Book Review of
The Memory of Old Jack

Lynn's Review

The Memory of Old Jack by Wendell Berry was published in 1974.

The Memory of Old Jack is the story of Jack Beechum, a retired farmer and lifelong resident of Port William. 

The book is Jack remembering his life, his family, and his community. He reflects on the good, the bad, his mistakes, and his successes. 

It is a quiet comfort read for fans of Wendell Berry. You will read about some of your favorite characters like Jayber Crow, Andy Catlett, and more. 

The memory of Old Jack was not my favorite Wendell Berry, but I still really enjoyed it. Wendell Berry’s Port William series is a slow comfort read for me. Not a lot happens in them, but at the same time, so much happens in them. 

If you are new to Wendell Berry, I would probably recommend starting with Hannah Coulter and then reading the others in the series.