Things You Would Know If You Grew Up Around Here

By: Nancy Wayson Dinan

Narrated by: Eileen Stevens, Mark Bramhall

Set during the devastating Memorial Day floods in Texas, a surreal, empathetic novel for readers and listeners of Station Eleven and The Age of Miracles.

2015. Eighteen-year-old Boyd Montgomery returns from her grandfather’s wedding to find her friend Isaac missing. Drought-ravaged central Texas has been newly inundated with rain, and flash floods across the state have begun to sweep away people, cars, and entire houses as every river breaks its banks.

In the midst of the rising waters, Boyd sets out across the ravaged back country. She is determined to rescue her missing friend, and she’s not alone in her quest: Her neighbor Carla spots Boyd’s boot prints leading away from the safety of home and follows in her path. Hours later, her mother returns to find Boyd missing, and she, too, joins the search.

Boyd, Carla, and Lucy Maud know the land well. They’ve lived in central Texas for their entire lives. But they have no way of knowing the fissure the storm has opened along the back roads, no way of knowing what has been erased - and what has resurfaced. As they each travel through the newly unfamiliar landscape, they discover the ghosts of Texas past and present.

Haunting and timely, Things You Would Know If You Grew Up Around Here considers questions of history and empathy and brings a pre-apocalyptic landscape both foreign and familiar to shockingly vivid life.

©2020 Nancy Wayson Dinan (P)2020 Blackstone Publishing

Poet story of blending time inside of the lore of Texas

I loved reading this book; I actually read it twice just to take in each wonderful detail. It is so poetic and I love the blending of time, the Texas lore. It gave me a new understanding of Texas tradition. I especially loved the male narrator who brought the lore forth in such an interesting way; his voice often made it seem that he had lived it.
The characters were all interesting and I loved making the rounds with each one. I applaud the environmental theme that is present throughout.

Wonderfully written!

This story takes us to the 2015 Texas floods discussing the connection between the past and the present, the power of empathy, and the rapidly changing climate and environment we live in. It is a timely story sure to grab your attention! #ThingsYouWouldKnowIfYouGrewUpAroundHere

Absolutely Loved It

This wonderful book had great narrators, a compelling story, beautiful writing... I loved it and highly recommend this book

Have read twice so far...

I think these narrators should receive an award. They are perfect. I love Mark Bramhall's voice so very much.

I live in the Hill Country of Texas, and I know all about these floods and the damage and heartbreak that comes along with them.
My book club read this book at my urging. Many of us were a little perplexed by the story line that does not directly deal with these floods. That by no means detracted from the book. Just gives us more to think about.