Book Review: Tales from the Riverside by Larry Landgraf

Ellen, the author’s girlfriend, perfectly describes “Tales from the Riverside” in this quote: “This is a guy who walks through the zoo, pointing to all kinds of critters, saying ‘THAT’S good eatin’”.

“Tales from the Riverside” is a collection of stories about the author’s life growing up, working on and living in a swamp on the Guadalupe River near the Texas Gulf Coast. It details the many times the swamp almost killed him, the talents of his remarkable mother, tips for fishing and even recipes!

This is a highly entertaining collection of tales from an author who has a confident, friendly voice. Reading this book makes you feel like you have sat down for a chat with him on his porch, while he recounts his humorous tales. His love for and knowledge of the swamp are evident on every page, even if most of his stories include the killing of it at least one animal.

The author often extols the benefits of eating fresh food, and his mentions of his garden reminded me of the fruit and vegetables my parents grew in our garden as I was growing up. Nothing tastes as good as vegetables fresh from the ground. I also liked the numerous photographs included in this book. It was nice to see the places he wrote about in his tales.