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At Home in the Heart of Appalachia: A Memoir
John O’Brien was raised in Philadelphia by an Appalachian father who fled the mountains to escape crippling poverty and family tragedy. Years later, with a wife and two kids of his own, the son moved back into those mountains in an attempt to understand both himself and the father from whom he’d become estranged.
At once a poignant memoir and a tribute to America's most misunderstood region, At Home in the Heart of Appalachia describes a lush land of voluptuous summers, woodsmoke winters, and breathtaking autumns and springs. John O'Brien sees through the myths about Appalachia to its people and the mountain culture that has sustained them. And he takes to task naïve missionaries and rapacious industrialists who are the real source of much of the region's woe as well as its lingering hillbilly stereotypes. Finally, and profoundly, he comes to terms with the atavistic demons that haunt the relations between Appalachian fathers and sons.
At once a poignant memoir and a tribute to America's most misunderstood region, At Home in the Heart of Appalachia describes a lush land of voluptuous summers, woodsmoke winters, and breathtaking autumns and springs. John O'Brien sees through the myths about Appalachia to its people and the mountain culture that has sustained them. And he takes to task naïve missionaries and rapacious industrialists who are the real source of much of the region's woe as well as its lingering hillbilly stereotypes. Finally, and profoundly, he comes to terms with the atavistic demons that haunt the relations between Appalachian fathers and sons.
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
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About the author
John O'Brien
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John O’Brien was raised in Philadelphia by an Appalachian father who fled the mountains to escape crippling poverty and family tragedy. Years later, with a wife and two kids of his own, the son moved back into those mountains in an attempt to understand both himself and the father from whom he’d become estranged.
John O’Brien was raised in Philadelphia by an Appalachian father who fled the mountains to escape crippling poverty and family tragedy. Years later, with a wife and two kids of his own, the son moved back into those mountains in an attempt to understand both himself and the father from whom he’d become estranged.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
February 22, 2016
I mistyped "At Home in the Hurt of..." and that might have been more appropriate. Not that this isn't engaged and well-written, but the pain of the author's life and family relations, that he inextricably links with his Appalachian roots, weaves through it all. It's a subtext and shadow looming over it all. Whether it's as universal as he says, I wouldn't presume to know.
I will say the strength of this book is the masterful deconstruction of the 'myth of Appalachia.' The fact that the mythic Appalachia we all "know" about doesn't actually exist needs to be recognized. It becomes a form of internalized oppression, one that facilitates rapacious outsiders taking what they want, be it coal and timber, or grant and government money to fund intrusive projects. Meaning well or not, people can't bother to let West Virginians do their own thing. This alone, the demolition of the sets of myths that construct our popular view of the region, needs to be repeated and celebrated.
I will say the strength of this book is the masterful deconstruction of the 'myth of Appalachia.' The fact that the mythic Appalachia we all "know" about doesn't actually exist needs to be recognized. It becomes a form of internalized oppression, one that facilitates rapacious outsiders taking what they want, be it coal and timber, or grant and government money to fund intrusive projects. Meaning well or not, people can't bother to let West Virginians do their own thing. This alone, the demolition of the sets of myths that construct our popular view of the region, needs to be repeated and celebrated.
July 25, 2017
I have to disclose upfront that John O'Brien was my father-in-law, so my rating is biased. I lived and heard about many of these events before reading the book when it was completed over 10 years ago. This book was a work in progress for so many years and I was amazed at how beautifully it came together with John's gift for language. I just reread it because my sons, John's grandsons, are reading it for the first time. This book is such a gift to them, especially since he died early in their lives. I recommend it to anyone who is curious about Appalachians and why they aren't open to outsiders who want to fix their "problems".
September 2, 2010
This book had potential, but disappointed me. While O'Brien had some interesting insights into the history and development of Appalachia, his prose lacked coherence. His narrative jumps around without cohesion or flow and facts are thrown in at random. I could not make it through the last chapter, I no longer had a reason to care about the story he was trying to weave.
July 30, 2015
Slow moving. I was expecting a book about Appalachia but it was more of this guy's personal story, especially his estrangement from his father. I'd rather read about Appalachia from someone who has grown up there, not in Philadelphia!
May 25, 2017
John O'Brien's writing style can be best summed up by a quote on page 225. He is telling the story of his failed attempt at teaching "C" students in a junior high school.
"I still think some of the ideas about making class work real might have been worthwhile, but I taught-if that's the right word-the way I live, in fits and starts. I had no real plan or follow-up."
Exactly, O'Brien. Your writing is all over the place. You write in fits and starts, with no real plan.
"I still think some of the ideas about making class work real might have been worthwhile, but I taught-if that's the right word-the way I live, in fits and starts. I had no real plan or follow-up."
Exactly, O'Brien. Your writing is all over the place. You write in fits and starts, with no real plan.
March 9, 2012
Disgruntled ex-pat returns to his home ground. Misunderstands locals and is misunderstood. Has the same noblesse-oblige toward the locals that he resents in others who've moved to the area and just want to "help." Hopeless liberal trapped in a very conservative backwater and having a hard time just chilling. Another axe-grinding Appalachia book? Yes, but it has made me curious about his region -- Green Bank, Franklin, such areas -- and he's a decent if muddled guy. He has a good wife, good kids, stability. The sad part: The author died a few years after writing this, and even more sadly he died at a hospice in Charleston (learned all this on WikiPedia), which is not the kind of place where he would have liked dying. This fellow really loved his native woods, and I appreciate that. Jack and I will plan a drive or two up there.
July 16, 2015
I found it difficult at times to get through, and that the author said the same thing in many different ways. I found it sad in a way that he was always searching. It made me wonder should we spend that much time looking back and analyzing our pasts. O'Brien's statement in last chapter was the most succinct and telling, " I have spent my life trying to escape his hopelessness, and of course to run from something is to be affected by it." And, " back then I thought I was making free willed decisions about where to go and how to live. I thought I was shaping the kind of person I would become. Now I understand that I have been making choices from a preselected list." A definition of Appalachia remains unclear to me. I did enjoy some many of his rich descriptions, and celebrated that his son knew himself well (he did not fit at Cornell).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 1, 2013
This book is fabulous. It is certainly one of the best books I've ever read. If you like any part of Appalachians this book is a must read! :-)
October 21, 2018
Interesting read about West Virginian who wanted to write about Appalachia...but didn't exactly know how to pin it down.
November 15, 2019
To paraphrase Leon Uris in Trinity: In Appalachia, there is no future, only the past, happening again and again.
While many people may find this book hard to read especially those who live outside of Appalachia, it is a book that tells the story of Appalachia in a way that many of us learn to understand her; in fits and starts, jumping forward and back, never quite sure of itself and yet always pressing on toward a distant goal that there is a very real possibility one may never reach.
Because this is more a story of journeys than destinations, a mountain soul's look at the broken heart of Appalachia and how even growing up hours away, in another state and culture, your heart may be broken BY Appalachia before you truly understand the sad reality that IS Appalachia.
It has been said that there is more known about Appalachia that is not true than any other place in the world, and after living here and visiting for the better part of my 56 years I can tell you that is a very accurate portrayal of the region.
Appalachia is a place that displays the true cost of occupation by military forces and of Reconstruction.
West Virginia was created in the fight over secession and yet seceded, a contradiction that twists the heart of this state's early years and present spirit.
West Virginians are treated with more disrespect and abused by more of the nation than Virginia, the place where the Rebellion began and the capital of the Confederacy.
Today, despite recreational opportunities for hiking, biking, boating, world class rock climbing, fishing and hunting, West Virginia remains one of the poorest states in the nation, while Virginia thrives and grows. West Virginia's coal fueled the Industrial Revolution and sustains much of the East, yet WV sees little of the wealth that comes from the destruction of her mountains.
The sadness of Appalachia is matched by its incredible beauty and the pride of its incredible people; if they are sometimes a suspicious people, they are not suspicious without cause, for they have been betrayed in many different ways by almost every group that has ever come here. Indeed, another favorite quote of mine is that Appalachia has been saved damn near to death.
Appalachians have been betrayed by preachers and by intellectuals, by liberal do-gooders and self-serving conservatives. They have been betrayed by their employers and by their unions and their government, state and federal. Indeed, they have been betrayed in so many ways that they have lost count.
They are suspicious of change because almost everyone who has ever promised them change for the better has done so to fill their own pockets; very few groups who have ever come here and indeed very few who are here claiming to help are not profiting in some way from their generosity.
After a run through the history of West Virginia, Pendleton County and the town of Franklin, John tells the story of the tragic flood of 1985, which hit West Virginia like God's own vengeance, especially Pendleton. It does so with a clarity and local focus lost in many accounts.
I truly hope that you will give this book a read, as I hope that you will come visit Pendleton County, where we have "Mountains of Opportunities" but few roads to reach them.
While many people may find this book hard to read especially those who live outside of Appalachia, it is a book that tells the story of Appalachia in a way that many of us learn to understand her; in fits and starts, jumping forward and back, never quite sure of itself and yet always pressing on toward a distant goal that there is a very real possibility one may never reach.
Because this is more a story of journeys than destinations, a mountain soul's look at the broken heart of Appalachia and how even growing up hours away, in another state and culture, your heart may be broken BY Appalachia before you truly understand the sad reality that IS Appalachia.
It has been said that there is more known about Appalachia that is not true than any other place in the world, and after living here and visiting for the better part of my 56 years I can tell you that is a very accurate portrayal of the region.
Appalachia is a place that displays the true cost of occupation by military forces and of Reconstruction.
West Virginia was created in the fight over secession and yet seceded, a contradiction that twists the heart of this state's early years and present spirit.
West Virginians are treated with more disrespect and abused by more of the nation than Virginia, the place where the Rebellion began and the capital of the Confederacy.
Today, despite recreational opportunities for hiking, biking, boating, world class rock climbing, fishing and hunting, West Virginia remains one of the poorest states in the nation, while Virginia thrives and grows. West Virginia's coal fueled the Industrial Revolution and sustains much of the East, yet WV sees little of the wealth that comes from the destruction of her mountains.
The sadness of Appalachia is matched by its incredible beauty and the pride of its incredible people; if they are sometimes a suspicious people, they are not suspicious without cause, for they have been betrayed in many different ways by almost every group that has ever come here. Indeed, another favorite quote of mine is that Appalachia has been saved damn near to death.
Appalachians have been betrayed by preachers and by intellectuals, by liberal do-gooders and self-serving conservatives. They have been betrayed by their employers and by their unions and their government, state and federal. Indeed, they have been betrayed in so many ways that they have lost count.
They are suspicious of change because almost everyone who has ever promised them change for the better has done so to fill their own pockets; very few groups who have ever come here and indeed very few who are here claiming to help are not profiting in some way from their generosity.
After a run through the history of West Virginia, Pendleton County and the town of Franklin, John tells the story of the tragic flood of 1985, which hit West Virginia like God's own vengeance, especially Pendleton. It does so with a clarity and local focus lost in many accounts.
I truly hope that you will give this book a read, as I hope that you will come visit Pendleton County, where we have "Mountains of Opportunities" but few roads to reach them.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 7, 2019
I was searching for a book that could teach me about West Virginia, and this is the best one I've found so far. It covers north and south WV, talks about the history of the state, the flora and fauna in the area throughout the seasons, and the people who live there. It's not boring to read either, because all that information is woven into the story of the author returning to the state and wanting to reconnect with his father. The author is wise, insightful, and objective. Even if you're not interested in WV, this is a good book to read just to become more knowledgable about human nature and the corruption in America's history. The people of WV are no more "hillbilly" than anywhere else, and anyone brought up in a certain area can be labeled a certain way, and it affects them their whole life.
Some of the other reviews here say that the author jumped all over the place. That only occurred at the very beginning of the book. The rest was pretty linear. It wasn't organized like a text book, but I think it was meant to be a creative nonfiction book, not a text book.
Some of the other reviews here say that the author jumped all over the place. That only occurred at the very beginning of the book. The rest was pretty linear. It wasn't organized like a text book, but I think it was meant to be a creative nonfiction book, not a text book.
December 28, 2019
I always enjoy a good memoir about Appalachia, as I am Appalachian myself. This was a hybrid memoir/history of the region that delved into several things which were very interesting. One was “What is Appalachia and does it really exist?”, another was the debunking of the myth of Appalachia, and the last was Appalachian Fatalism. All three topics combined with the author’s personal story made this an enjoyable read for me. It was interesting to find out that Appalachia and the hillbilly stereotype were creations by elitists from the northeast in the late 1800s/early 1900s. The misconceptions about Appalachia make me sad, as my home region continues to be a place that is looked down on by others. Appalachian fatalism is fascinating as well, as the concept of being stuck in a life that is, as Hobbes said, nasty, brutish, and short is easy to see in the region, even to this day. O’Brien tends to ramble and skip around a lot, but he has a beautiful writing style. I would recommend this if you like memoirs like “Rocket Boys”, “The Glass Castle”, and “Hillbilly Elegy”.
October 6, 2021
Painfully slow and confusing at times.
April 16, 2025
A book with really interesting, relatable, and relevant ideas about Appalachia and its people but from an actual writing and structure perspective? All over the place and super inconsistent
February 2, 2008
This is a moving personal account of one man's "return" to the Appalachia (whatever that word means ... and he makes clear that 'Appalachia' means a thousand different things and nothing at the same time, especially if you live there - wherever that might be) from which his father and forebears came. There's a lot intertwined here: family, politics, in-group-out-group sociology, nature, rural-vs.-city, and on. Good book. Insightful. Almost reads like a novel.
April 12, 2008
What a terrific book! I learned so much about West Virginia and what life is like in that region of the country. O'Brien also discusses the history of Appalachia and how the people of West Virginia have been exploited by politicians and the very wealthy.
Throughout the book, the author also talks a lot about his own life and his roots in West Virginia. You can tell that this region means a lot to him and that he is determined to tell the true story.
Throughout the book, the author also talks a lot about his own life and his roots in West Virginia. You can tell that this region means a lot to him and that he is determined to tell the true story.
January 17, 2016
I have always enjoyed books about Appalachia, and the people living there and this book is no exception.
I like John O'Brian's lyrical writing, and telling of his family roots, and the wonderful history of West Virginia. I learned alot about the people and their day to day lives, living off the land, and raising their families proud and strong. If you like abit of history along with a memoir of sorts, then read this book.
I like John O'Brian's lyrical writing, and telling of his family roots, and the wonderful history of West Virginia. I learned alot about the people and their day to day lives, living off the land, and raising their families proud and strong. If you like abit of history along with a memoir of sorts, then read this book.
March 24, 2015
It took me some time to trudge through this book. The writing was disjointed and sometimes tedious. I would not make the mistake of believing the author has given us "the true story of Appalachia". This is simply a memoir- his story and his views- with some facts and history included. All in all, it was worth the read.
February 6, 2017
This is a poignant memoir that suffers only slightly from the editorial decision to add a little too much historical context. Topics of Appalachian identity, family, and community are woven throughout this book and O'Brien's writing is absolutely lyrical.
May 30, 2007
not a great book. how bad do the coal companies suck in WV?
September 4, 2007
Book Club
August 5, 2008
West VA family
June 11, 2011
Very cool reading about the places I've been in WV
August 5, 2011
This is an excellent book that I have had the pleasure to share with others.
September 26, 2013
"I often thought of my father that summer but did not call because of my own emotional tangle" (p 193).
December 7, 2007
my favorite memoir book of all time
December 13, 2008
An essential read for anyone interested in Appalachian culture.
March 4, 2009
Loved it. Makes me want to do what the author did.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews