Spencer’s Mountain

By: Earl Hamner

Narrated by: Milton Bagby

High up on a mountain, young Clay-Boy Spencer joins his father and eight uncles to hunt the mythical white deer. What he finds on the mountainside changes his life - and marks him for a special destiny. Years later, Clay-Boy is the first in his family to get the chance to go to college; but success as an adult is much more complicated and bittersweet than the legendary success of Clay-Boy’s childhood quest.

A heartwarming novel of love, family, and hope, Spencer’s Mountain inspired the popular television show The Waltons, which starred Richard Thomas, Ralph Waite, and Michael Learned, and ran for nine years between 1972 and 1981. More than 50 years after its publication, this novel still has the power to inspire and move listeners all over the world.

©1961 renewed 1989 by Earl Hamner (P)2022 Blackstone Publishing

Earl Hamner has a gift

a must if you're a Waltons fan. listened every night. loved his storytelling. Makes me happy

Some beautiful moments, some heartbreaking moments.

The opening chapter is one of the most captivating and wonderful vignettes I’ve ever heard. It’s absolutely magnificent writing. Every word, every emotion…It’s just exceptional. Milton Bagby’s narration is a joy. His voice is so soothing, so pleasurable to listen to. His voice was one of the reasons I bought this book.

Clay Spencer’s description of love and lovemaking is the most beautiful explanation I’ve ever heard, and I honestly believe everyone should be have it explained in Clay’s words.

While we expect some sad scenes in a book, and Hamner wrote the hardest scenes with such poignancy that I wept, even though it is Thanksgiving morning as I write this. I wept on Thanksgiving morning, but it was worth it to hear this beautiful story.

But, many of the descriptions of family life frustrated me, because they are simply too close to the truth, and I didn’t find the moments that were clearly supposed to be funny very funny at all. They made me feel irritated and frustrated, because I got so tired of Clay-Boy being embarrassed.

It was also heart-wrenching to hear some of the things that Clay went through.

But the love and loyalty that permeates this book is nonpareil to anything else I have ever read, except for the Bible. I honestly think every American should read this book, and listening to it as even is 100 times better.

Outstanding

Be carried away by the remarkable rich voice of fictitious Clay Spencer as he spins this coming of age tale. Set in the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains during our nation’s Great Depression, this literary masterpiece will forever echo the lives and times of the Spencer family during an era like no other in our history.

It’s not the Waltons but that’s ok. It’s not supposed to be.

If you’re expecting John Boy, Mary Ellen, Elizabeth et al, you might be disappointed. This is the original. You’ll probably enjoy it a lot more if you don’t have the images from the television show in your mind. Just let the story unfold the way the author intended. Some of the characters are similar to those in the television show but they’re not the same characters.
It’s the story of a family but it centers around Clay Boy (not John Boy) and his experiences from late childhood to early adulthood. It’s well worth the listen.

Loved it

Great listen. Really enjoyed this book. Like stepping back in time. Can’t wait to listen to The Homecoming!