Lord of the Mountain by Ronald Kidd

Reviewed by Damean
 I recently had the great pleasure of reading Lord of the Mountain, by Ronald Kidd. This Tri-Cities based tale takes place during and after the famous Bristol Sessions, the two-week recording event in Bristol, Tennessee in 1927 that launched country music to the nation. Ralph Peer came to the Twin Cities with the dream of finding the music that had long been passed down among mountain families - and what he found changed the face of recorded music.

Kidd's book deals with a young boy who lives on the outskirts of Bristol, a city divided right down the middle by the Tennessee/Virginia state line, and his fascination with science and music, despite his father's preaching, which includes a violent opposition to music. Nate, the narrator of our tale, finds himself in the middle of inner turmoil as he struggles to find his place in the world. He is facing a life in either his father’s world, where music is the devil and the voice of God can be heard in every whisper, or a world where he is free to pursue music and science and live in whatever way he pleases. Nate finds himself attending the Bristol Sessions, and helping the soon to be world famous Carter Family as they sing the songs of the mountains for Ralph Peer's recording machines. He later even finds himself traveling with A.P. Carter and gathering songs from other mountain folks for a time.

I found this book to be absolutely enthralling, from the very first line to the very last period. I yearned to learn more about Nate and his struggle. Kidd is able to capture the feel of Appalachia in a way that some authors have not. Living less than 20 miles from the place all this happened, I loved his use of local landmarks (and it didn't hurt that he used Bristol Public Library as a hub for some of his research) to help tell his story.

Nate's struggle and internal displacement run rampant throughout this book, leading him to often compare himself to State Street, "torn right down the middle." Nate, a 13 year-old living in a time when the world was a very different place, often broke my heart with these statements. Kidd gave Nate a huge heart, and a huge interest in the music that basically put this area on the map, and I loved every word. I've long been interested in the history of the region and its culture, although I admittedly have a love/hate relationship with country music. Appalachian life is a fascination and a lifestyle that I am very proud to uphold, and this book does a fantastic job of celebrating that.

I found myself write down pages and pages of quotes from the book, as I do, and I think Kidd's writing style is amazing as well. As he travels farther away from the tent his father preaches in and deeper into the mountain songs that call to him, Nate finally sees clearly what he wants. This quote, to me, speaks volumes of his struggle and his purpose.

"I had a new life now, or a glimpse of one. It sparkled in the distance, like the silver microphone."

The microphone Nate speaks of here is Peer's microphone, where so many mountain songs were sung, recording the history and soul of the region in a way that never before had been done.
Kidd, a resident of Nashville, Tn., brought forth a tale of heartache, soul-searching, heritage, and culture that I think anyone with a familiarity with the Bristol region will love, and anyone who isn't familiar with the area can still definitely enjoy. Nate's story is one that we can all relate to, having sought our own place in the world both in relation to and away from our families and those things familiar to us.

 I highly recommend this book and plan to read it again and again. It's really that good.


NOTE:  Tune in Radio Bristol on March 26 at 11 am EST to hear the Radio Bristol Book Club discuss this book.  You can listen on the radio (100.1 FM) or online  A recording of the discussion will be archived at  Radio Bristol Book Club for two months following the broadcast.

Bird Box by Josh Malerman

 Reviewed by Damean

Driven by an unknown force, people all over the world are killing each other before killing themselves. The only thing that is clear to those remaining is if you see whatever is causing the phenomenon, you go mad. Survivors of the initial wave of deaths are forced to adapt to a world where they can't look outside, and must use a blindfold just to step foot outside of secured buildings. Malorie is pregnant when the hysteria first begins, and has to adapt to pregnant life as well as motherhood in a world it is not safe to look at. In a desperate attempt to find safety Malorie must guide herself and two children through this dangerous world - all while blindfolded.

I found this book to be quite interesting. The language used by Malerman throughout the novel is very fluid, allowing the reader to, for lack of a better term, see the world he is creating. Using every other sense available to them the survivors of this wrecked society must find new ways to adapt to the terrifying world, leading to a sometimes heart-pounding sense of helplessness for the reader. 

More than once while reading this book I actually had to stop what I was doing and take a breath to get my bearings. There aren't a lot of books I can say sufficiently scared me, but this was one. The mystery and horror presented by the mere idea of not being able to look at the world around you creates an almost palpable fear as the characters face the changed world around them, even the most mundane task becoming a harrowing risk. 

The book jumps through a few different time periods, and sometimes it can be hard to grab where the story is taking you as chapters change, but once you are back in the flow of the novel there aren't many loose ends to navigate through. Some characters could have stood a little more development, and some stories could have been threaded a little stronger, but I think the ambiguity in the work was acceptable given the quality of the finished product. 

I liked the fact that, even though multiple theories circulate to explain what is happening and what people are seeing, we aren't bogged down with descriptions of mysterious monsters, or potential chemical compounds or anything that pulls from the direct action of the story. At its heart, Bird Box is a sensory thrill ride that really shows the reader just how much we rely on our ability to see. We should not overlook the irony that you have to see to read the book, of course. If you want to really dive into the world of Malorie and the other survivors, put on a blindfold and sit on your porch while listening to the audio book. It will be quite a different experience. 

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

We are pleased to welcome a new reviewer, Damean, who has joined the BPL staff.  Damean is an author and proud Appalachian native.

Reviewed by Damean

When Chase Andrews is found dead in the mud on the outskirts of Barkley Cove, North Carolina, eyes fall on local "Marsh Girl" Kya. Kya, who has raised herself on the land since she was a young girl, is something of a legend and a recluse, and locals are more than happy to pin what looks like a murder on the wild woman of the swamp. This bestseller tells the story of Kya's life leading up to and after the discovery of the body.

I must start by saying this book absolutely blew me away. It grabbed my attention fast and held me through every page, quickly becoming one of my absolute favorite novels. Owens tells an incredible story with such attention to detail it feels like you could be standing in the weeds with Kya watching the birds flock. From the first paragraph, I was drawn into the story and felt immense connection to Kya in her struggles. 

From run-ins with local truant officers and attempts to both avoid her alcoholic father's rages and gain his affections, life is very touch and go for Kya. She relies on the knowledge handed down to her family through generations of marsh living, as well as what she can glean on her own and with the help of the few people she allows herself to trust. 

Using her knowledge and love of the marsh, Kya is able to make a life for herself in 1950's coastal North Carolina in a way that would be impossible today. Though a work of fiction, I have no trouble imagining every word of this piece could be absolutely true. Kya is a character who, from her first lines, Owens makes us care for and root for. At heart, she is a young woman who wants nothing more than a happy life and the freedom to live on the only home-place she's ever known. 

It was fascinating to see Kya learned about life and love by observing the marshlands around her. Following her interactions with the few people she lets get close to her, I could feel the tension in her spirit as she is convinced to leave her comfort zone in order to share her collected knowledge with the outside world. Not only an ode to a lifestyle that has all but disappeared, I feel Owens was attempting to make a statement vouching for the intelligence that can be gained by a life lived outside of the standard education system with Kya. A lonely girl who managed to avoid school, she is a self-taught artist who, through her struggles, learns everything she needs to know to provide herself with a certain kind of life on the marsh.

The description and scenery laid out in this novel resonate with me as well. Owens brings to life the marshlands, the small shack, the beaches Kya frequents, and the struggles she goes through at times to even put food on her table. In addition to her use of description, Owens uses the vernacular in a respectful and insightful way that avoids being too cliche or unnecessary. 

If you are interested in regional fiction, lovable characters, amazing prose, fantastic attention to detail, and a story that you will never want to end I highly recommend this novel. Beyond any shadow of a doubt, there is a reason it has ridden the bestseller list for so long. Treat yourself. Read this novel and, if the opportunity ever arises, venture beyond the confines of modern society. Reach out into nature and see if you can find the place where the crawdads sing.