In her book Roots, Branches & Spirits: The Folkways & Witchery of Appalachia H. Byron Ballard talks of the prevailing stereotypes haunting the people of Appalachia and the lack of knowledge about Appalachia and the people there, amongst the general population.
This has made me realize that my knowledge of the Appalachians is lacking. My experience with them is limited to the scenery out the window during bus rides to South Carolina when I was in high school, and what I remember most is my wish that I was going to Dollywood. When I think of it, the expanse of Appalachia amazes me, as I never seem to quite grasp how expansive it is. . From Mississippi and into Canada the Appalachians are estimated to be 464,464 feet (https://facts.net/world/landmarks/appalachian-mountains-facts/) and 11,563,200 of those feet make up the Appalachian Trail (2190 Miles).
Bill Bryson's A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail has drawn me in and I admire, (even is I don't fully understand), his continued desire to trek the Appalachian trail even after reading Bear Attacks: TheirCauses and Avoidance by Stephen Herrero, (which is now on my TBR list).
The culture of Appalachia revolves around storytelling. Cassie Chambers wrote "storytelling is an art in the mountains, a way of transmitting history, culture, and shared experience from generation to generation." (Hill Women: finding family and a way forward in the Appalachian Mountains)
The dust jacket for Dimestore by Lee Smith attributes Smith's writing talents to listening to customers tales at her father's dimestore as well as inventing adventures for the stores inventory of dolls. In the preface, Smith expounds on the "veritable explosion of Appalachian writing
including Big Stone Gap : a novel by Adriana Trigiana. I read this a few years ago and followed it up with what became one of my favorites The Little Bookstore of Big Stone Gap: A Memoir of Friendship, Community, and the Uncommon Pleasure of a Good Book. I love the romantic notion of owning a used bookstore in small-town Appalachia, ( I love used bookstores period)A magazine started by students in 1966, called "Foxfire" for the glow-in-the-dark fungus of the local hills, has expanded into books and an outdoor museum.
The Bryson City Series by Walter Larimore M.D. chronicle the 4 years he lived and practiced medicine in the Smoky Mountians.
Just In:
- Go deep into the heart and soul of American southern cooking. Lauren McDuffie, writer of the award-winning food blog Harvest and Honey (and a Saveur Best Blog finalist for "Best New Voice"), captures the flavors and modern cooking techniques of Appalachia and the Blue Ridge Mountains in this evocative cookbook. Showcases 70 recipes and 80 photographs organized by season. Each chapter opens with storytelling that echoes the folklore and tall tales of the region, centered on rediscovering the unique food culture of the region. Menu suggestions and wine pairings encompass a variety of meal occasions, from small plates to soups, salads, mains, sides, drinks, dessert, along with tips and techniques on canning, pickling, and preserving. --. Publisher's description.
- Music:
"While there are countless music genres in existence today, nearly all of these musical genres owe at least some credit to the musical heritage of the Appalachian Mountains of Southwest Virginia, referred to as “Appalachian Music”. " This is from the official Tourism Blog Of The Commonwealth Of Virginia (But Did You Know…Appalachian Music & Virginia’s Mountain Towns) which delves into the history of Appalachian Music with influence from Ireland, Germany, and Africa.
Shelly Recommends:
No one knows where the Tufa came from, or how they ended up in the mountains of East Tennessee. When the first Europeans came to the Smoky Mountains, the Tufa were already there. Dark-haired and enigmatic, they live quietly in the hills and valleys of Cloud County, their origins lost to history. But there are clues in their music, hidden in the songs they have passed down for generations. Private Bronwyn Hyatt, a true daughter of the Tufa, has returned from Iraq, wounded in body and spirit, but her troubles are far from over. Cryptic omens warn of impending tragedy, while a restless "haint" has followed her home from the war. Worse yet, Bronwyn has lost touch with herself and with the music that was once a part of her. With death stalking her family, will she ever again join in the song of her people, and let it lift her onto the night winds?
"After inheriting her uncle's Red River Gorge homestead in Eastern Kentucky, smack dab in the middle of the Daniel Boone National Forest, Miranda comes up with a perfect business plan for summer tourists: pairing outdoor painting classes with sips of local moonshine, followed by a mouthwatering sampler of the best in southern cooking. To Miranda's delight, Paint & Shine is a total success, until someone kills the cook. As the town's outsider, suspicion naturally falls on Miranda. Murdering the best biscuit baker of Red River Gorge is a high crime in these parts. Miranda will have to prove her innocence before she's moved from farmhouse to jail cell faster than she can say "white lightning".
"Old Gods of Appalachia" podcast which is a horror anthology podcast that draws heavily on Celtic and Native American folklore., therefore: listener discretion is advised". http://oldgodsofappalachia.com
Tuatha Dea - Pure Appalachian Rock
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