Literary Titan praises the “distinctive character” of the narrative of The Town I Crow About: East Millstone Stories From the Heart of Raymond Hills and the author’s care to place “personal memories a substantial historical setting.” Congratulations to author Donna Hills Patrick!
The reviewer writes:
“Donna Hills Patrick’s The Town I Crow About brings together family memoir and local history through the recollections of her father, Raymond Hills, a lifelong resident of East Millstone, New Jersey. Written in his first-person voice, the book follows the people, places, and routines that shaped his attachment to this small canal town. Raymond explains their collaboration plainly: ‘She does the writing and I provide the memories.’ That arrangement gives the narrative its distinctive character, combining a father’s pleasure in remembering with a daughter’s attention to historical context. Organized around subjects including school, commerce, faith, Scouting, and family traditions, the book builds a portrait of belonging through the accumulated experiences of an ordinary life.
The narrative’s strongest quality is Raymond’s conversational presence. He’s curious, mechanically inventive, proud of his hometown, and willing to laugh at himself. Patrick preserves that personality through direct speech, playful observations, and details that make everyday activities easy to picture. … Patrick’s care for her father’s voice makes that work feel personal and tangible. The Town I Crow About will appeal to readers of family memoirs and regional history, offering an engaging account of how a particular landscape and its people can shape a life.”
Read the full review here.