone suffers, and the bad guys win, don't read this wonderful story about a young man who pulls himself up from poverty--with a little bit of help from truly well-meaning adults. I loved all the characters, even the nasty ones, which were drawn realistically. Sure, the father was a bit cartoonish in his rotteness, but I can forgive this because I know men out there exist who are exactly like him. One criticism is that the time period--1970s--wasn't as well drawn as it could have been.

heartfelt 💕

underdog over coming.. great story 👏 I recommend reading this book 😁 GOD BLESS

Great Story

Nice to be able to experience an uplifting positive story so well written and performed.

Wonderful and Heartwarming

Just love this author. Well written, narrated well. I hope you have many more for me.

Wow

Loved the real characters and the fact that the story seems so real and as hard as it is to believe this story is real life to many people in this world! Thank you