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Jayber Crow
Jayber Crow: A Novel | Wendell Berry
Jayber Crow, born in Goforth, Kentucky, orphaned at age ten, began his search as a "pre-ministerial student" at Pigeonville College. There, freedom met with new burdens and a young man needed more than a mirror to find himself. But the beginning of that finding was a short conversation with "Old Grit," his profound professor of New Testament Greek. "You have been given questions to which you cannot be given answers. You will have to live them out--perhaps a little at a time." "And how long is that going to take?" "I don't know. As long as you live, perhaps." "That could be a long time." "I will tell you a further mystery," he said. "It may take longer." Eventually, after the flood of 1937, Jayber becomes the barber of the small community of Port William, Kentucky. From behind that barber chair he lives out the questions that drove him from seminary and begins to accept the gifts of community that enclose his answers. The chair gives him a perfect perch from which to listen, to talk, and to see, as life spends itself all around. In this novel full of remarkable characters, he tells his story that becomes the story of his town and its transcendent membership.
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Jas16
Jayber Crow: A Novel | Wendell Berry
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Pickpick

I am so behind on reviews it isn‘t even funny. I have been battling yet another horrible cough and just haven‘t felt like reviewing. I will start my slow catch up with this book that is seemingly with a plot, just following the life of an ordinary man in a small town. Like Jayber himself, this book is more than it seems. A nice book to curl up with when you want a softer read. #24in2024

Ruthiella Hope you feel better soon! 6mo
Leftcoastzen Feel better! Wendell Berry is a treasure! 6mo
youneverarrived Hope you feel better 💕 6mo
SpellboundReader Hope the cough goes away soon. 6mo
Jas16 @Ruthiella @Leftcoastzen @youneverarrived Thank you all. The cough finally seems to be diminishing. 6mo
43 likes1 stack add5 comments
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AvidReader25
Jayber Crow: A Novel | Wendell Berry
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Pickpick

Berry has an incredible skill for writing about things we've all felt but sound new & familiar in his prose. Jayber tells the story of his time as barber in Port William. Through the years he watches dramas unfold from his solitary place. He sees how time changes the community, deals w/his own heartbreak, hatred & struggles w/faith. It‘s a book that flows slowly & should be savored. Nothing big happens & yet all of life is packed within its pages.

28 likes2 stack adds
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Bookwormjillk
Jayber Crow: A Novel | Wendell Berry
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Mehso-so

Right book wrong time. I would have loved this book at certain times, but I was not interested in reading something so slow right now. I‘ll probably give it another try later.

53 likes6 comments
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Michael_Gee
Jayber Crow: A Novel | Wendell Berry
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Pickpick

I imagine I will think of Jayber after an hours long nap in the woods, futilely trying to piece together a spiderweb he destroyed upon waking. 🌲

Though it is over 300 pages and there‘s no plot to speak of, it passes smoothly like a comfortable, meandering story heard while sitting in a barbershop (an experience I don‘t have but can imagine through this telling).

My sister‘s fav book, and what a one to live with resonating inside of you.

Leftcoastzen Wendell Berry is superb! 11mo
jlhammar Great book! Love Berry. This one was my first and favorite 11mo
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Michael_Gee
Jayber Crow: A Novel | Wendell Berry
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This has been on my TBR for about four years, since my sister was pregnant and said she wanted to name her son Jayber.

My husband and I had a lot to say about that and I‘m relieved to report my nephew‘s name is Abe (jAyBEr). Here he is pictured giving thanks for that.

Reggie Lol, omg whata cutie! 11mo
Bookzombie Adorable! 11mo
23 likes2 comments
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Therewillbebooks
Jayber Crow: A Novel | Wendell Berry
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Pickpick

Many moons ago Matt's dad insisted with we read “Jayber Crow“ by Wendell Berry, and this week we are ready to discuss this fantastic book and author. A great book to take your time reading, we unpack the life philosophies Berry seems to hold true as well as praise the beautiful prose and character development. A fantastic author that we hope to return too in the near future.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/6XFnxv8LK5u1aA963tHYGP

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Therewillbebooks
Jayber Crow: A Novel | Wendell Berry
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Doing a little episode prep with some guidance from my muse.

jlhammar Great book! Love all of the Port William novels. 12mo
40 likes1 comment
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CRR
Jayber Crow: A Novel | Wendell Berry
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Pickpick

I enjoyed this meandering life story of Mr Crow—barber and gravedigger. It was a slow moving book, though it was on purpose. Wendell Berry writes slow reading stories on purpose. It differs from much of what‘s out there (and much of what I typically read) but the slow pace of reading was enjoyable. Sometimes I get too caught in finishing a book that I forget to enjoy it along the way.

vivastory This is one of my cousin's favorite books & I never saw it in print until a couple of years ago and I always misheard the title as Jaybird Crow lol 2y
CRR @vivastory His name is actually Jonah but people called him Mr. Crow and then actually Jaybird which slowly evolved into Jayber! So you‘re right! 2y
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Bevita
Jayber Crow: A Novel | Wendell Berry
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Pickpick

Another lovely and pointed story about rural Kentucky and a bachelor barber who makes a life. Is there time to read everything by Wendell Berry?

jlhammar I love Berry's Port William books so much!! 2y
4 likes1 comment
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suvata
Jayber Crow: A Novel | Wendell Berry
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Mehso-so

• ModernMrsDarcy.com #MMD flight pick for November 2021 #MMDBookClub

In other words … just sit back and enjoy the story. I‘m not a big fan of Berry‘s writing — too slow and meandering for me. Yet this book is a good look at 1930s rural Americana.

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Nebklvr
Jayber Crow: A Novel | Wendell Berry
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jveezer
Jayber Crow: A Novel | Wendell Berry
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Pickpick

This might be the most beautiful love story I‘ve ever read. ❤️📖💔📖❤️

LindaLappin thanks for posting. I've read his poetry, but didn't realize he also wrote fiction. 3y
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jveezer
Jayber Crow: A Novel | Wendell Berry
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Exactly‼️😻📖

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jveezer
Jayber Crow: A Novel | Wendell Berry
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My literary avatar. Change a couple of words and this would be me. #PandemicComfortRead (reread, in this case)

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Thousand-Lives
Jayber Crow: A Novel | Wendell Berry
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Here is my #bookspin list for March! I am so excited to join in this coming month!

@TheAromaofBooks - Thanks for this excellent idea. Such a good way to read my own shelves and tackle my mounting TBR. 👏 I plan to go for a #doublespin.

Prairiegirl_reading Looks like a great list!! 5y
TheAromaofBooks Great list!!! Glad to have you along!! 5y
Leftcoastzen Some great ones here , some on my TBR as well. 5y
AmyG Some of my most favorite books are on your list! 5y
48 likes4 comments
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Amiable
Jayber Crow: A Novel | Wendell Berry
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This passage was unexpectedly hilarious and made me snort hot tea out of my nose. 😖😫😀

Aimeesue 😄 5y
Crazeedi Lol!!🤣 5y
54 likes2 comments
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Amiable
Jayber Crow: A Novel | Wendell Berry
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Taking advantage of my forced recuperation on the couch after knee surgery to finally dive into this book that I‘ve been meaning to read for ages.

JamieArc I love that, and would have loved seeing that in all the books I read and was forced to over analyze in AP lit in high school! 😂😂 5y
Amiable @JamieArc I know, right? The author is saying “just read and enjoy it, for Pete‘s sake!” 😀 (edited) 5y
52 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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Ncostell
Jayber Crow: A Novel | Wendell Berry
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Pickpick

This is the first Wendell Berry that I‘ve read but certainly not my last as I loved this tale of Jayber Crow, the bachelor barber of Port William, Kentucky. Jayber lives his life on the sidelines with such grace and I enjoyed his observations and ruminations on the day to day life of the town and on the grand scheme of the universe. A quiet but beautiful read! #J #LitsyAtoZ2019

kspenmoll Great review! 5y
Ncostell @kspenmoll Thanks! I really loved this one. 5y
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Ncostell
Jayber Crow: A Novel | Wendell Berry
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My current read fits today‘s #J prompt for #30JuneBooks. I was unfamiliar with Wendell Berry until I heard about him on Anne Bogel‘s What ShouId I Read Next podcast quite awhile ago. I‘m so glad I finally picked up Jayber Crow as I‘m thoroughly enjoying it so far!

Leftcoastzen Wendell is a wonderful writer!❤️ 5y
Leftcoastzen Wendell is a wonderful writer! 5y
Leftcoastzen I love Wendell Berry! 5y
Ncostell @Leftcoastzen I agree! I am not even finished with this book but already know that I will seek out his other books as well because I just love his writing. 5y
38 likes4 comments
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Tamra
Jayber Crow: A Novel | Wendell Berry
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Bailedbailed

I am probably missing something. Lots of spattering of names and meandering thru a day in the life......but it‘s not only one day and that seems to be the problem with the level of detail. I‘m guessing it‘s just not the right time for me because I know people love this book.

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Abluecloudcloth
Jayber Crow: A Novel | Wendell Berry
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Telling a story is like reaching into a granary full of wheat and drawing out a handful. There is always more to tell than can be told.

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jessamyngrace
Jayber Crow: A Novel | Wendell Berry

We lived, I know, a life with very little margin. We were not hungry or cold, but we had nothing to spare.

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OwenBanner
Jayber Crow: A Novel | Wendell Berry
Mehso-so

Jayber Crow is a walk through the woods with a friend. The conversation meanders and seems to get caught up in the mundane which can seem plodding and might exasperate readers of very tightly paced novels, but in your stroll through Jayber‘s life, you will, every few pages, be startled by an insight into life, as though you had stumbled on a doe half-hidden in the tall grass of a clearing. That, for me, made it worth it.

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OwenBanner
Jayber Crow: A Novel | Wendell Berry
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“It is not a terrible thing to love the world, knowing that the world is always passing and irrecoverable, to be known only in loss. To love anything good, at any cost, is a bargain.” Wendell Berry (Jayber Crow)

25 likes2 comments
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OwenBanner
Jayber Crow: A Novel | Wendell Berry
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One of these days, I'm actually going to finish this book. Until then, though, I'm enjoying the hard-mined veins of wisdom that run through its pages. Here, Jayber wrestles with how difficult it is to choose love in a world that does not seem to reward it. He says that hate easily finds its effects in this world, but love does not always show its effects in this world, because love is so much bigger than time, and it pushes us out of time.

Cathythoughts I like the sound of those veins of wisdom 👍nicely put ❤️ 7y
19 likes1 comment
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OwenBanner
Jayber Crow: A Novel | Wendell Berry
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"Aunt Beulah could hear the dust motes collide in a sunbeam; she could hear spiders chewing on flies."

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OwenBanner
Jayber Crow: A Novel | Wendell Berry
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"The news intensified – concentrated the air of like a whirlwind – as World War II was cooking up. The war did not make Port William more visible, except to itself; to itself, it became extraordinarily visible. We looked around us, seeing everything as eligible to be lost."

This book has so many pockets of wisdom and keen eye'd observations.

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Kangaj1
Jayber Crow: A Novel | Wendell Berry
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I took a break from my #readathon for a local indie's sidewalk sale. Scored these three new books for $4! #pearl is excited to dig in as well!

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OwenBanner
Jayber Crow: A Novel | Wendell Berry
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Finally walking my way through this book which is come heavily recommended from almost every member of my family. It's not high on action or intrigue, but rather a slow and steady telling of a life's tale by a neighborly barber in a fictional town. It only fits that I am currently laying on a picnic blanket on a visit to the old mining town my mother grew up in, a town, coincidentally, that I'm working into my next novel.

collecttolkien Brilliant book 7y
6 likes1 comment
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Bookwormjillk
Jayber Crow: A Novel | Wendell Berry
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Got my fuzzy pjs on, and I'm finally going to start Jayber Crow.

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cjhubbs
Jayber Crow: A Novel | Wendell Berry
Pickpick

Feels like a quiet day with a good friend. Lovely stuff.

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monandez
Jayber Crow: A Novel | Wendell Berry
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Pickpick

Great, character driven book. Jayber struggles with faith, love, and recounts stories about life in a small town and the people that inhabit it. #wendellberry #jaybercrow

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monandez
Jayber Crow: A Novel | Wendell Berry
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"Some of the best things I have ever thought of I have thought of during bad sermons." --Jayber Crow : This book might not be for everyone. It's slow of pace, but I can't recommend it enough! Also, @annebogel I love my Modern Mrs. Darcy Reading Journal! #wendellberry #readingjournal #jaybercrow

annebogel Great line! 8y
9 likes1 comment
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annebogel
Jayber Crow: A Novel | Wendell Berry
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Tiny bookstore, large Wendell Berry selection. I approve.

monandez I'm currently reading Jayber. Loving it so far! 8y
christineandbooks Anne, what Wendell Berry should I start with if I haven't read anything by him? 8y
annebogel @christineandbooks I'd do Jayber Crow or Hannah Coulter, or even his nonfiction essays. As long as you start, it doesn't much matter where. 8y
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SusaninTX I loved Hannah Coulter. I felt like I'd sat down to listen to my grandmother tell me a story. ❤️ 8y
thenextch4pter Wendell Berry will be at Centre College (my alma mater) in Danville, KY on November 14!! 8y
Literarydeb My son randomly picked up Jayber Crow at the library about 18 months ago, neither of us having ever heard of Wendell Berry, and now I find I'm hearing of him constantly. I definitely need to read something by him soon. 8y
18 likes4 stack adds6 comments
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jveezer
Jayber Crow: A Novel | Wendell Berry
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jveezer
Jayber Crow: A Novel | Wendell Berry
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Thekelburrows
Jayber Crow: A Novel | Wendell Berry
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It seems she thinks my copy of Jayber Crow is haunted

Texreader What a darling 8y
DiruVamp Look at that face 😍 8y
CherylDeFranceschi 😍🐶! 8y
See All 8 Comments
TheLondonBookworm Aww those eyes! 8y
Suzze I wanna kiss that nose. What a sweetie. 8y
KarenUK That face! 8y
Melkyl So cute ❤️ 8y
TeR Aww She is a thoughtful dog💜 8y
41 likes8 comments
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Thekelburrows
Jayber Crow: A Novel | Wendell Berry
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Heard about in various podcasts but otherwise going in completely blind on this one.

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CarrieKitz
Jayber Crow: A Novel | Wendell Berry
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My favorite title from one of my favorite authors. #recommendsday

MrBook An interesting title for sure. 8y
12 likes1 stack add1 comment