Dead Man Blues by S.D. House

 

Reviewed by Jeanne

Dave Hendricks had it all: mayor of a small town on the Tennessee/Kentucky border, he was a big fish in a small pond.  He had a beautiful wife, Janet, nice house, and Victor, a best friend he loved like a brother. And then he found out Janet was cheating on him with, of all people, Victor, and the next thing he knows he’s drunkenly driven a car into the courthouse.

That pretty much ended the political career.  The friendship and the marriage were already toast.

Nowadays Dave lives on a houseboat with his dog Shorty and helps Ray out at the marina.  Then a man is murdered at a nearby fishing camp, and Victor asks Dave’s help.  Victor is the sheriff, but Dave had been sheriff previously and has had experience with homicides.  It’s an uneasy partnership, but Dave finds that the thrill of investigation gives him a purpose he’d lacked since, well, the incident.

The victim, Esau Campbell, is a local man who had been in trouble before, and there are many people who had reason to dislike him, and to dislike his family.  The Campbells are one of the wealthiest families in the area, and most feel they came by their money dishonestly—cheating people out of their property. This means there are suspects galore, and Dave has his work cut out for him finding the guilty party.

S.D. House is Silas House, an award-winning Appalachian author who has decided to try his hand at a mystery.  As expected, the book is well-written, with vivid characters and a good sense of place: a rural area where people tend to have long memories.  A dam was constructed a few years back, uprooting families and changing some ways of life, leaving a sense of loss among some residents. The 1950s setting means that a lot of investigating is done without modern technology like DNA analysis, which I find more interesting than the high tech method.

House is good at red herrings; I thought I had spotted the murderer early on and was a bit disappointed but I was pleased to be proven wrong.  I will say a couple of things troubled me as not being true to the era but again, I might be mistaken.  I did enjoy the book and I hope House will try his hand at a mystery again.

Roots Branches & Spirits: The Folkways of Appalachian Witchery by H. Byron Ballard

Reviewed by Jeanne

There have been a number of books on Appalachian folk magic, remedies, and lore in the past few years, so I was not surprised to see another one pop up.  What did surprise me was the call number, but I am not a cataloger so we will let that go.

I was also surprised by the somewhat lengthy but very interesting discussion of the history of the region and how “cultural strip mining” has affected the land and its inhabitants.  She also is careful to denote that Appalachia isn’t a single place, made up of just one sort of people; it is a diverse region. 

She rather eases the reader into the concepts of mountain magic and spiritualty, tossing in a meditation here and a bit of folklore there (a lot of mast means a bad winter, for instance) before moving into the “witchery” part. 

Even that is accompanied by information on various aspects of the environment, life, folklore, and folkways.  For example, she discusses music and gives examples of work songs as being forms of incantations: “Churn butter churn!/ Come butter come!/ A little good butter/Is better than none” is also a charm to keep spirits from stealing the butter. She traces the song back to 1650, noting how far and well it has traveled.

The rest of the book is divided up by topics such as Mountain Kitchen Witchery, Healing and Herb Lore, Signs and Omens, and such.  The author gives a great deal of context and background for each item, which I really enjoy.  She covers some use of plants, making dolls, salves, tinctures, and other items—some with magical overtones, some not. I especially liked the discussion of how to make cornbread, in which the author notes that there are those who sweeten cornbread and those who don’t, and never the twain shall meet.  (I once worked with a person who averred, “If God had meant for there to be sugar in cornbread, He’d have called it cake.”)

The last section is entitled “Hillfolk Gothic: Haints and Haint Tales” which she distinguishes from “Southern Gothic.” “Hillfolk Gothic” is a state of “delighted endarkenment,” because humans haven’t made much of an impression on these old mountains.  I particularly enjoy her use of language.

I appreciated the list of resources at the end and the list of citations, which included references to books as diverse as Horace Kephart’s Our Southern Highlanders, Wayfaring Strangers: The Musical Voyage from Scotland and Ulster to Appalachia by Fiona Ritchie and Doug Orr, and Canning and Preserving with Ashley English by Ashley English.

If you are just looking for material on spells, charms, or magic, you may be disappointed but if you are interested in the history, culture, and folklore of Southern Appalachia, I think you will feel well rewarded.

Lies on the Serpent’s Tongue by Kate Pearsall

 

Reviewed by Jeanne

Growing up in Caball Hollow, West Virginia, Rowan James is used to being shunned. She comes from a long line of James women, all of whom have supernatural gifts of some sort.  Rowan’s gift is that she knows when someone is lying. She can smell the lies, whether a small white lie or a falsehood so dark that it reeks of rot and sulfur.  It’s hard to always know that people around you are lying, and it’s made Rowan grow up to be angry and suspicious. Her temper flares once too often, so her grandmother insists that she needs to go work at the forest fire tower to learn some patience.

It isn’t long before Rowan finds herself involved in more than one mystery.  A young man is found unconscious in the woods, with no clue as to his identity or what he was doing there.  A paranormal group is also hanging around, looking for evidence of the Moth-Winged Man. Not only does Rowan feel there’s something off about the group, but other things are happening around her: non-native creatures like magpies are appearing even as other things go missing—both physical items like necklaces but also people’ memories. Then there are the ginseng poachers, seeking to steal a fortune in the valuable roots from protected land.

Enter Hadrian Fitch, who had worked as a handyman for Rowan’s family before leaving without even a goodbye.  Rowan had a fraught relationship with Hadrian because of her gift: she knew he was lying, but not about what.  Now a battered Hadrian has come to Rowan for help.  She can’t trust him, but he may hold the key to solving the other mysteries—and saving her family.

I loved the first book in the series, Bittersweet in the Hollow, which featured Linden James, the sister who can taste the emotions of those around her.  That book introduced readers to the James family as well as some of the area legends—including that of the Moth-Winged Man. I was definitely intrigued and was anxiously awaiting the second book.

I will admit that Lies on the Serpent’s Tongue seemed to get off to a bit of slow start, but it soon picked up steam; and once Rowan reunited with her family the story flowed better for me. While the plot in the book is self-contained, I would strongly recommend that readers start with the first book to understand some of the characters and relationships.  Pearsall does an excellent job of blending myth, magic, and folklore into a realistic Appalachian setting, and the James women are all interesting characters. While the books focus on the sisters, all of whom are young adults, I’m equally intrigued with their mother and grandmother. I also like the way Pearsall writes, which is descriptive and emotional in a good way.

I’m looking forward to future books.  While nothing has been announced as yet—and I do check fantasticfiction.com on a regular basis—fans suspect that the next book will feature either Juniper or Sorrel.  I will just be happy to be back in the company of this fascinating family. (Note:  while some classify this as a YA book, my feeling is that a good book is a good book, no matter the age of the intended audience.)

The Bog Wife by Kay Chronister

 

Reviewed by Jeanne

 

Wenna left home nearly a decade ago, running away from her family’s legacy and the stifling home life ruled over by her father.  Now her youngest sister Nora has written to her, asking her to come back to the family home in West Virginia because her father is dying.  Wenna is needed for the rites which will ensure that the family and the compact will continue.

For generations, so they’ve been told, the Haddesley family has tended the bog and in return, the bog has nourished them and provided the eldest son with a wife after the patriarch dies.  There are rituals to be performed as part of the Haddesleys’ side of the bargain before the wife arrives.

But no wife comes.  The five siblings—Charlie, the eldest son and reluctant heir; Eda the eldest daughter who sees herself as the guardian of the family and its heritage ; Wenna, the middle child who once found the courage to leave; Nora, the youngest daughter who collects injured creatures and cares for them; and Percy, the youngest child who would like to be the heir— are suddenly in uncharted waters, unsure what to do. How do you fix a compact forged thousands of years ago?

Told in alternating chapters from each of the siblings’ points of view, The Bog Wife is a sort of Appalachian gothic, set in a crumbling house where time has stood still.  There’s a sense of claustrophobia, scented with decay; the hand me down clothes, decades out of fashion, old copies of the National Enquirer with lurid stories of celebrities and garish photos showing a life that might as well be taking place on another planet, the odd cans of soup and gathered food that form their meals, and above all, the family secrets.

I picked this up because the reviews all alluded to the Appalachian setting and to the folkloric elements.  I was also in the mood for an atmospheric book, and this one certainly delivered. This is one of those books that raises as many questions as it answers, but that’s part of the enjoyment for me, coming up with my own answers—or not.  The characters are all sympathetic in their own ways; I liked them all and so wanted happy endings for all of them—or at least what I would consider happy.  I’m not sure the Haddesleys would agree with my versions.  There are so many layers in this book.  I found myself re-reading sections, trying to suss out some of the meanings.

This may not be a book for everyone, but if gothic family sagas with supernatural touches and folkloric are a genre you enjoy, then give The Bog Wife a try. Better yet, find a friend to read it at the same time.  You’ll have a lot to talk about.

Nevermore: What Really Happens in Vegas, Hidden Life of Deer, Burning Bright

 Reported by Rita

What Really Happens in Vegas: True Stories of the People Who Make Vegas, Vegas by James Patterson

Revealing the real Vegas, this dazzling journey through stories of excess, drama, and hope transports readers from the thrill of adrenaline-fueled vice to the glitter of A-list celebrity and entertainment.

 This behind-the-scenes look at hotel and casino workers was not what I wanted or expected.    –MS    4 stars

 

The Hidden Life of Deer: Lessons from the Natural World by Elizabeth Marshall Thomas

The author describes the vast hidden world she discovered after she observed deer as they fought through a rough winter, bred fawns in the spring, fended off predators and hunters, and made it to the next fall, in a book by the best-selling author of The Hidden Life of Dogs.

  Full of interesting observations of the habits of deer.   – CD   3 stars

 

Burning Bright: Stories by Ron Rash

The acclaimed, best-selling author of Serena captures the eerie beauty, stark violence, and rugged character of Appalachia in stories that span the Civil War to the present day. Two members of the group reviewed this title, which is the chosen book for the NEA Big Read activities taking place from October 1 through November 30.

I really liked it and am looking forward to the Big Read discussions.    – CD    5 stars

While not usually a fan of short stories, this collection was quite enjoyable.    – DC   5 stars

 

Other Books Mentioned

The Late Show by Michael Connelly

The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride

The Country of the Pointed Firs by Sarah Orne Jewett

Eternal by Lisa Scottoline

The Devil Amongst the Lawyers: a Ballad Novel by Sharyn McCrumb

Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

A Most Curious Murder by Elizabeth Kane Buzzelli

The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods

Secret Appalachian Highlands: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure by Robert Sorrell

Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto

 

New Books

Touch by Olaf Olafsson

The Lego Story : How a Little Toy Sparked the World's Imagination by Jens Andersen

Secret Appalachian Highlands: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure by Robert Sorrell

 

Reviewed by Jeanne

Did you know that Kingsport claims to be the birthplace of Long Island Iced Tea?  Or that Kingsport claims Sensabaugh Tunnel to be one of the scariest places around? How about those stories of Al Capone in Johnson City, or the hidden cemetery at Tri-Cities Airport?  Remember where the movie “The River” was filmed in the area? Did you know that the “Copperhead Road” from the song is real and in Johnson County, Tennessee? Author and journalist Robert Sorrell has gathered nearly 200 interesting stories and places to visit, making this book a browser’s delight. 

I was familiar with many of the entries—Hank Williams and the Burger Bar, for instance, and the early history of Mountain Dew—but others were new:  Granny February of Elizabethton, the Gray Quarry, and the Tiffany window in Abingdon. There are also suggestions of fun places to visit, making this a great summer guidebook.  I have never made it to see the dinosaurs of Backyard Terrors, but that has been on my list and while I knew about drowned Butler, Tennessee I didn’t know there was a museum I could visit.  There’s also information on where to walk across a swinging bridge (I’ll pass, thanks) or visit wild ponies or the Devil’s Bathtub.  I was delighted to see information on Bank Street in Bristol where there is a glorious mural, as well as the Caterpillar Crawl and information on The Channels. Some of the entries are very timely:  one is about Big John, the Indian Statue at Pratt’s BBQ which has just announced that it is closing.

The entries are brief, but that makes it all the more tempting to read just one more. The book features beautiful full color photographs as well. It also makes me want to visit a lot of these places, like the General Shale Brick Museum or the Woodbooger statue.

Sorrell provides addresses, contacts, and other information on each entry.  This is a gem of a book packed with information and best of all, there’s an index!

Bittersweet in the Hollow by Kate Pearsall

Reviewed by Jeanne

The first James woman walked alone out of the Forest in Cabal Hollow, West Virginia generations ago.  Since then, all the James women have had certain gifts. The current James family has them too.  They are somewhat small gifts as magic goes; for example Rowan James knows when someone is lying and Sorrel James can charm bees.  Linden James can taste emotions: she knows exactly what people are feeling, whether or not she wants to.

What Linden can’t do is remember what happened last summer when she went missing in the woods during the festival.  She was found with a head injury and no memory of what happened or how she ended up where she was.  Some people seem dubious about her claim of amnesia, but then the James women have always been the object of suspicion even as people come to them for tonics and creams.

Now the summer solstice is here which means festival time:  the Moth Festival, celebrating the legend of the Moth-Winged Man, a folkloric figure who may bring death or at least warn of death. Linden’s friend Dahlia Calhoun has come home from college for the festival.  Dahlia is the reigning Moth Queen, and it’s time for her to relinquish her crown.

But Dahlia goes missing the night of the festival, only to be found dead. Linden knows that she is going to have to discover what happened to her the year before if she is going to be able to solve Dahlia’s murder. She’s also going to have to uncover a lot of secrets—including some about her own family.

Sometimes a novel just has you by the opening paragraph.  That’s what Bittersweet in the Hollow did for me.  I liked the writing and the imagery from the start, and the story just drew me in. This is a beautifully written YA novel set in West Virginia. Appalachian traditions are represented without condescension or judgment.  The book is a wonderful blend of mystery with some supernatural elements, romance, coming of age, and family.  Characters were well developed, and the setting was very vivid.  I liked that Pearsall took the Point Pleasant’s Mothman legend and reshaped it into something else, drawing more on traditional lore. I was drawn to all the characters and the book left me wanting more.  I liked all the sensory descriptions Pearsall employed.  In some ways, the book reminded me of those written by one of my favorite authors, Sarah Addison Allen. 

I understand there is going to be another book in the series, and I’m already looking forward to it.

Twilight in Hazard: An Appalachian Reckoning by Alan Maimon

 

Reviewed by Kristin

Twilight in Hazard caught my eye because in 1949 my dad was born in Hazard. Actually, he was born in one of the tiny communities along the Right Fork of Big Creek, about five miles southwest of Hazard. Times were tough then as the coal veins were being tapped out, and times remain tough in 2020s Hazard, as described by Alan Maimon.

Maimon had been a New York Times reporter based at the Berlin, Germany bureau. As he contemplated returning to the United States in 2000, he wasn’t committed to living in any particular geographic area and he decided that he wanted to go somewhere unlike any place he had previously lived. When a position at the Louisville Courier-Journal became available—specifically the Eastern Kentucky bureau based in Hazard—Maimon decided to give it a try.

At that point, the coal companies were looking for an easier way to get coal out of the ground. Sending workers or machines in to hack at veins of coal just wasn’t efficient, and many had turned to strip mining, or mountaintop removal. Of course, this resulted in fewer jobs and the dramatic change of scenery, not to mention water pollution and the occasional rockfall with devastating consequences.

Maimon did not just write another book about a poverty stricken area. He looks at the root causes of the problems of Eastern Kentucky, including the opioid pill mill doctors who were instrumental in medicating and addicting a higher percentage of the local population than the rest of the country. He also looks at local and national political candidates and office holders, noting which ones kept promises and which ones vanished in the wind. He looks at education (and the lack thereof), and how many Eastern Kentucky communities lose a large number of their young people to the outside world.

By the end of Maimon’s time in Hazard and Eastern Kentucky, he was also lamenting the failure of news outlets as papers shrunk in staff, column inches, and thickness. It is an alarming nationwide trend as online sources become increasingly polarized and readers/viewers choose their sources, seeing only what they want to see. Maimon describes the closing of regional news bureaus, physical papers only being printed three times a week, (sound familiar?) and the eventual demise of family owned and even corporate owned newspapers.

I really enjoyed this work of non-fiction. I have read other histories of Hazard and Perry County, but most of those focused on the earlier decades when I still had family living in the area. This is a more up to date work that examines the failures, successes, and hopes for the future for this area.

Working Girl Blues: The Life and Music of Hazel Dickens by Hazel Dickens and Bill C. Malone

 

Reviewed by Jeanne

While women have had a long and illustrious history as part of country music, bluegrass was pretty much a male dominated genre—at least until Hazel Dickens came along.  According to Malone’s introduction, she was one of the first women performers in this type of music.  Born in 1935 in Mercer County, West Virginia, Dickens was one of eleven children.  Her father cut and sold timber to mining companies while several of her relatives (brothers, cousins, and such) went to work inside the mines.  As a young woman, she was part of the exodus from the hills to cities farther north—in Dicken’s case, Baltimore—but took with her a love of music. She grew up listening to all sorts of country music as well as Primitive Baptist songs.  While Baltimore was difficult, she also made some important connections that helped her transition from the shy, socially awkward girl into the acclaimed singer, songwriter, and activist.

One of those contacts was Mike Seeger, who was impressed by Dickens’ firm grasp on her music.  She had very definite opinions on how the music should sound and wasn’t afraid to give those opinions.  She also had begun to try her hand at songwriting. The rest is music history.

The book is divided up into two main sections.  The first, written by Malone, covers Dicken’s life up to 2008.  I found it fascinating reading:  Dickens’ life was a hard one, but she never backed down.  The second part contains the lyrics to her songs and Dicken’s commentary on what inspired each one.  There is no sheet music, however.

While I love music, I’m no expert; I can’t say exactly what constitutes specific musical genres. What I can say is that when I listen to Hazel Dickens sing, I hear the “high lonesome sound” so beloved of bluegrass fans; to me, it’s also the sound of the traditional ballad singers—not the folk revival versions, but from the hills.  Her songs are in the 60s protest tradition, but Dickens’ songs are grittier and definitely personal.  She sings from experience and her heart. One of her best known songs is “Black Lung,” which was inspired after her brother’s death from that dread disease.  Listening to it, I was stuck by both the pain and the power.

Dickens deserves a wide audience.  I hope this book may introduce her work to a new generation.

2024 Radio Bristol Book Club

 

Have you caught the Radio Bristol Book Club?  Each month the Birthplace of Country Music and the Bristol Public Library come together to discuss a book which reflects Appalachian culture, music, heritage, or history. The show airs the 4th Thursday of every month at 12 p.m.  You can listen online or over the radio; archives of past programs are available online.  Check it out at Radio Bristol Book Club!

On December 28, at noon you can hear the discussion of Grandma Gatewood’s Walk: The Inspiring Story of the Woman Who Saved the Appalachian Trail by Ben Montgomery.

Want a sneak peek at next year’s line up so you can read ahead?  Here’s the schedule:

January 25, 2024
A Place Called District 12: Appalachian Geography and Music in the Hunger Games by Thomas W. Paradis

February 22, 2024
Bittersweet in the Hollow by Kate Pearsall

March 28, 2024
Tales from the Moonshine Trade by Kathy Shearer

April 25, 2024
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

May 23, 2024
Linthead Stomp: The Creation of Country Music in the Piedmont South by Patrick Huber

June 27, 2024
Burning Bright by Ron Rash

July 25, 2024
Black Country Music: Listening for Revolutions by Francesca T. Royster

August 22, 2024
Stories I Ain’t Told Nobody Yet by Jo Carson

September 26, 2024
Missing May by Cynthia Rylant

October 24, 2024
The Third Rainbow Girl: The Long Life of a Double Murder in Appalachia by Emma Copley Eisenberg

November 21, 2024
Even as We Breathe by Annette Saunooke Clapsaddle

December 19, 2024
Coal Miner’s Daughter by Loretta Lynn

A Foxfire Christmas: Appalachian Memories and Traditions

 

Reviewed by Jeanne

Many people are familiar with the Foxfire series of books which collected oral histories of Appalachian traditions.  Students in Georgia interviewed people about folkways from planting by the signs to butchering hogs to caning chairs.  A collection of books ensued, and then specialized collections such as this one which features holiday memories.

The book is divided up by topics: Preparation and Decoration, Gifts and Santa, Food and Menus, and so forth.  One that surprised me was Serenading, which I took to mean caroling.  Not exactly! Serenading was done at Christmas when groups of young people would get together and slip off to someone’s house to create a ruckus until the people inside would invite them in.  Cowbells, firing shotguns, beating buckets, anything to make a noise.  Mind, this was mostly done at night and some people even said they would wait until the lights were out in the house before they started.  More than one compared it to modern day Halloween, with tricks and treating. 

I remembered hearing about Christmases of long ago when people strung popcorn and made paper chains to decorate trees, so I was interested to read what other things were popular.  The section on food included recipes such as Black Walnut Pound Cake and Syrup Candy made for sorghum. 

Most of all, I just enjoyed the stories and memories.  Carolyn Jones’ will stay with me for a long time; simply told but powerful. Some stories had echoes of things I had heard from older people in the community, others I wondered if they were just local to that area.

For me, this is a good book choice for this time of year, because I can pick it up and read a bit, then get back to all those little things that need to be done for the holidays.  And, honestly, it’s nice to read about a time when Christmas wasn’t so over-scheduled and didn’t start in October.

Stories I Ain’t Told Nobody Yet by Jo Carson

 

Reviewed by Jeanne

In her preface, Carson says that this collection of poems is based on conversations; at the heart of each is something she heard. She tried to capture the tone and rhythms of the speaker, and the individual voices come through.  While she writes that these all came from East Tennessee, some of the sentiments are universal.

I’d heard a bit about Jo Carson as a local poet and author of note, and knew that she lived in Johnson City, but that was about it.  I finally decided I should make her acquaintance and I am so glad I did.  These poems are absolute gems.  The personalities of the speakers come through, and the cadences just beg to be read aloud.

Some of the poems are poignant, some profound, and some are laugh out loud funny.  And some are several of these at once.

My biggest regret is that I waited so long.  Jo Carson was also a playwright and performer, who also wrote stories along with her poetry.  She passed away in 2011 so I never had the pleasure of hearing her perform, but at least I can enjoy the work she left behind—especially the final poem in the collection, which almost speaks to this very thing.  It begins this way:

I am asking you to come back home

before you lose the chance of seeing me alive.

You already missed your daddy.

You missed your uncle Howard.

You missed Luciel.

I kept them and I buried them.

You showed up for the funerals.

Funerals are the easy part.

 

The rest you should read for yourself.

23 Tales: Appalachian Ghost Stories, Legends, and Other Mysteries

Reviewed by Jeanne

Edited by Terry Shaw and Brad Lifford, this fascinating collection of tales from Howling Hills Publishing takes on true accounts of –well, the titles says it best: ghosts, legends, and other mysteries.  While some of the stories have a local setting such as Kingsport or Abingdon, other go farther afield, to the northern Appalachian region in Pennsylvania or south to Georgia.

I really enjoy folklore type tales, remembering the ghost and mysteries stories I heard as a child.  This collection reminds me of those stories a great deal. Some are humorously told, some are serious, some have a sense of wonder, but all have a communal feel to them.  It’s like sitting down with a group of friends and having a conversation about the strangest things that have happened to them.  These aren’t the urban legend horror stories or tales told to be scary. These are told as truth. The tone varies with the teller, but they all have that “this is real, this happened” vibe that I like, and all are very well written. 

In short, these are my kinda tales.

It’s really hard to pick favorites when you enjoy the entire collection. Some of the stories were somewhat familiar: I had a friend who told me of her encounter with the shade of Robert Porterfield at Barter,  while others had echoes of family stories.  I will say that “Singer in the Woods” by Sherry Poff sounded so very much like one of our family stories that I could almost hear the voice in my head.  “Wings of Bees” by Patricia Hope was warm and wonderful, and I re-read it a couple of times.  I’ve read Chrissie Anderson Peters’ stories before, so hers was another lovely visit with her Papaw Little.  “Think You Can Sell a Haunted House?” by Suzy Trotta made me laugh, and also reminded me of someone– well, never mind.  

My only regret is that I didn’t get to hear some of these stories in person when some of the authors were here to do readings earlier this month.  However, I am told that there will be another collection of these stories next year—24 for 2024—and I hope we’ll have a return performance.

Decoration Day in the Mountains by Alan Jabbour and Karen Singer Jabbour

  

Reviewed by Jeanne

Note: This is a review from some years ago, but I always think of this book when Memorial Day rolls around. 

For many years I assumed that everyone went to the family graveyard over Memorial Day weekend to decorate the graves of family and friends. Many families would gather en masse to clean the cemetery and have dinner on the ground. Family members who lived out of the area were at least expected to send flowers; families who graves left unadorned after the holiday were the subject of gossip. I remembered hearing too that Memorial Day was the modern name; earlier it was called Decoration Day and that flowers were homemade from crepe paper.

Family graveyards still exist, but as families move away from the traditional "homeplace" and descendants scatter more and more people are opting for perpetual care cemeteries. These cemeteries are owned by companies which will see to it that the graves are properly maintained, relieving family members of the burden. Along with this trend,   I've been seeing fewer grave decorations when I make the trek back to my home county these past few years. More and more people in the area see Memorial Day more as the start to summer than a day to remember the past.

Recently I heard a radio interview about a new book called Decoration Day in the Mountains by Alan Jabbour & Karen Singer Jabbour which discusses this very topic. Although the particular area they surveyed was in North Carolina, many of the things they discuss are customs similar to the ones I knew. They include Church Homecomings, grave inscriptions and decorations,  This book describes the history and culture surrounding the day, including photographs and interviews.  It's a fascinating look at a way of life which is fast disappearing along with the family graveyards. It's a lovely piece of nostalgia for those who remember, and a wonderful introduction to those who don't.

The Music of Coal

 

Reviewed by Jeanne

Most of the time we tend to review newer items, but today I wanted to share a hidden gem of our collection. The Music of Coal is a book and two CD set of music from the Coalfields.  The creators of this set culled classic early recordings and added newer material to represent the many faceted aspects of the region. Some of the songs are standards by the artists who made them famous, such as “Dark as a Dungeon” by Merle Travis or “Dream of a Miner’s Child” by Carter Stanley; some are well-known songs by contemporary singers; others are modern songs, some already considered classics.

The book portion features photos, background information, and the lyrics of the songs.  For example, the section on the song “Sixteen Tons,” tells how Merle Travis came to write the song, how Tennessee Ernie Ford came to record it, and why this version is sung by Ned Beatty.  Some of the selections give context for a song, such as explaining how a miner’s skin can carry the blue-black mark after a near miss from falling coal for the song “The Coal Tattoo” or a history of the conflict at Blair Mountain that forms the basis of “Redneck War.”

The songs range from heart wrenching to jaunty, from serious topics as black lung to “My Sweetheart’s a Mule in the Mines.” Many revolve around family, like “Coal Dust Kisses,” a daughter’s loving remembrance of her father coming home from the mines and the hard times families went through when coal went bust, as in Jean Ritchie’s “The L & N Don’t Stop Here Anymore.” There’s family history as told through “You’ll Never Leave Harlan Alive” and the 1934 tragedy at Derby, Virginia when a mine exploded. 

The singers are a who’s who of the Appalachian region old and new:  The Carter Family, Dale Jett, Dock Boggs, Blue Highway, Jean Ritchie, Ron Short, Darrell Scott, and Ralph Stanley.  It’s an amazing collection, one I have listened to time and again.  I think my personal favorite is “West Virginia Mine Disaster” sung by eleven year old Molly Slemp with a vocal wisdom beyond her years.

Highly recommended!