The River cover art

The River

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The River

By: Bill Stokes
Narrated by: Johnny Mack
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About this listen

The predatory genes we cannot deny are never more exercised than in deer hunting. In each individual, they travel an age-related arc that begins in youthful passion and settles finally into old-age relaxation. The blood lust with all of its attendant furies and dictates can be an awesome thing when it consumes the deer hunter in the velvet of his life.

Crossing the wild water was crazy, I knew, but I had a desperate need to bag the buck.

©1961 Bill Stokes (P)2017 Stokes Creative LLC Hunting Hunting & Fishing Outdoors & Nature Sports Writing Sports

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The River is a wonderful short story by Bill Stokes and narrated by Johnny Mack. It involves an annual family deer hunt and a boy’s quest to land his first buck. His hunt for the perfect buck takes an unexpected detour to a bustling river that seemingly transforms him from boy to man over the course of a night. I’ve never been deer hunting, but I did grow up in the south, where it was a fairly normal occurrence, so I could appreciate the boy’s excitement to the start of hunting season. If you love hunting or outdoor adventures, then this book is for you. Even if those don’t appeal to you, listen anyway, because the beautiful imagery in this book (courtesy of Johnny Mack) will leave you speechless. Johnny Mack nailed it. I swear I can still hear the sound of the river and the thumping of his feet as he ran to catch the wounded beast.

When a boy transforms into a man at the river

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Another great short story by Bill Stokes! This is a story about deer hunting but more of a coming of age story about Bill as well. He goes on a hunting trip to get his first deer. Like most teenagers, Bill was a bit reckless. Act before you think! lol The fastest way to learn important life lessons. Great narration by Johnny Mack.

Great short story!

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I recieved a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

This is another great short story by Bill Stokes which is nominally about deer hunting, but really about coming of age. As is common with teenagers and young adults, simple mistakes are made in the attempt to catch his first deer, giving the lesson to take your time and think things through. Also, Johnny Mack, much like many of Bill Stokes's short stories, is a brilliant narrator.

The Buck

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