Scribblers: Stalking The Authors Of Appalachia

by Stephen Kirk

Part memoir, part literary history, Scribblers provides a humorous look at the world of wannabe authors while documenting the surprisingly rich literary tradition of the area around Asheville, North Carolina. In this book, Stephen Kirk, whose self-deprecating humor is reminiscent of a Woody Allen-like character, discusses this tradition while describing his own writing experiences. Intertwined with Kirk's descriptions of his frustrations as his research misfires or leads to dead ends are insights about writing gleaned from interviews with such contemporary authors as Gail Godwin, Robert Morgan, Fred Chappell, and Sharyn McCrumb as well as insights into the lives of such famous authors as Thomas Wolfe, Carl Sandburg, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and O. Henry, who lived and wrote in the area.

Genres: Nonfiction

248 pages, Hardcover

First published September 30, 2004

Reviews

[Camille McCarthy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was not too impressed by this book, although I did learn a little history about some of the famous authors to pass through Asheville. I didn't realize the Grove Park Inn had hosted F. Scott Fitzgerald, or that Henry James had visited the Biltmore (and wasn't too fond of it!). The book also gave a little window into the world of frustrated authors who are trying to become published, which was good to know but not very uplifting.
Mostly, I disliked the author's style of writing. I thought the organization of the book was sloppy - he would switch subjects and go from one author's work to another without a transition - and he had a lot of personal anecdotes which didn't fit in with the rest of the book and honestly made him seem like an unlikable person - what was with that scene where he's driving terribly and purposely pissing off the person behind him? I wasn't sure what the point was, except that he was trying to make it humorous and show his personality a little bit. It didn't work for me. He also had an air of superiority when talking about the other writers in his critique group, even though he's really just as unsuccessful as they are, it's just that he works at a publishing house so he thinks he knows better.
Overall I was not impressed with this book. I wonder what his other book is about, but I doubt I will ever read it. A lot of the book is about things he's planning to do or trips where he's made it halfway for some purpose and then chickens out or decides against it - this made it seem like he's not really into his own project and maybe he should have left some of that out, or actually expended the effort to go through with his plans. He is also fascinated with Asheville but has never lived there so it seemed odd that he decided to write about this place from an outsider's perspective instead of actually living here for a while and getting to know it. I think it would have been a better book if he'd just focused on where he's from. I'm sure they have writers in Winston-Salem, too.

[Jessica Morgan · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book seems to have a typo on the title page, "Appalachia" should be "Asheville". I picked up this book in high hopes that it would give me incite into Appalachia writers like myself. Unstead, the author devotes the entirety of the book to the city of Asheville and its wealthy transplants to the region. I would strongly argue that Asheville, while loved and visited often by myself and many others throughout the neighboring states, is an anomaly in the Appalachian experience.
That being said, I believe chapter seven is the shining gem to be plucked from this work.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I ordered this book for the title and didn't really know what to expect from it, but it turned out to be delightful. The author has a wonderful self-deprecating humor that made me laugh out loud several times while reading. Although the book is ostensibly about writers in Appalachia, it is a worthwhile read for any writer who is on the route to publication. Kirk talks to award-winning literary writers, genre writers, self-published writers, and unpublished writers. It turns out to be an interesting overview of how the publishing business works and what drives people to want to participate in it.

My only criticism is that I never really figured out why Kirk chose the Asheville/Appalachian writing scene in particular. At the time of the writing, he lives in Winston-Salem, NC, and must make a long car trip to western North Carolina each week in order to do research for the book. He also mentions that he is originally from New York state, so his interest doesn't lie with heritage. He has compelling things to say and the book is a worthwhile read, but I felt as though there was a "why here and not there" hole in the narrative.

[Tom Hooker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Scribblers provides a humorous look at the world of wannabe authors while documenting the surprisingly rich literary tradition of the area around Asheville, North Carolina. In this book, Stephen Kirk, whose self-deprecating humor is reminiscent of a Woody Allen-like character, discusses this tradition while describing his own writing experiences. Intertwined with Kirk's descriptions of his frustrations as his research misfires or leads to dead ends are insights about writing gleaned from interviews with such contemporary authors as Gail Godwin, Robert Morgan, Fred Chappell, and Sharyn McCrumb as well as insights into the lives of such famous authors as Thomas Wolfe, Carl Sandburg, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and O. Henry, who lived and wrote in the area

[davidson mulkey · Rating 3 out of 5]

THis book was very cool and unexpected. It's both a historical and modern look at writers in and around the area of Asheville NC. I knew Thomas Wolf was born and grew up there and that O. Henry was buried there but I had no idea that Zelda Fitzgerald died there and F. Scott Fitzgerald spent several of his last years there. It also delves into the realm of the self published author and the frustrations of trying to get writing published. It reads like a narrative with the content of an essay.

[Michele Berger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unusual and compelling book that covers the literary landscape in Appalachia. But, it is also a rumination on the ups and downs of writers--those that are famous and the rest of us who aren't. Quick and funny read.