Red Holler: Contemporary Appalachian Literature

by John E. Branscum (Editor), Wayne Thomas (Editor)

"Buy this book, it's a barn burner!"—Dorothy Allison In an extraordinarily diverse anthology of poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and graphic narratives by contemporary Appalachian writers, Red Holler takes us over and beyond the stock imagery of rural mountain communities. We travel into housing projects, forest-stripped ravines, and trailer parks, to explore vibrant hometown and migrant Appalachian cultures. Editors John E. Branscum and Wayne Thomas have assembled a collection spanning ten years and communities in locales ranging from Mississippi to New York, placing fresh new voices alongside widely known and celebrated authors. Drawing on Appalachian literature’s roots in Native American myth, African American urban legend, and European folk culture, and embracing Appalachian urban fiction, the Southern Gothic, gritty no-holds-barred realism, and magical realism, the stories and poems of Red Holler elegantly cohere to perfectly depict what makes Appalachia so its irreverent and outlaw challenges to mainstream notions of propriety and convention.

Genres: Nonfiction, Essays, Short Stories, Poetry

256 pages, Paperback

First published September 20, 2013

Reviews

[Jo F · Rating 2 out of 5]

Contemporary Appalachian literature is an oxymoron in itself. It says out of touch with reality, unrealistic, lacking depth. Nothing about Appalachia is contemporary. Contemporary means lacking God, includes a lack of morals, foul language and immoral behavior-Red Holler staples. Appalachia is the opposite of this; it’s time honored culture, family, tradition and the unarguable principles that rule mankind. The characters or character in Red Holler left Appalachia for the city detesting the Appalachia they came from, if they ever did.

[Treasure Island Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

Appalachian literature has changed a lot since the days of Jessee Stuart and Janice Holt Giles. I was surprised to find this mix of prose poetry, and graphic novel on the shelves at my local library. For some reason, I couldn't make myself delve into the deeper meanings of the poetry and read only for snippets of song and history I remembered. The prose mirrored the changing landscape I can see any day I choose to venture outside. The graphic novels were not my cup of tea, but I acknowledge their inclusion in an anthology of contemporary writing from Appalachia. If you have fond memories of a bygone Walton's Mountain world, skip this book. If you want a true representation of how things have evolved, check it out.

[Jennifer Ackerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I borrowed a friend's review copy of this. I wasn't expecting a lot. You know some blah blah blah about granny and the land or some blah blah blah about Deliverance-style shenanigans or blah blah blah painfully self-conscious regional writing. But I was seriously wrong. As someone of a mixed-race background and who grew up in punk-rock Asheville, NC Appalachia (yes, there is such a thing), this is the book I was waiting for. Funny as F*** in parts and heart-breaking, chilling, and magical in others. I really love the authors' bios too which show you just how differently people think of their Appalachian background. And not only does it have three Yale Younger Series poets (Maurice Manning can have my hand in marriage any old day), but also writers like Jane Springer that make my blood run and my brain go boom. The graphic narratives aren't the sort of navel-gazing boring slice-of-life things either. Benedict's trippy but awesome Orgo was right up there with Alejandro Jodorowsky's work. And Reeve's piece is like a Chagall painting filtered through India and Appalachia respectively. Jacinda Townsend's story is an awesome window into black Appalachia too. I could go on. But you get the picture. The only piece I didn't care for was Crystal Wilkinson's. But then I never have liked her writing much and a lot of people I respect adore her.

[David Ward · Rating 3 out of 5]

Red Holler: Contemporary Appalachian Literature by John E. Branscum, Editor (Sarabande Books 2013) (810.80974). I was excited to find this anthology of new southern voices. It contains poetry, short stories, even a short graphic novel. But alas - this volume is not for me. Even the story by Ron Rash, who is the new Great One, seems diminished by inclusion here. Oh well. I still look forward to the next compilation. My rating: 6/10, finished 11/25/13.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a FANTASTIC collection. Short stories, poetry, some graphic narratives. The forward and introduction are also quite good. Even the embossed pages at the beginning and end of the volume are beautiful. Really great stuff here. Excited to see such collection come up. This is the best I've seen so far. Really worth looking at.

[Charles White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding collection. An anthology that has vitality and a wide selection of voices.