Zetta's Dream: An Appalachian Coal Camp Novel

by Sandra Picklesimer Aldrich

Zetta Berghoffer's dream of a sweet life is jeopardized when her husband, Asa, leaves to work coal so he can pay off their Kentucky farm. Determined to keep the family together, Zetta and their toddlers join Asa and her brothers at the Golden Gate coal camp just before Christmas 1922. She is eight months pregnant. During the first week in the dismal camp, Zetta suffers fearful nightmares of cut trees and fresh dirt--Appalachian signs of trouble. Asa dismisses his wife's pleas to return to their farm, insisting their three-month stay will provide the $400 they need to give their children better lives. Disappointed, Zetta draws strength from her plump red-haired neighbor, Dosha, and the strong willed granny woman, Clarie, who will deliver her baby. And each morning, she thanks the Lord they are one more day closer to home. Or are they?

Genres: Historical Fiction

273 pages, Paperback

First published February 25, 2015

Reviews

[Marianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was written by my wonderful, gifted mother-in-law; of course I loved it.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a heartwarming story...

I loved this book. The characters are warm but you knew what was going to happen. You knew something was going to happen at the coal mine. But even knowing it was coming, it happened fast and I cried a few times at the end. Zetta was a wonderful main character and I would love to read more about her.

[Laurie Sargent · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it!

I enjoyed so much the characters in this book (including their flaws) and learned much about what life was like in a Kentucky mining camp in the early 1920s. I’m looking forward to reading the second book about Zetta.

[Bev · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book about life in a coal camp in Kentucky prior to OSHA and the EPA. It’s engaging but not an easy story to read with much sadness within.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zetta's Dream takes readers back to 1922, pulling them into the life of a coal camp. Along with the hardships there are also the hopes and dreams of the characters that become so real that you feel like they might of actually lived the life that Ms. Aldrich allows us a peek into!

Zetta Berghoffer is a 22 year old mother of two and expecting another baby living on a Kentucky farm. Her husband Asa along with two of Zetta's brother's have decided to go off to work in the coal mines. Asa wants to go in order to earn four hundred dollars so that he can pay off the family farm and provide a better life for his family. Zetta follows along with her two young children and begins life in the coal camp, and while she knows they will only be there three months her only wish is to go back home, and soon nightmares start plaguing her, providing a dark omen of what might happen if they don't leave the coal camp right away. Asa won't leave though and as each day brings them closer to home, one can't help but wonder if Zetta's worries were for nothing.

Zetta's Dream is a story that grabs hold of the heart and wont let go, even after I finished the final page I found myself continuing to think about the character of Zetta and how her life might be. To say that she was a strong character is an understatement. Even though she is 22 she seems so much older than that, perhaps because of the hardships of life, but really I felt like it was just an inner strength that the author so realistically captured of what being a wife and mother really is! Ms. Aldrich paints such a vivid picture of Zetta's home and family that I could almost smell the cornbread cooking, and could just imagine the grittiness of the coal dust in the air! Plenty of secondary characters shine in this story such as the granny woman Claire, who will deliver Zetta's baby, to Dosha and her husband, each character brings their own special voice to the story. My favorite secondary character had to be Julia. In the beginning I found myself disliking her, but as the author allowed me true access to her I found my heart breaking for her, because it seemed that she found something in Zetta that no one else had offered her.

I have always been fascinated by coal camp stories and Zetta's Dream certainly gave me that, even touching briefly on the union movement, but more than that I found myself on an emotional roller coaster ride wondering what might happen to Zetta's family. Hoping right along with Zetta for the best. A story that grabbed me by the heart and wouldn't let go! Easily one of the best books I have read this year!

[Greta Picklesimer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was immediately immersed into the story and held captivate by the emotional telling of this powerful novel. The pace of the book is quick and I found myself unable to put it down at times as I cheered for Zetta and her family. Aldrich creates a rich world, showing the dark side of old time coal mining in Kentucky and poverty. Even though Zetta's aspirations turn bleak with the death of her dear husband, she stands as a courageous woman through it all. I wish the book would have ended differently where her husband lives, but knowing it is based loosely on family history that is not how the story goes.
I look forward to reading more Appalachian fiction from this writer and hope she will continue to pursue fiction over her many non-fiction works.

[Teresa Couch · Rating 5 out of 5]

#SAldrich_ZettasDream

I'm a person who enjoys reading and hearing of the past and I have to say this book will definitely be added to one of my favorite books of all times. I have to say that I was born and raised in West Virginia which is primarily Coal Mining Country like Kentucky.

The life and daily struggles not only of the miners but the families themselves. The daily knowledge of knowing that your loved ones may not make it out of the mines at the end of the day. Then for the families having to deal with the filthy air and trying to breathe in the black air. The strength and love that Zetta has for her family, Wow! What a strong woman, I have such respect for her! Go Zetta!

[Kathy Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

I sat up until 1 in the morning last night because I couldn't put this book down. I would give it more than five stars if I could. It begins with a young couple, Zetta and Asa. They own a farm, and Asa decides to go and work in a coal mine in order to pay off their farm. In the beginning of the book, Asa had sent for Zetta and their two small children to join him there. The book chronicles her life, her domestic chores, her child-rearing, her neighbors. The story draws you in from the beginning and I couldn't wait to see what happened next. The story is so good. According to the author's website, there will be a sequel.

[Jewel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zetta’s Dream portrays a rich cultural heritage, enduring awesome chemistry between Zetta and her Asa, conflictual family relationships, zany and feisty friendships, and unexpected grief and loss issues, which brings forth questions for discussion for any book club or individual who enjoys digging deeper into the various layers of a great literary work. The glossary at the end of the book contains colloquial words used by the characters is very helpful in further enjoying the story.

I look forward to reading the sequel and I hope someday to see this book made into a Hallmark movie…

[Stacey Blanton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being from this area of the country, and having an interest in the history of the area, I was excited to read this short novel. It is less than 300 pages, but it gives an insight into how the coal camps were run and how the lowest workers were treated. It also gives some insight on how the union battles began and how it was for those starting that war. It was a very quick read, and I would love to read a story of how Zetta and Asa began their lives, and how Zetta got along after this story.

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely LOVED this book! I am personally acquainted with the author and was able to experience her read an excerpt from the book. She was born in Kentucky, and the book is loosely based on experiences of her grandmother. This is my favorite genre, so I just "flew" through this book. The characters are lovable and hateable! The character development is superb! I could not wait to turn the page and find out what happened next! Great job, Sandra!

[Afton Rorvik · Rating 5 out of 5]

I drooled over the Appalachian cornbread, gingerbread cake, brown sugar sweets, hoe cakes, blackberry cobbler, and fresh green and wild onions wilted down with a little hot bacon grease. Oh, my! And I laughed at the feisty, speak-my-mind granny woman who befriends Zetta. I kept reading because author Sandra Aldrich made me care deeply about the characters. I eagerly anticipate a sequel.

[Susan Wilson-Stern · Rating 5 out of 5]

Predictable but well written.

Excellent character development and rhythm. Perhaps later books will complete the plot but this book lacks closure. One more short chapter could have wrapped it up without changing the character position. I still think it is a good book, it just could have been truly outstanding.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book

I rated this book 5 stars because it kept my interest throughout the book . the hardships people went through just to survive in that time period seems so hard! Zetta faced the hardest of Ll!

[caroljordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A complainer's life.

I enjoyed Zetta's Dream very much. It takes you into the hard life of a miners family. The mine owners knew only greed and only valued only their own families.

[Jo Ann White · Rating 5 out of 5]

A young woman's life while he husband works in a coal mine.

Zetta is a strong young woman with two children and another on the way. She hates being in that coal miners camp. But she stands by her husband who is determined to earn enough to pay for their land.

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

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[Dana Heffington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book

Real and for real A good read for anyone looking for a good story that seems so real it brings tears

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zetta

I love reading about things before I was born. Zetta was a woman of strong character. I would read this book again.

[Christine Curtis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book very much

This was an easy read book. I almost felt Zetta,'s pain at times. Coming from a coal mining family I understood every word and could relate to it.

[Velma Demaray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Drudgery

Zettas life expresses the hardships of the entire family who have no other choice but to spend their lives in the dirty mines