Tales From My Back Porch

Author: Darrell Case
Genre: Inspirational Fiction

In the evening, the back porch of the country home took on an aura of enchantment. As dusk settled and the lamp was lit, children wandered in from their play to sit on the floor or snuggle in their parents’ laps. Glasses of iced tea were refilled and someone would settle back, look up at the stars and say, “I remember when…” Thus began one of many tales, often embellished with some distant imagining. Each one taught a lesson of life. Once they were tucked in bed, the children would drift off with ​

visions of the story in their heads. Years later, they would tell these tales of life to their own children, and so on through the generations. Welcome to my back porch. Please make yourself at home. By the way, I remember when…

Reviewer: Gee Dixon

This mix of short stories will be great for the young or old. Where when the evening came the parent's and their children would come to the back porch for some wonderful stories.  The author writes these stories as if you are sitting on his back porch. 

---

---

Reviewer: Jessica

The title is perfect for this collection of short stories. It has a cosy charm, with tales of yesteryear and how life used to be. I thought it may have been recollections from the author’s childhood, but the author never links himself to any of the stories. I’m still unsure whether they are fictitious short stories, or based on true events – some things seemed a bit unbelievable at times, but then every good storyteller knows how effective that can be.

I wouldn’t read it for the writing, but it was very adequate for telling the stories, and wasn’t distracting.

​Something I appreciated about the book was that each of the stories has a lesson, a moral, but they weren’t moralizing. There was no preaching, but simply showing the experiences of others and letting us, the readers, form our own conclusions. I thought that was well executed.

Tales from My Back Porch was an easy read, and refreshingly old-fashioned – perfect for winter evenings in front of the fire, or summer nights on the lawn. Everyone needs a back porch session every now and then.

---

---

Reviewer: Mary Hosmar

This collection of short stories depicting the everyday life of ordinary people in ordinary, and some not-so-ordinary, situations reminds us, to use the author’s words, “that each of us is living a story.”  Mr. Case gently teaches us that the outcome of our stories is often determined by how we live out the story.

From gentle Dora’s memories and courageous Faith’s deeds, to Kenny’s arrogance and Earl’s selfless sacrifice the reader is led along paths of remembrance, each leaving its own impressions.

There is no one theme throughout the book other than the theme of Christ’s love and that is brought home in many unobtrusive ways as part of the daily lives of the characters.  Each short story stands on its own and so this makes ideal reading for those who don’t have the time or inclination to delve into a long novel.

Many of the stories seem to ramble rather than being the tightly told tales which usually make up short stories. But such is the character of tales told in a relaxed back porch setting. This does at times, however, make the reader wonder where it is all going.

The author concludes many of the stories with an event or occurrence which happens some time later showing how the incidents described in the story have impacted someone’s future.

---

---

Reviewer: Kandace Perry

Tales From My Back Porch written by Darrell Case is a heart-warming collection of short stories. Each one draws you in, offering a glimpse of each character's life; their joy and their heartache.  Each story will leave you wanting more, wondering what will happen next. The stories and characters are relatable and engaging.  I often found myself smiling, laughing or even tearing up over the different scenarios and experiences the characters lived through. "Tales From My Back Porch" is a wonderful book to read on a Sunday afternoon, sipping a cappuccino while curled up enjoying the warm sunshine.

---