Village People: Sketches of Auburn

Author John M. Williams who grew up in Auburn Alabama has penned an unusual memoir written in the form of essays about the people and places that made the greatest impact on him as a young man. Village People: Sketches of Auburn will both transport readers to a simpler time and provide a snapshot of the history from Williams point of view of the place called The Loveliest Village. Williams keen eye for detail is the cornerstone for this book of remembrances but dont expect a lot of sentimentality - his wry sense of humor shines through every essay.Of course football made an impact on Williams and he includes stories of two players - Bobby Freeman and David Langner - but the majority of the stories are about teachers band directors preservationists businessmen a dance instructor and even a place called Toomers Corner. This is a book almost everyone would enjoy but particularly anyone who has ever lived in Auburn as a resident or as a student and considers it their town.Rheta Grimsley Johnson writes in her foreword to Village People: He makes us see the things he saw from a perspective-his perspective-that is not old but wise not cynical but careful. The boy on the Western Flyer has grown up and the Auburn characters in this beautiful book had much to do with it. Johnny has waited as he eloquently puts it until the ego is losing its muscle tone to deliver these words.