“One of the greatest writers of our time,” Toni Morrison “Hitting a Straight Lick with a Crooked Stick” is a collection of short stories written by Hurston between 1921 and 1937 shows the genius of the woman who wrote “Their Eyes Were Watching God” in 1936. Several of the 21 short stories are considered “lost” … Continue reading Zora Neale Hurston: Hitting a Straight Lick with a Crooked Stick
Tag: Book Review
Reviews
Book Review: The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen
A few years ago a friend and I were watching a movie when I realized that certain plot points did not make sense and I voiced my observations. She stopped the movie to ask if I was enjoying it, I was. And she asked it I wanted to stop watching, I did not. She then … Continue reading Book Review: The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen
Book Review: The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek and The Giver of Stars
Until recently I had never heard of the Pack Horse Library, a division of the Works Progress Administration (WPA), that used women to be book mobiles on horse/mule-back in the Appalachian region of Kentucky from 1935 to 1943. The timing of the library wait list gave me the audio versions of The Book Woman of … Continue reading Book Review: The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek and The Giver of Stars
Book Review: Deep Run Roots: Stories and Recipes from My Corner of the South by Vivian Howard
A trait I share with my mother is reading cookbooks like most people read novels. Luckily, many more authors are realizing there are those of us that will read their commentary . It is nice to see more cookbook authors cater to readers as well as cooks. Southern food is a big umbrella that actually … Continue reading Book Review: Deep Run Roots: Stories and Recipes from My Corner of the South by Vivian Howard
Book Review: We Are All Good People Here by Susan Rebecca White
I selected this book because I wanted an enjoyable audio book. The story of two Southern women spanning the time from JFK’s Camelot to the election of Bill Clinton appealed to me. Yes, a form of Chick Lit that I often turn to in the summer. In years past, this would have been a pool … Continue reading Book Review: We Are All Good People Here by Susan Rebecca White
Book Review: The Heart’s Invisible Furies by John Boyle
“”All these people,” she said sorrowfully. “And all of that trouble. And look, they’re all dead now. So what did it all matter in the end?”” Great authors are able to create stories that convey the human existence. While each person has a different experience, what reveals a person’s purpose is all the love, connection, … Continue reading Book Review: The Heart’s Invisible Furies by John Boyle
Book Review: Eli the Good by Silas Houde
It is the summer of 1976 and Eli is 10-years-old. I was also 10 in 1976 and living in Kentucky. I enjoyed being reminded how summer days lasted forever, the excitement of the Bicentennial, hiding under a willow tree and how cold bottled soft drinks were out of a machine. I miss those little pieces … Continue reading Book Review: Eli the Good by Silas Houde
Book Review: The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd
With the opening line of a book blurb, is “I am Ana. I was the wife of Jesus.” I did not know what to expect. Would this more “The Last Temptation Christ” or the “The Da Vinci Code” sensationalism? What I found was the story of Ana. a complete person and not an accessory of … Continue reading Book Review: The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd
Book Review: Desperation Road by Michael Farris Smith
Good Dog is my favorite column in Garden and Gun. Michael Farris Smith wrote about his dog Black in the April/May 2020 issue. I decided to read one of his books. Heck, his dog gave him the confidence to write. The opening of Desperation road reminded me of the opening verse to Bruce Springsteen’s “Born … Continue reading Book Review: Desperation Road by Michael Farris Smith
Clay’s Quilt by Silas House
Clay’s Quilt is set in Appalachia during the 1980’s when Gen Xers were young, everyone smoked and Lucinda Williams sounded best in a loud vehicle being driven very fast with the windows down. This was House’s first published novel, it begins some time after the events in The Coal Tattoo (read my review here.) I … Continue reading Clay’s Quilt by Silas House
