21st-Century Yokel

Began following via online excerpts on Tom's record collecting, now reading 21st CENTURY YOKEL. Fluid, wry writing; rich sense of place(s), a wonderful combination of comedy and, under the surface, long slow time. Really beautiful & really redolent. Touching portraits of people, especially aging relatives: funny as hell but also full of admiration and respect. Subtle and understated, even when comic and/or a bit creepy. Great bits and bobs about folk and other musics as well. Highly recommended!

After a year of pandemic blues, my spirit needed a good scrub and buff, so I turned back to this delightful collection of slice-of-life essays from one of my favorite "naturist" writers, Tom Cox. In this book, Cox wanders up and down the hills of the Devon countryside, exploring geography, biography, landscape, and psyche with a tender sort of crabbiness that carries your heart down sentimental childhood memories, over perilous veterinary emergencies, and across rivers and moors of emotional and intellectual reflection. This books makes me sigh and laugh and cry in turns, and every moment spent reading it feels like a trip far away from the unpleasant realities of life during a global pandemic fueled by political dumpster fires. Tom Cox is a good enough writer that he can make me forget, even for a little while, how horrible things are and remind me of how wonderful they can be.

If you're into landscape, folklore, cats, wild animals, music, walking, ghost stories, and/or thinking about the complexities of being a decent human (I am into only some of those things), this book may be your new main jam.It's ramblingly beautiful; it's smart and utterly charming. It's also screamingly funny. Literally: my efforts not to shout with laughter had my housemate worried that I was crying. Every few minutes. All day.It's a fast read, because unless you REALLY have somewhere to be, you'll think to yourself "one more, and then I'll do the dishes," but you'll just keep turning pages.

I thoroughly enjoy this author's way with words and the way he interprets the world around him. Witty, ironic and outright hilarious are the adjectives I would use to describe his stories. If asked to compare him to other authors, I would say Tom Cox could be the love child of Bill Bryson (A Walk in the Woods), David Sedaris (Holidays on Ice) and the Nature Channel.This is the author's first foray into self-publishing and he should be congratulated as this book does not disappoint.

Loved this book. I have read several of Tom Coxs books about his cats and enjoyed them. In this book you learn more about the interesting man, not just the one owned by cats. His love for the countryside and the unusual sights and people met on solitary walks. You get to more about his Dad and get to love him as he talks in capital letters. You need this book, you will love it!

I have read all of his previous books on all the cats in his life and have become a huge fan of this writer . This is not a book about his cats ( All which we have all grown know and to love . ) but continues explore his love of rural England...a gentle, .witty, funny and wise book.

A beautiful, funny, down-to-earth, yet profound book. I enjoyed every word of it & was sad when I came to the end. His descriptions & stories about the Devon countryside actually caused me to look up real estate listings in the Totnes area.....just to see. Pick up this book when you're feeling a bit low - your spirit will be rejuvenated within a few pages. I've read all his cat books too & can't wait to see what Tom does next.

Just finished the first cd today while driving to and from work. It’s wonderful. I love hearing Tom read his book. Someone said it was like have tea and a chat with him. It’s fascinating, funny and delightful. I bought the book as a gift for my sister and decided to give myself the cds. Will likely by a copy of the book too just because I love have the book to browse through.

I read this via an article from a magazine - quite outside my usual genre. And yet, what is it? It really is neither quite autobiography nor travelogue. It is a mix of anecdotes, powerfully set to varying landscapes that are brought vividly to life.I was disappointed not to see a playlist - but looking at Tom Cox's website, lo and behold, I found one! Music was an essential constituent to this series of walks.I especially loved his father who seems to SHOUT A LOT AND ALWAYS HAS INTERESTING THINGS TO SAY, even if they were not necessarily on topic. I also loved the professional cat.I thoroughly enjoyed and recommend for anyone - it will lift your spirits and lighten any day.

Yes. I bought this book because I enjoyed the good,the bad and the furry, and his other "cat" books. Enjoyed them so much I've read and re-read them countless times. They're that sort of book, where you gain comfort from reading a particular sentence or account. I bought yokel after enjoying the sample, but a lot was going on in my life at the time my reading of it tailed off, somewhere fairly early on during a discussion on scarecrows in fields. I often thought of it though, whenever I glimpsed a particularly weathered individual standing guard over its crops. I picked it up again during a quiet spell when my income plummeted and I didn't have spare cash to buy another book. I was amazed to see the last reading of it had been late February 2020, thanks for that information kindle. I then continued where I had left off and really enjoyed reading about his nan, who sounds adorable and various accounts of growing up, country walks, scenery. The kind of things I relate to being roughly the same age. I was thrilled to note he likes Spirit , the Randy California band, fairly obscure to most. I once had a tape of potato land back in the psilocybin days.🙂 The mogs get the odd mention, particularly Roscoe. Still good if you like his writing style. Not too bad on the f word count, my only gripe.

I loved this book. It’s like therapy! Tom Cox has a lovely way of writing in such a laid back manner but manages to convey so much. It was so enjoyable to read each chapter & so many things touch home but he also made me laugh out loud. So many books try too hard but this book is so genuine & honest. Made me think & appreciate the little things in life! Loved it! A rare gem & talent indeed!

I am loving this book, I have genuinely laughed out loud when reading this book,which is a big achievement by the writer as I am mostly miserable.Will buy more by this author.

I can only echo the comments already made. Tom Cox writes with an idiosyncratic style well suited to his subject matter; the Yorkshire countryside of his boyhood (his family are a hoot) and of south Devon. Much of the book resonates with me as I know many of the paths he describes. Mixing observation with an acerbic wit - find his description of the faux Disney Trago emporium that (dis)graces the A38 near Bovey Tracey - the book finished way too soon.Only disappointment is that he seems to have given up writing music reviews!