“Bryson City Tales” an altogether delightful read

Hampton Village Book Club (HVBC), a book group hosted by Pampa’s Lovett Memorial Library, recently read “Bryson City Tales” by Dr. Walt Larimore. “Bryson City Tales” is a slender biographical, non-fiction volume.

“Tales” is part of a three book series located upstairs in the library’s selection of biographies. “Tales” earned five stars from the HVBC group. The other books in the series include “Bryson City Seasons” and “Bryson City Secrets.” In addition, the library holds one fiction title by Dr. Larimore in its inspirational fiction collection.

HVBC is sponsored by Hampton Village housing facility of Pampa. 

"Sugar Fork" is a novel by Dr. Walt Larimore.

“Tales” chronicles Dr. Larimore’s experiences at the beginning of his practice as a small, rural medical practitioner in the town of Bryson City, North Carolina. This first book was set, to the best of this blogster’s admittedly limited memory, in the late 1970s and the early 1980s. The book starts out rather slow but quickly and steadily gathers momentum and interest.

HVBC’ers agreed one of the book’s greatest selling points is the author’s humor and his down-home brand of humility. In fact, Dr. Larimore is somewhat reminiscent of James Herriot, the beloved English veterinarian who tickled many a reader’s funny bone with his books portraying his experiences as a country vet. Both authors demonstrate the ability to laugh at themselves over-and-over-and-over again while displaying an affinity, understanding, and love of their respective small-town clientele. Dr. Larimore’s humor is, however, somewhat more subtle and perhaps, er, less side-splitting than the English vet.

Altogether, “Bryson City Tales” is a joyous and heart-lifting read. For more information on the book group — which meets monthly at Hampton Village, or on “Bryson City Tales”— or other books by this author, contact the library at 806-669-5780. HVBC welcomes visitors and new members.

HVBC will next meet from 5:30-6:30 p.m., Monday, May 19, at Hampton Village on Alcock. The group is currently reading “Lost & Found” by Kathryn Slattery.