Anyone like Appalachian Literature?

[eastkygal]

? Interested in a book club?

[MamaVolpe]

Give me some examples of Appalachian Literature?

[bandyr]

Would this include Katherine Marshall? Sounds interesting!

[eastkygal]

I guess it could be a broad category, but I'm talking mostly about fiction or memoir written about people of Appalachian heritage or that takes place in Appalachia. Some of the most known Appalachian writers are Silas House, Robert Morgan, Harriet Arnow, Janice Holt Giles, James Still, etc...

Right now I'm reading Gap Creek by Robert Morgan. Not sure what I'll be reading next, but if anyone has a suggestion I'll take it. I'm an Appalachian writer myself, so I'm keeping up with the "genre".

[MountainLaurel]

Raises hand.

Have you ever read Denise Giardina's books about the Mine Wars? I'm also a fan of Sharyn McCrumb.

[eastkygal]

I'm trying to read a McCrumb novel right now. The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter. Maybe if I had someone to read it with me, I'd like it better. ???

[vbactivist]

I liked Adriana Trigiana's novels - Big Stone Gap, Big Cherry Holler, etc. Its women's fiction set in a mining town. Not sure if that's what your looking for.

What about the girl of the limberlost? I can't remember where that is set, but I liked it.

Also, modern would be Sister Mine by Tawni odell.

Also, parts of The Glass Castle by Jeanette walls is a memoir and during part of it shes living in an appalachian town (I think).

[*violet*]

These all sound interesting to me. I've not been aware that this was a genre.

[ColoradoMama]

So, would you consider Cold Mountain Appalachian literature? I'm reading that right now. I've taken a break to fit in a horror book in honor of Halloween. I am enjoying it though. It had a VERY slow start, but it is picking up. I tried reading Gap Creek, but I just couldn't. I wouldn't have minded reading someone speaking such poor English. Having the entire book written that way was just too much for me though.

[eastkygal]

Originally Posted by ColoradoMama

So, would you consider Cold Mountain Appalachian literature? I'm reading that right now. I've taken a break to fit in a horror book in honor of Halloween. I am enjoying it though. It had a VERY slow start, but it is picking up. I tried reading Gap Creek, but I just couldn't. I wouldn't have minded reading someone speaking such poor English. Having the entire book written that way was just too much for me though.

Oh, wow! I thought Robert Morgan actually handled Appalachian dialect very well and accessible to others who don't use this dialect. Masterful really. As opposed to someone like James Still (also a master writer) who would choose to right out all the words as they would be pronounced. Robert Morgan was writing in first person... from the head of the main character (Julie). That is how she would have told the story. If you want to be eased into the dialect try a Silas House book like Clay's Quilt. (I'm not trying to be rude, but I wouldn't so much call it poor English as much as English that is different from my own. As the dialect of English spoken in Appalachia has ties to some of the earliest forms of English spoken. It is a dialect. I'm Appalachian so I have my qualms with calling it being called simply "poor" English. I am an English teacher and this is the way I speak. I do know correct written/spoken of "universally understood" English, but most of us do have a dialect and mine is very much part of who I am and how my story is told.)

Ex. Isn't that biscuit yours?
Ain't that biscuit there yours?
Hain't that there biscuit yorn?

[eastkygal]

Originally Posted by *violet*

These all sound interesting to me. I've not been aware that this was a genre.

I wouldn't call it a genre so much as an off-shoot of American Literature. Like you might refer to Southern Literature...

There are some wonderful works included in this literary canon.

[eastkygal]

So, I'm reading Crystal Wilkinson's Blackberries, Blackberries. It's a collection of short stories. Anyone want to read with me?