
A coming of age short story
4.5 out of 5 stars
The River is a story about a young man out deer hunting trying to get his trophy buck and prove himself. There aren’t many pages (or minutes) here, but it will make you feel something.
I love these stories by Bill Stokes. I know these are from ages ago (this one being published originally in 1961) but they still have such great feeling and “oomph” to them. This is the second short story I read by Stokes and it won’t be my last.
Johnny Mack narrates The River and does a great job. I felt like he was the character in the book. There wasn’t a doubt in my mind that he was the perfect narrator for this.
Overall, The River is a great sub-20 minute short story that had me smiling throughout told by a master storytelling (in both the writing and the narration).
Book Description:
The River by Bill StokesNarrator: Johnny Mack
Length: 19 mins
on February 24, 2017
Genres: Short Story
Also by this author: Hi-Ho Silver, Anyway
- When I Picture You by Sasha Laurens (Narrated by Lauren Fortgang, Hillary Huber) - January 4, 2026
- Bellosio by John F. Shekleton (Narrated by Ray Montecalvo) - December 2, 2025
- Wake Up, Nat & Darcy by Kate Cochrane (Narrated by Jeremy Carlisle Parker) - November 13, 2025






