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MUSING APPALACHIA: WHIMSICAL OBSERVATIONS ABOUT HILLBILLIES AS THEY DEAL WITH OLD TRADITIONS IN A CHANGING WORLD
This is a compilation of true, often humorous stories and serious observations about the lives and customs of Appalachians from the old days to modern times.
Topics include mountain customs and traditions with forays into herbal remedies, moonshining, religion and language, along with the difficulties of being absorbed into cultures outside of the hills.
A few of the forty-four chapters Aunt Berthy and the Fires of Hell, Enlightenment Comes to the Mountains, Old Time Religion in Appalachia, Uncle Mountain Medicine Man, Appalachian Medicine Chest, Catfish in a Log, Appalachian People Don't Talk Funny, A Good Night Meant Coon Hunting, Clogging n’ Flatfootin’, Southern Skunks Are the Best, Hillbilly Stereotypes in the Movies, The Preacher Flirted with Satan…and Lost!, Uncle Nathan Didn't Make No Mean Likker, Raising Tobacco, The Scotch-Irish Republic of Appalachia, plus twenty-nine more stories.
Once read, the reader should have had an interesting education on Appalachian ways and how they came to where they’re at today…with attention to transitioning from the traditions of living in the hills to the “flatlands” (cities).
During his youth, hundreds of times the author was asked, “Where’re you from? Whose boy are you?” These questions were an Appalachian way of trying to figure out not only who you were but also how you might interconnect with their life…or not. Life in Appalachia was never boring.
Topics include mountain customs and traditions with forays into herbal remedies, moonshining, religion and language, along with the difficulties of being absorbed into cultures outside of the hills.
A few of the forty-four chapters Aunt Berthy and the Fires of Hell, Enlightenment Comes to the Mountains, Old Time Religion in Appalachia, Uncle Mountain Medicine Man, Appalachian Medicine Chest, Catfish in a Log, Appalachian People Don't Talk Funny, A Good Night Meant Coon Hunting, Clogging n’ Flatfootin’, Southern Skunks Are the Best, Hillbilly Stereotypes in the Movies, The Preacher Flirted with Satan…and Lost!, Uncle Nathan Didn't Make No Mean Likker, Raising Tobacco, The Scotch-Irish Republic of Appalachia, plus twenty-nine more stories.
Once read, the reader should have had an interesting education on Appalachian ways and how they came to where they’re at today…with attention to transitioning from the traditions of living in the hills to the “flatlands” (cities).
During his youth, hundreds of times the author was asked, “Where’re you from? Whose boy are you?” These questions were an Appalachian way of trying to figure out not only who you were but also how you might interconnect with their life…or not. Life in Appalachia was never boring.
- GenresNonfiction
274 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 28, 2023
67 people are currently reading
9 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 4, 2025
I have DNA from the Appalachian mountains!!!!
What I liked about this book is :My daddy was born and raised in Sevier County, Wears Valley Tennessee ..My daddy was from a large family ..my grandpa’s first wife Died and left him with a bunch of children ..He married my grandma because she was a widow ...she had seven children.. then they had three more together .. The last two was my daddy and his twin brother.. altogether that made 18 children.. When the last three children Became teenagers around 16 years old they came to North Carolina looking for work ..So I was raised in North Carolina but ,my rising comes from a Appalachian man ,so I consider myself Appalachian. If you hear me talk you would know it...I did ancestry.com it confirmed I am mostly Scottish and I’m from the smoky mountains ..so I guess that proved most of our ancestors are Scott-Irish from those hills of Tennessee..I’m very proud of my heritage !!! I am drawn to those mountains where my roots come from ...it’s in my blood !!! I love it !!! it’s the most beautiful place on this earth !!!MY twin sister and I love CADES COVE !!!
What I liked about this book is :My daddy was born and raised in Sevier County, Wears Valley Tennessee ..My daddy was from a large family ..my grandpa’s first wife Died and left him with a bunch of children ..He married my grandma because she was a widow ...she had seven children.. then they had three more together .. The last two was my daddy and his twin brother.. altogether that made 18 children.. When the last three children Became teenagers around 16 years old they came to North Carolina looking for work ..So I was raised in North Carolina but ,my rising comes from a Appalachian man ,so I consider myself Appalachian. If you hear me talk you would know it...I did ancestry.com it confirmed I am mostly Scottish and I’m from the smoky mountains ..so I guess that proved most of our ancestors are Scott-Irish from those hills of Tennessee..I’m very proud of my heritage !!! I am drawn to those mountains where my roots come from ...it’s in my blood !!! I love it !!! it’s the most beautiful place on this earth !!!MY twin sister and I love CADES COVE !!!
July 27, 2023
Very interesting to read about Appalachia from someone who's from there.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews