Token Creek

By Erwin Riedner

Book Overview

The crossroads of Token Creek has given new life, lovingly but not sentimentally, thanks to Erwin Riedner in his debut collection of tales. Riedner's straightfoward, understated style echoes the vioce... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1878569570
• ISBN13: 9781878569578
• Release Date: May 1998
• Publisher: Waubesa Pr
• Length: 135 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.5" x 0.8" x 5.5"

Customer Reviews

I loved it! A fun read.

Each of the stories in this book is beautifully written, elegantly conceived, and full of interesting and colorful characters. I look forward to reading the stories outloud to my children.

It ISN'T Garrison Keillor!

Read the first review. It covers more than I could think to say at this point. I am about to read the book for a second time. What I expected, and what I got upon reading were two different things. The author has what one calls a real gift for words. Each story is an emotional trip. Some left me laughing, but several left me exhausted from my journey. I can't wait to read it again!

A book to be savored, shared and saved to read again.

TOKEN CREEK is a gem. The book's structure is simple enough: a collage of short stories about family and friends in a Wisconsin farm town at a time before most of us were born. But beware, the simple description is deceptive. Beneath a smoothly crafted surface you'll find a rich and subtle read. Each of the stories is gracefully rendered, each standing alone as a tale worth telling. Woven together, they form a broad and comforting picture of a community whose people I grew to like and respect. Several of the stories are especially strong. My personal favorite, "The Token Creek Land Company" is haunting, almost Chekhovian in its bittersweet exploration of sunshine dreams in the clutch of a northern winter. Or "Bird Dog," warm and funny, about the power of man's best friend to redirect Second Cousin LeRoy from the road to booze and sloth. Another winner is "The Big Dipper," with its measured and evocative description of Uncle Dillard's fall into an unsuspected tunnel, carved beneath his barn to shelter runaway slaves. Then there's the one about the pig. . . There is a lot of variety here. You'll be able to pick a favorite of your own.Riedner has a gift shared with the first tier of American short story writers. His words are crisp and bright. They are combined with wit and subtlety into rhythmic clusters of image-rich prose. His voice is sure, humane and loving, but never for a moment sentimental. The stories of TOKEN CREEK belie their half century ago setting. They are a completely modern look at the varying burdens and joys of living among those we care for, of being part of family and community. TOKEN CREEK is about people worth knowing. It is a book to be savored, shared and saved to read again.