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Goodbye to a River: A Narrative Audiobook

Goodbye to a River: A Narrative Audiobook, by John Graves Play Audiobook Sample
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Read By: Henry Strozier Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc. Listen Time: at 1.0x Speed 7.00 hours at 1.5x Speed 5.25 hours at 2.0x Speed Release Date: February 2008 Format: Unabridged Audiobook ISBN: 9781440798788

Quick Stats About this Audiobook

Total Audiobook Chapters:

19

Longest Chapter Length:

62:30 minutes

Shortest Chapter Length:

02:31 minutes

Average Chapter Length:

33:03 minutes

Audiobooks by this Author:

2

Other Audiobooks Written by John Graves: > View All...

Publisher Description

A classic from the Lone Star State, John Graves' Goodbye to a River is a poignant narrative of one man's journey by canoe down the river of his memories. Along the way, he describes the colorful Texas landscape and recounts its rich history. When Graves learns that the river he knew and loved as a youth-the Brazos in north-central Texas-is slated to be dammed at multiple points, he understands that things will never be the same.

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"For anyone living near the upper Brazos river and with any interest of the history of the area, this is a must read. John takes what be assumes will be his last canoe trip down the Brazos river before a series of dams were to be built. He spends a few weeks floating down the river with is companion - a feisty little dachshund, and chronicles memories and histories of nearly every bend in river as well as the communities that are part of the upper Brazos country including Palo Pinto, Parker and Bosque counties. Considered a classic."

— Ed (5 out of 5 stars)

Quotes

  • “One of the most pleasing books I’ve ever read. I love the way it weaves together remote history, not so remote history, present events, and landscape.”

    — Elizabeth Marshall Thomas, New York Times bestselling author of The Hidden Life of Dogs
  • “John Graves’ writing is invaluable…The reader who misses Graves will have missed much.”

    — Larry McMurtry, New York Times bestselling author of Lonesome Dove
  • “Graves’ originality and flair turn this local scene and regional lore into an honest and powerfully evocative picture of frontier life anywhere.”

    — Chicago Sunday Tribune
  • “As you read, you have the feeling that the whole colorful, brutal tapestry of the Lone Star State is being unrolled for you out of the biography of this one stream.”

    — Atlantic Monthly
  • “Henry Strozier’s dry, definitive tones cause no misgivings as to historical or even geological veracity. This journey along the condemned river in chilly November is both a poignant farewell and an anecdotal history lesson of Indian massacres and headstrong drunks and fish that got away. As a monologue of thoughts and impressions, this book is lucky to have such a sympathetic reader, who makes the listener pleased to simply go with the flow.”

    — AudioFile

Goodbye to a River Listener Reviews

Overall Performance: 3.8620689655172415 out of 53.8620689655172415 out of 53.8620689655172415 out of 53.8620689655172415 out of 53.8620689655172415 out of 5 (3.86)
5 Stars: 11
4 Stars: 8
3 Stars: 7
2 Stars: 1
1 Stars: 2
Narration: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 (0.00)
5 Stars: 0
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Story: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 (0.00)
5 Stars: 0
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Write a Review
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Not my typical book, but I did find Graves' experience on a solo (well, with his dog) canoe trip to be an interesting medley of Texas history, ecology, and self reflection. Growing up with property on the Guadalupe river, I translated his stories to some of my personal experiences. A must read for those interested in Comanche stories. "

    — Kristina, 2/2/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " He rode the river one last time by canoe with his dog down the Brazos before the dams were built. He tells stories of his adventures and of the stories he learns as he travels down the Brazos River. An awesome book if you can find it. "

    — Gary, 1/30/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Beautiful journey. The book takes you along the Brazos as John canoes delivering tidbits of history and anecdote. A calming read that I very much enjoyed. "

    — Christine, 1/29/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " My favorite Texas book of non-fiction. Each paragraph is tooled and polished like fine leather. Larry McMurtry critisized Graves good naturedly when he said "He never publishes his failures" (Something you cannot say about McMurtry). "

    — Rick, 1/27/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " It is about a river, but mostly in an indirect way. The river is more of an excuse to tell the rest of the stories and something to tie those stories together with. Just like the river the narrative flows from one story to the next and at times you forget that the current story is an interruption of some other story (that might well be a detour from yet another). Although the stories themselves are interesting it is the descriptions of the landscape and people that make the book good. "

    — carl, 1/18/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " I love Graves' writing style. Exceedingly human. "

    — Annie, 1/14/2014
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " This book is a Texas classic yet it did not resonate with me. I feel like it is less relevant as it ages. I know, I'm missing something. Sorry. "

    — Mark, 9/10/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " A Texas classic. Meanders like the Mighty Brazos River. Though I have no desire to go camping, this is a good camping and Texas history book. OK, maybe I want to camping and canoeing just a bit after reading this. And it has a dachsund in it! "

    — Mike, 9/3/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " One canoe ride down the Brazos with John Graves can enrich you with more Texas history than any teacher coould ever dream of producing. I enjoyed the narrative, which increased my knowledge of early Texas and increased my vocabulary. Graves can flat out pen. "

    — Logan, 8/29/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " This was my favorite book I read in 2009. Beautiful prose and highly contemplative. There are many people I would recommend this to. "

    — Taylor, 5/10/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " John Graves and his pup take a canoe trip down the Brazos River as John reminises about the local and regional lore and how much times on the river are changing. The reader can visualize the scenery and history as they glide down the river. "

    — Patsy, 3/27/2013

About Henry Strozier

Henry Strozier is an actor with a forty-year career in numerous movies and television series. Also a voice-over artist, he has worked extensively in video games and audiobook narration, earning several AudioFile Earphones Awards.