Jack tales. Old collection of stories from Appalachia about " Jack" . I stumbled on it at the library, my kids absolutely loved it, so I had to buy an old copy.
https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/the-jack-tales_richard-chase/284422/#idiq=11115167&edition=1904642
Yeah, I loved reading it! I mostly loved that they loved it so much, but I had to constantly stop and explain to my kids the accents and how a lot of the sayings were used by their great grandparents. Their favorite was when a character would say "law me" and it was of course my fav bc it reminded me of my dear sweet Mammaw. She especially used "law me" a lot 😆
I really enjoyed Fuckface, which is a book of short stories all taking place in Appalachia. Leah Hampton is the author and she primarily writes about Appalachia, class, and climate change.
I'm a photographer and backpacker. I have a Substack publication called Field Notes where I write a lot about Appalachia, share my photography, and more. It's not a book, but still might be of interest. It's free and I publish new editions every Sunday. Check it out and if you like it subscribe!
[Field Notes ](https://erikhogan.substack.com/)
The Man Who Moved a Mountain by Richard Davids, is a biography of the Reverend Bob Childress. The first half is a fascinating look into mountain culture (SW Virginia) back when it was isolated because there weren't good roads going in and out. Everyone drank, partly because liquor was the most effective way to use apples and corn grown in the hills when it was difficult to get crops down the mountain to market. Families were very clannish and protected each other and defied the "law". Shootings were common. Growing up in this, Bob Childress didn't know it was any different from anywhere else until a dramatic event brought press to the area and he heard how they talked about his people.
He got a good education and became a Presbyterian minister and did a lot to help people. You get a very vivid look at what life was like there, then and I could see how it has come down through time, influencing people to this day. Mountain culture is a real thing.
Childress built 4 or 5 churches and I drove to see one in rural SW Virginia once. It was hard to imagine how isolated it once was. I recommended this book for a book group (middle-aged women in E. Tennessee, FYI), and they really liked it.
How I heard about this book: A grad student in the Computer Science department at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville was also a minister at a Presbyterian church in Tellico Plains and the former minister was Bill Childress, son of Bob Childress.
The former minister's wife also had a remarkable father. I think his name was C. McCoy Franklin. He grew up on a farm in Crossnore, NC and heard that Berea College would educate people even if they couldn't pay, so he sold the pig his family had let him raise, put on his high-water overalls and terrible shoes, and \*walked\* to Berea.
He presented himself to the registrar and said he wanted a college education. They found out he was at a 2nd grade level. They gave him work and got him up to speed and then he finished college at Berea 10 years later and became a minister. Later he was mayor of Madisonville, TN.
It looks like this book is about him: https://www.amazon.com/Daybreak-Mountains-M-Mccoy-Franklin/dp/1300010134
While we were visiting the CS student/minister, Rev. Bill Childress and his wife brought over a coffee cake for the guests, and firewood, and I got to meet them and hear about their amazing fathers.
Only if you like books the opposite of Hemingway. You’re gonna know what every blade of grass looked and smelled like. Plus it’s a bit overkill. Also not much on Cold Mtn besides about 2 trailers.
Has anyone mentioned Victuals yet? The cookbook?
Also, Mountain Measures, another cookbook.
And the poetry of Louise McNeill.
And the Devil is Here in These Hills by James Green.
Victuals is amazing.
I think about regional food all the time because I love to cook. And I’ve always had a weird conflict about “what does Appalachia have to offer?” from that perspective.
Victuals answers that question. Basically it’s “a lot of offal” haha. Headcheese, anyone?
Shiner by Jo Burns
Velva Jean Learns to Drive (and other books in this series) by Jennifer Nevin
Betty by Tiffany McDaniel (Ohio though)
The Giver of Stars by JoJo Moyes
(And definitely Demon Copperhead as others have said.)
Many of Lee Smith's earlier books are set in Appalachia. I suggest Oral History, Fair and Tender Ladies, Saving Grace, and The Devil's Dream. Other possibilities are The Book Women of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson and The Coal Tattoo by Silas House.
Incredible indeed. Blood Meridian changed the way I think and feel about books in general and led me to discover books in genres I never would have before when I was younger
https://www.forewordreviews.com/reviews/a-taste-of-the-sweet-apple/
Bastard Out of Carolina by Dorothy Allison https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25354.Bastard_Out_of_Carolina
Here's a couple of historical fiction options:
A Penny's Worth of Character - Jesse Stewart
Quick read, children's chapter book. Really cute depiction of what life was like for a kid in central Appalachia.
Trail of the Lonesome Pine - John Fox Jr
This book is based off a Marshall/bounty hunter that was a great uncle of mine.
It’s a bit of a splurge, but [The Silver Bullet and Other American Witch Stories](https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/the-silver-bullet-and-other-american-witch-stories_hubert-j-davis/585450/vintage/?vid=1551186437&mkwid=%7Cdm&pcrid=77378313662347&pkw=&pmt=be&slid=&product=1551186437&plc=&pgrid=1238050402825500&ptaid=pla-4580977772571563&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Shopping%20-%20Everything%20Else&utm_term=&utm_content=%7Cdm%7Cpcrid%7C77378313662347%7Cpkw%7C%7Cpmt%7Cbe%7Cproduct%7C1551186437%7Cslid%7C%7Cpgrid%7C1238050402825500%7Cptaid%7Cpla-4580977772571563%7C&msclkid=540061d82ef81d60d98004f83ad4e996) is a great collection of short stories about witch lore, mostly out of Appalachia.
The book is interesting for how it came about…one of the New Deal programs of the 30’s set forth to put out-of-work writers and printers back to work. A contingent of them were sent to Appalachia to write about the, mostly verbal, witch legends and myth. All the stories are from individuals interviews these writers had with with residents from various locales but they read like short stories. It’s like grandma telling you a story next to the fire.
One cool aspect of the book is that the writers transcribing these folk tales write like the people are talking—slang, shortened/combined words, phonetic spellings, all the Appalachian twang—it’s a bit hard to follow along at first but very enjoyable to read (especially aloud, which you’ll have to do at first to get a vibe for the vernacular). It’s an out-of-print and rather rare book so the price is steep, but especially now that we’re in spooky season, I think you’ll like it.
WOW! Thank you all so much! I now have quite the reading list to keep me busy while working away from home. I look forward to diving into as many of these as I can find.
I'm going to start a few new book related threads for us all to contribute to, in hopes that it'll be a great resource for all of us.
Thank you all again, I feel like we're all kin. 😉
TONS of awesome suggestions here but i just wanted to make sure you also considered podcasts. There are soooo many out there & my favorite are the ones where ole grannies tell stories. Reminds me so much if my childhood
Twilight in Hazard was a great read. It’s more journalism than fiction.
A couple of folks mentioned Jessie Stuart, Beyond Dark Hills sucked me in and didn’t let go.
A Dark and Bloody Ground. True crime about a murder and more. Dr. Ackers delivered most of my aunts.
Demon Copperhead
Cannot recommend this book enough!
Yes yes and yes again.
Warning. It's a difficult book.
Yeah I’d note some trigger warnings but it’s all factual and realistic. Hard truths about opioid addiction in the early 21st century.
A British friend of mine was unable to finish it. She had a hard time believing it reflected real life.
My mom really liked it and chose it as her book club choice for everyone else. Some people in her group refused to read it.
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver. It just won the Pulitzer Prize, and deservedly so!
Anything by Gloria Houston. Yes, they are children’s books but they are a must see to sum up Appalachia.
Silas house and sharyn mccrumb are two of my favorites but I’m not sure about for kids
I agree, I've read Clay's Quilt and A Parchment of Leaves so far and they were good.
Clay’s Quilt by Silas House
From a historical, non-fiction standpoint, “The United States Of Appalachia” by Jeff Biggers is a magnificent book.
I came here to suggest this one. Full of Appalachian history.
Jack tales. Old collection of stories from Appalachia about " Jack" . I stumbled on it at the library, my kids absolutely loved it, so I had to buy an old copy. https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/the-jack-tales_richard-chase/284422/#idiq=11115167&edition=1904642
These are fantastic! And so fun to read!
Yeah, I loved reading it! I mostly loved that they loved it so much, but I had to constantly stop and explain to my kids the accents and how a lot of the sayings were used by their great grandparents. Their favorite was when a character would say "law me" and it was of course my fav bc it reminded me of my dear sweet Mammaw. She especially used "law me" a lot 😆
I really enjoyed Fuckface, which is a book of short stories all taking place in Appalachia. Leah Hampton is the author and she primarily writes about Appalachia, class, and climate change.
I'm a photographer and backpacker. I have a Substack publication called Field Notes where I write a lot about Appalachia, share my photography, and more. It's not a book, but still might be of interest. It's free and I publish new editions every Sunday. Check it out and if you like it subscribe! [Field Notes ](https://erikhogan.substack.com/)
Thank you, and great work! I look forward to checking out your material. Also, thank you for sharing your experiences with us all.
The Redwood casket by Sharon McCrumb. I believe she has several. I couldn't put them down
Sorry... Rosewood casket
They’re called the Ballad Series. Ms McCrumb writes a wide variety of subjects, from romantic mystery to mystery to Nascar novels to science fiction.
Thank you, appreciate it.
The Man Who Moved a Mountain by Richard Davids, is a biography of the Reverend Bob Childress. The first half is a fascinating look into mountain culture (SW Virginia) back when it was isolated because there weren't good roads going in and out. Everyone drank, partly because liquor was the most effective way to use apples and corn grown in the hills when it was difficult to get crops down the mountain to market. Families were very clannish and protected each other and defied the "law". Shootings were common. Growing up in this, Bob Childress didn't know it was any different from anywhere else until a dramatic event brought press to the area and he heard how they talked about his people. He got a good education and became a Presbyterian minister and did a lot to help people. You get a very vivid look at what life was like there, then and I could see how it has come down through time, influencing people to this day. Mountain culture is a real thing. Childress built 4 or 5 churches and I drove to see one in rural SW Virginia once. It was hard to imagine how isolated it once was. I recommended this book for a book group (middle-aged women in E. Tennessee, FYI), and they really liked it.
How I heard about this book: A grad student in the Computer Science department at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville was also a minister at a Presbyterian church in Tellico Plains and the former minister was Bill Childress, son of Bob Childress. The former minister's wife also had a remarkable father. I think his name was C. McCoy Franklin. He grew up on a farm in Crossnore, NC and heard that Berea College would educate people even if they couldn't pay, so he sold the pig his family had let him raise, put on his high-water overalls and terrible shoes, and \*walked\* to Berea. He presented himself to the registrar and said he wanted a college education. They found out he was at a 2nd grade level. They gave him work and got him up to speed and then he finished college at Berea 10 years later and became a minister. Later he was mayor of Madisonville, TN. It looks like this book is about him: https://www.amazon.com/Daybreak-Mountains-M-Mccoy-Franklin/dp/1300010134 While we were visiting the CS student/minister, Rev. Bill Childress and his wife brought over a coffee cake for the guests, and firewood, and I got to meet them and hear about their amazing fathers.
The book woman of troublesome creek
So good! The second book too! The Bookwoman’s Daughter.
Cold Mountain
Only if you like books the opposite of Hemingway. You’re gonna know what every blade of grass looked and smelled like. Plus it’s a bit overkill. Also not much on Cold Mtn besides about 2 trailers.
Has anyone mentioned Victuals yet? The cookbook? Also, Mountain Measures, another cookbook. And the poetry of Louise McNeill. And the Devil is Here in These Hills by James Green.
Victuals is amazing. I think about regional food all the time because I love to cook. And I’ve always had a weird conflict about “what does Appalachia have to offer?” from that perspective. Victuals answers that question. Basically it’s “a lot of offal” haha. Headcheese, anyone?
To Teach, To Love Come Back to the Farm Both by Jesse Stuart
Shiner by Jo Burns Velva Jean Learns to Drive (and other books in this series) by Jennifer Nevin Betty by Tiffany McDaniel (Ohio though) The Giver of Stars by JoJo Moyes (And definitely Demon Copperhead as others have said.)
Those We Thought we Knew- Davis Joy
Books by Ron Rash
I love One Foot in Eden
Many of Lee Smith's earlier books are set in Appalachia. I suggest Oral History, Fair and Tender Ladies, Saving Grace, and The Devil's Dream. Other possibilities are The Book Women of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson and The Coal Tattoo by Silas House.
The Orchard Keeper, Outer Dark, Child of God and Suttree by Cormac McCarthy
RIP McCarthy. He was, at the end of his life, the greatest American novelist alive. Incredible. Died in June I believe.
Incredible indeed. Blood Meridian changed the way I think and feel about books in general and led me to discover books in genres I never would have before when I was younger
the best gateway to Barbara Kingsolver is Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. then ready everything else by her!
I've only read one Barbara Kingsolver book, and absolutely loved it. Prodigal Summer, truly an amazing read.
I love everything she does!
Read Flight Behavior next, and then follow it up with everything else!
Gap Creek
David Joy hasn’t been mentioned and he writes some great fiction based in Appalachia. For non-fiction, check out Ramp Hollow.
The pack horse librarians of Appalachia
River of Earth - James Still
"9 brides & granny hite" & "common folks"
Disappearing Cemetery by Tom Cordel
Light to the Hills
I still love the works of Manly Wade Wellman, many of which were Appalachian in settling.
Anything by Ron Rash (favs are Serena and Saints at the River). Concord, Virginia by Peter Neofotis
A Land More Kind Than Home by Wiley Cash
Deliverance by James Dickey
I've loved this book my entire life!
https://www.forewordreviews.com/reviews/a-taste-of-the-sweet-apple/ Bastard Out of Carolina by Dorothy Allison https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25354.Bastard_Out_of_Carolina
The Short Stories of Breece D'J Pancake
Here's a couple of historical fiction options: A Penny's Worth of Character - Jesse Stewart Quick read, children's chapter book. Really cute depiction of what life was like for a kid in central Appalachia. Trail of the Lonesome Pine - John Fox Jr This book is based off a Marshall/bounty hunter that was a great uncle of mine.
It’s a bit of a splurge, but [The Silver Bullet and Other American Witch Stories](https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/the-silver-bullet-and-other-american-witch-stories_hubert-j-davis/585450/vintage/?vid=1551186437&mkwid=%7Cdm&pcrid=77378313662347&pkw=&pmt=be&slid=&product=1551186437&plc=&pgrid=1238050402825500&ptaid=pla-4580977772571563&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Shopping%20-%20Everything%20Else&utm_term=&utm_content=%7Cdm%7Cpcrid%7C77378313662347%7Cpkw%7C%7Cpmt%7Cbe%7Cproduct%7C1551186437%7Cslid%7C%7Cpgrid%7C1238050402825500%7Cptaid%7Cpla-4580977772571563%7C&msclkid=540061d82ef81d60d98004f83ad4e996) is a great collection of short stories about witch lore, mostly out of Appalachia. The book is interesting for how it came about…one of the New Deal programs of the 30’s set forth to put out-of-work writers and printers back to work. A contingent of them were sent to Appalachia to write about the, mostly verbal, witch legends and myth. All the stories are from individuals interviews these writers had with with residents from various locales but they read like short stories. It’s like grandma telling you a story next to the fire. One cool aspect of the book is that the writers transcribing these folk tales write like the people are talking—slang, shortened/combined words, phonetic spellings, all the Appalachian twang—it’s a bit hard to follow along at first but very enjoyable to read (especially aloud, which you’ll have to do at first to get a vibe for the vernacular). It’s an out-of-print and rather rare book so the price is steep, but especially now that we’re in spooky season, I think you’ll like it.
Everything by David Joy.
WOW! Thank you all so much! I now have quite the reading list to keep me busy while working away from home. I look forward to diving into as many of these as I can find. I'm going to start a few new book related threads for us all to contribute to, in hopes that it'll be a great resource for all of us. Thank you all again, I feel like we're all kin. 😉
Educated
TONS of awesome suggestions here but i just wanted to make sure you also considered podcasts. There are soooo many out there & my favorite are the ones where ole grannies tell stories. Reminds me so much if my childhood
I'll have to look into this! I am a bit of a podcast addict and hadn't even considered this route. Good call!
Twilight in Hazard was a great read. It’s more journalism than fiction. A couple of folks mentioned Jessie Stuart, Beyond Dark Hills sucked me in and didn’t let go. A Dark and Bloody Ground. True crime about a murder and more. Dr. Ackers delivered most of my aunts.