Perhaps the most succinct summary of Berry's philosophy, at least in his fiction. Short, quick, condensed. By comparison, Jayber Crow suffers from a long and languid narrative with too little motion. Wonderful portrayals of collective and generational memory, and the power of place to grant meaning. I was especially moved by Andy Catlett's reminiscences of his father and grandfather returning home. Berry has a disappointing tendency to literalize his metaphors from time to time, but overall, this was quite a satisfying installment in the Port William series.