My Grandfather's Finger

"Story telling is back! Edward Swift's new book, "My Grandfather's Finger" is a natural for readers who identify with sleeping porches, butter churns, wood-burning stoves and other delights of living in the Big Thicket of Texas. Time moves at human pace and characters are encouraged in this charming book."--Liz Carpenter, author of "Ruffles and Flourishes" "Utterly beguiling. A work of charm, wit, honesty, and heart."--Carole Maso, author of "Defiance" "I am grateful for the opportunity to read Mr. Swift's wonderful book. I loved it--family life remembered in detail but with such affection."--Quentin Crisp "Funny and poignant, this anecdotal memoir of a World War II childhood in an isolated hamlet in east Texas avoids nostalgia and reveals a darkness on the edges of the town and on the edges of the stories."--"Booklist" ""My Grandfather's Finger" is a ravishing tapestry of tales woven together with wicked wit, keen kindness, and helpless truth. Edward Swift is a literary treasure."--Beth Henley, author of "Crimes of the Heart" "The characters you meet in this book make Bailey White's seem like everyday folks."--"Austin American-Statesman" ""My Grandfather's Finger" is a delightful book--sad and funny, nostalgic and tough-minded, moving and hilarious, with an array of wonderfully rendered characters rich enough to fill more books. It is a splendid enactment of storytelling, each tale standing on its own but also setting off memories for the next. Swift's writing is honest and forthright on the one hand and loving on the other. He appears to love these crazies not despite their faults, but for them. If we don't tell these stories, there'll be no one else left to, and they will vanish. I'm glad Edward Swift didn't let that happen."--Jim Corder, author of "Yonder" Funny and poignant, this anecdotal memoir of a World War II childhood in an isolated hamlet in east Texas avoids nostalgia and reveals a darkness on the edges of the town and on the edges of the stories.--"Booklist" The characters you meet in this book make Bailey White's seem like everyday folks.--"Austin American-Statesman" "My Grandfather's Finger" is a delightful book--sad and funny, nostalgic and tough-minded, moving and hilarious, with an array of wonderfully rendered characters rich enough to fill more books. It is a splendid enactment of storytelling, each tale standing on its own but also setting off memories for the next. Swift's writing is honest and forthright on the one hand and loving on the other. He appears to love these crazies not despite their faults, but for them. If we don't tell these stories, there'll be no one else left to, and they will vanish. I'm glad Edward Swift didn't let that happen.--Jim Corder "author of "Yonder" " Utterly beguiling. A work of charm, wit, honesty, and heart.--Carole Maso "author of "Defiance" " Story telling is back! Edward Swift's new book, "My Grandfather's Finger" is a natural for readers who identify with sleeping porches, butter churns, wood-burning stoves and other delights of living in the Big Thicket of Texas. Time moves at human pace and characters are encouraged in this charming book.--Liz Carpenter "author of "Ruffles and Flourishes" " I am grateful for the opportunity to read Mr. Swift's wonderful book. I loved it--family life remembered in detail but with such affection.--Quentin Crisp "My Grandfather's Finger" is a ravishing tapestry of tales woven together with wicked wit, keen kindness, and helpless truth. Edward Swift is a literary treasure.--Beth Henley "author of "Crimes of the Heart" "