Sketches of a Small Town... circa 1940 by Clifton K. Meador, MD

By Carrie Anne

For a boy coming of age during the 1930s and '40s, Greenville, Alabama, a small cotton-farming town in the Deep South, was a wonderfully rich environment.  Greenville may have been small, but for author Clifton K. Meador, MD, life growing up there was anything but dull.

In his memoir Sketches of a Small Town...circa 1940, Meador lovingly retells the stories that formed his values and shaped his life.

For young Clifton and his friends, there's plenty of trouble to stir up, ranging from a field fire, to buzzard hunting, to fights between the 'country boys' and the 'city boys', and, of course, girls.  There are also poignant moments, such as the loss of his best friend because of the impenetrable wall of segregation.  And there are quirky characters- the town's sole, somewhat frightening taxi driver; the intriguing, cross-dressing homosexual; and the eccentric agronomy professor turned failed farmer.

Sketches of a Small Town...circa 1940 not only tells one man's story, but also beautifully captures the remarkable people, places and events that characterized a unique lifestyle in a bygone era.  (taken from Amazon description)

I hate writing such a short review, but there isn't much more to say about this book!  That pretty much sums it up!

Each chapter centers on one particular character or memory.  It was such a quick read, I purposely read in bits and pieces to make it last.  Living in a small town now, growing smaller by the minute, I can really relate to the feeling of nostalgia of days gone by.  Things ain't what they used to be, and it's a real shame.