The Foxfire Book of Appalachian Women: Stories of Landscape and Community in the Mountain South

by Kami Ahrens (editor)

In 1966 in Rabun County, Georgia, a group of high school English students created the Foxfire magazine, a literary journal that celebrated Appalachian stories, peoples, and culture. The publication was filled with poetry and prose from local students and authors and featured interviews with community members. These oral histories quickly became the focal point of the magazine and, eventually, the material that generated the multivolume Foxfire book series.

Now, pulled from the vast Foxfire archive comes the first volume in the series focused specifically on the lives of Appalachian women. These remarkable narratives illuminate a diverse regional culture held together by the threads that are woven between women and place, and through generations. Told sometimes with humor, sometimes with sadness, but always with a gripping rawness and honesty, the stories recount women's lived experiences from the 1960s to the present. The interviews cover work, family, and community, illuminating Cherokee, Black, and white women's experiences; changes in Appalachian culture; and the importance of relationships in daily life. Reading each interview in this book is almost like joining these women on their porches and in their homes as they take us on a journey through their lives. Taken together, the stories speak against regional stereotypes and offer instead a sampling of the many expressions of these women's strength.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Memoir, American History, Folklore, Biography Memoir, Anthologies

288 pages, Paperback

Published March 7, 2023

Reviews

[Alicia Bayer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been a fan of the Foxfire books for a long time and of how and why they were created. For over 55 years, teachers and editors at Foxfire have tasked Appalachian high school students with interviewing people in the region about everything from foraging to making moonshine to growing up in the mountains. They’ve gathered stories all of these years and have assembled some of the best interviews with women in this book.

I love the diversity of the women in every way. Some of the interviews are from decades ago and the women were born well over a hundred years ago. Their wisdom would be long gone without these sorts of records. Other interviews were very recent. The women range in ages, education, lifestyle and beliefs. There are Black and Cherokee women, women who ran their own companies, women who moved to the area and women born in one room houses in the heart of it.

I loved every single story and am so glad to have gotten to know them all. Highly recommended.

From the afterword—-

“We are proud to continue the Foxfire project to this day, more than fifty-five years later. Each summer, we gather local high school students for an immersive leadership program at the museum and give them the support they need to get into their community and capture the stories of Appalachia. We acknowledge that these stories certainly do not represent all women’s experiences in the region, but we hope to start filling in gaps and sharing untold stories in the coming years. Oral history is inherently biased, but we present these narratives for the lessons they share.”

I read a digital ARC of this book for review.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was absolutely AMAZING. I LOVED hearing of the lives of the different women in this compilation. The one that most stood out to me was the war bride from Italy after WWII. She discussed some of what she went through during and after the war and it was sobering. Respect to anyone who has gone through war and survived. Her ingenuity and tenacity was something!

Also, one of the last stories was of the "Granny Witch". That knowledge that she had and has passed on is nothing short of incredible. There is a lot of wisdom that "civilized" people look down on, but it WORKED. I respect that traditional wisdom.

I could go on and on about how good this book was, but I won't bore you. Suffice it to say, this is a keeper and re-read/listen. The narrator was great and had a good grasp of volume and tone. The women were so generous in sharing their stories and I thank them for that and for those who interviewed them.

5, highly recommended, stars.

My thanks to libro.fm and The University of North Carolina Press for an ALC of this book to listen to and review.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a unique Foxfire book in that it's a collection of specifically women's stories. I liked that they included a few more modern or current stories and would have liked to have had a few more modern ones. It was also nice to have pictures of the women included in their chapters. There were a few common threads particularly with the older stories (women born in the late 1800's and early 1900's) - 1) many of them didn't think women should vote 2) many thought women shouldn't work outside the home at all 3) how important land was to them - more important than money and 4) many thought that they were much happier in their childhood than current/modern day children

Overall, it was an interesting book and a few of the stories I really enjoyed. The stories could be somewhat repetitive or similar so that was the only downside for me. I would really like to visit the Foxfire museum one day that seems like it would be really interesting.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

It felt like I was having coffee (or moonshine) with some of these women as I read their stories.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each chapter is an interview with a different woman. All such a treat to read and a real insight into the lives of the women of Appalachia.

[Inez · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent anthology of Appalachian women’s lives and stories, and historical journalism projects, especially oral histories like these interviews, are so vital and essential to continuing on and preserving cultures. This collection features a diverse range of interviewees and highlights the diversity of Appalachia across race, class, and gender (which is especially significant to counteract the “Appalachia backwoods white hillbilly” stereotype).

Despite the vast diversity between these women interviewed, they all shared a special relationship with the land – all their lives hinged upon that relationship, from the resources the land provided for their houses/food/clothes, to the stories they told, to the work they did. Their stewardship to the land shaped their lives and communities, and linked them together across race, class, and time.

I would have liked if the interview questions were included as well. There were similar threads between all the women’s stories (notably, a common sentiment was how much the younger generation has changed and how they don’t know true hard work anymore, LOL somethings never change), but it would have been interesting to know if the questions were standardized across the sessions or if the interviews were approached with a more conversational style.

[Maria Potts · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to this on audiobook after seeing a copy in a local bookstore in Morgantown, and wow, was it a great purchase! Appalachia has the stereotype of being made up of white folks, but this collection of interviews challenged that stereotype by showing Appalachia through the lens of Black and Cherokee women as well as white women. Such a rich collection of oral histories.

[Aimee Peeling · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspiring book. Strong women. Glad I finished this book in March it feels like a perfect read for Women's History Month.

[Christy Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The stories in this book are pulled from previously published articles and interviews about and by women in Appalachia. It covers history, stories, and tales of joy and sadness, and is a reflection of a culture rapidly on the decline. Women hold their own unique place in Appalachian culture, and it is appropriate that their stories be told in a separate publication. Readers will be fascinated by stories that are to me reminiscent of those I heard from my grandmothers and my mother.
I found similar themes throughout the book. Many of the women talked about raising their own children or how they themselves grew up. The book reflects on the changes in child rearing and how constant the parents' presence was in their lives, and the lack of that in today's children’s lives.
This book is about Appalachia so, of course, it includes the mountains. These ladies were from Georgia, but one would find the same thing if they interviewed anywhere in the Appalachian range. I echo their thoughts. The mountains have been a constant in my life. Looking over my shoulder seeing their hazy blue majesty makes life’s trials and even its joys seem small. They loom large to those of us in their shadow.
Cooking and sewing were a big part of the lives of these ladies. They sewed garments that clothed their families and constantly repaired damaged clothing. They also kept the family warm and told their stories thru the artistry of quilts. Appalachian women often demonstrated their creativity in the quilts they made for their families. Made from scraps, these works of art were created and are still prized by their families today. It is a culture that wasted nothing and found emerged beauty in what most now consider trash.
Most of the women of Appalachia knew how to cook from scratch. They canned, they preserved, and they used everything from the meat they butchered. Wheat was a prized commodity; corn was the basis for their bread and sorghum for their sweetening. They bought little and what they did have to get elsewhere was usually thru bartering and swapping.
The book talks of church and caring for others in the community during hard times. It talks of children who worked and held responsibilities within the home, something that is lacking in today's world. It talks of playing on Sunday afternoon, outside where imagination was the best and biggest part of childhood. There are stories of ghosts, tales of death, and those who went away to the big cities to work.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It seeks to preserve the stories of the women of a culture rapidly disappearing. Thanks to #netgalley#FoxfireBookofAppalachianWomen for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Michelle Kidwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Foxfire Book of Appalachian Women
Stories of Landscape and Community in the Mountain South
by Ahrens, Kami
07 Mar 2023
University of North Carolina Press
Biographies & Memoirs | History | Nonfiction (Adult)


I am reviewing a copy of The Foxfire Book of Appalachian Women through The University of North Carolina Press and Netgalley.



The year was 1966, In Rabun County, Georgia a group of high school English students created the Foxfire magazine, a literary journal that celebrated Appalachian stories, peoples, and culture. The publication was filled with poetry and prose from local students and authors and featured interviews with community members.


The oral traditions of Appalachia soon became the focal point of the magazine and, eventually, the material that generated the multivolume Foxfire book series.


Pulled from the vast Foxfire archive comes the first volume in the series focused specifically on the lives of Appalachian women. These remarkable narratives bring to light a diverse regional culture held together by the threads that are woven between women and place, and through generations. Told sometimes with humor, sometimes with sadness, but always with a gripping rawness and honesty, the stories recount women’s lived experiences from the 1960s to the present.


In this book the interviews cover work, family, and community, illuminating Cherokee, Black, and white women’s experiences; changes in Appalachian culture; and the importance of relationships in daily life. Reading each interview in this book is almost like joining these women on their porches and in their homes as they take us on a journey through their lives. Taken together, the stories speak against regional stereotypes and offer instead a sampling of the many expressions of these women’s strength.


I give The Foxfire Book of Appalachian Women five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

*This book was received as an Advanced Reader's Copy from NetGalley.

The Foxfire books are always a treat. Born from the oral histories of Appalachia, they collect the folklife narratives that people in the area can offer. This book follows that trend, focusing on the women of Appalachia.

While you may have someone in mind when you think of a woman from Appalachia, you'd only be half right. The women of Appalachia are varied and from different backgrounds, although they share commonalities, a sense of spirit, community, and hard work. The narratives in this book include crafters, Black Americans, a transplant from Italy, someone from Latinx heritage, and much more. And their stories span decades (the book moves up through the birth dates of these women).

I thought the book was interesting because of the variety of people that it interviewed. These interviews were conducted at different points in time as well, so that while one might talk about texting, another may have never known what that was (nor the interviewer at the time). As mentioned before, they all had a large sense of community and helping each other out; many came from poorer backgrounds and quite a few had such large families! It really makes you think about perspective; coming from a smaller, non-Appalachian family myself I had a very different upbringing from these women.

Because these are interviews, it does tend to have 'train of thought' narrative at times. Which honestly I have a hard time keeping focused on. But that's really a small complaint and more localized to my own reading habits, some people love that style and in that case will really enjoy this book.

Definitely a solid addition to the Foxfire library.

Review by M. Reynard 2022

[Gina Mahalek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Editor Kami Ahrens does a superb job of presenting the riveting, humorous, and sometimes heart-breaking stories of twenty-one Appalachian women, all gathered by Foxfire students beginning in 1966 and concluding in the present day. Ahrens’s deep dive into the Foxfire archives—including books and magazines—brings these extraordinary women’s stories to the fore for the first time. The diversity of voices, the range of experiences, and the cultural changes across time presented here will shatter any preconceived notions or stereotypes about Appalachian women that the reader might bring to this volume.

When I was a bookseller in the mid-1980s, carrying all volumes of the Foxfire Series was an absolute must. This book will join previous Foxfire titles (including The Foxfire Book of Appalachian Cookery, published by UNC Press in 2019) as basic stock in bookstores, as well as in library collections.

The Foxfire Book of Appalachian Women is an essential resource for anyone researching Appalachia, and a great model for those fortunate enough to be able to conduct oral histories with their own elders.

Thanks to the University of North Carolina Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to take an early look at this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pulling from the collection of oral history interviews in the Foxfire archives, this book focuses on the experiences of women. Although the majority of the interviews were conducted in the earlier days of the project, there are some more recent ones, encompassing a surprisingly diverse group of women, including Native Americans, an Italian war bride, and a recent immigrant. As an archivist--but also an Atlantan who travels to the mountains as a tourist--I really appreciated the honesty contained in these interviews, confirming the effect of urbanites taking over the mountain communities, building subdivisions in a new locale. I'm a longtime fan of Foxfire, and enjoyed this new compilation. #TheFoxfireBookofAppalachianWomen #NetGalley

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

The previous Foxfire books have been a treasure trove of information regarding life in the Appalachian Mountains.

This new publication focuses upon women of the Mountains. The inclusion of experiences from White, Black, and Indigenous women in Appalachia weaves a tapestry of the importance of religion, family, and the struggles of everyday life their families faced.

I regret that these Foxfire studies were not done earlier; however, I am thankful that the lives of these women were recorded for future generations to hear. I wish I could pull up a chair on the porch and shuck corn while listening to their experiences and wisdom.

[Lisa Garcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great insight into the lives of the women of Appalachia. Reading real stories of women living in small mountain towns in their own words felt like a gift. The stories these women had to tell, were not actually stories, but their lives. I feel this book was history at its best, told by those that have lived and are still living it. I applaud those that went and interviewed these women and then wrote down their stories. I wish more people would do this as our pasts are becoming forgotten.

Thank you NetGalley, Kami Ahrens and University of North Carolina Press for the ARC of this book which I voluntarily read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Ayre · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was fine. A little repetitive, a lot of these women have the same stories. The women interviewed are from the Lost Generation to Boomers and a lot of their stories were along the lines of "kids these days" and "when I was your age". I expected this to be more focused on Appalachian experiences but I've heard basically these same stories from my Grandparents and their siblings who grew up in the Ozarks.

These women were a product of their time and are prone to say some offensive things, those things have not been left out.

I received an audio book copy of this title from libro.fm as part of their influencer program. I was not required to leave a review.

[Denice Langley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the Foxfire books in school many years ago. My friends and I loved them and would share them. When a new book came out, there was always a line waiting for the opportunity to read the latest articles and stories. This book consists of selected stories of the Appalachian women. The stories of their way of life are starkly different than my Midwest upbringing. The books are an excellent way to provide knowledge to younger readers and serve as a reminder of how much time and technology have changed the way we live.

[Nyla Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Foxfire Book of Appalachian Women Is a much needed addition to the Foxfire series. The simple beauty and strength of each woman is unmatched as they tell their story. We have so much to learn from them. I loved the honesty, faith, and knowledge that each one had. I highly recommend this delightful book. It gets a 5 star rating from me. A copy was provided by Good Reads but these are my honest words.

[Kendra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like all of the Foxfire series, this is a thoughtful work of collecting oral histories. The personalities and lives of each woman comes through as sharp as can be, recounting how they and their families lived in and around Rabun County, The women discuss midwifing, religion, race, poverty, farming, folk medicine, rearing children, work, homemaking, cooking, hunting, and much more. I love what Foxfire does and am so happy to have the voices of these women preserved for the future.

[Eugenia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fascinating read for anyone, whether a Native Us Citizen or an immigrant like me, who wanted to learn more about the way of female life in the Appalachians. I've heard a few stories here and there from friends with family there, but this was a first read where I had a chance to hear real voices, thank you, editors, for putting together a truly inclusive book, with voices of different ages and backgrounds.

[Kaitlyn (ktxx22) Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is genuinely something so comforting hearing from folks who sound like family talk about Appalachia. I love the large swath of time this book covers as well as how diverse all the women throughout are. All different race, religions, and backgrounds and yet these stories of family, traditions, and community are so alike. Highly recommend if you hail from Appalachia or if you currently reside because it’s a comfort and a reminder that our history is important and special.

[Hallie Mcmullen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this compendium of interviews with Appalachian women interviewed mostly in the late 70's. growing up in rural pennsylvania, i've always been fascinated with the wisdom of the area, and to have these words and stories memorialized for generations to come is so special. I appreciate all who went through putting together this labor of love for my learning pleasure.

[Madison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed The Foxfire Book of Appalachian Women. It showcases a diverse assortment of women and their lived experiences while painting a broader picture of Appalachian culture. Alot of our traditions and culture are being lost or replaced, and I really appreciate Foxfire's work in preserving these stories and traditions.

*I received a review copy from the publisher through Netgalley

[Bob Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection of Foxfire interviews with women of Appalachia is heartwarming and interesting. I was about halfway through this book last week and loving every page and story so much that my wife and I packed our bags and visited Rabun County, GA and the Foxfire Museum. Our visit to the museum and various locations mentioned in the book was wonderful, it brought the book and stories to life.

[Hanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish there were more where this book came from! More Appalachian women stories please! Truly remarkable and I pray more oral history is being collected to preserve our unique culture. So very proud to be raised southern Appalachian and this book made me miss home something fierce!

[Amanda Renslow · Rating 3 out of 5]

While some of these stories interested me more than others, they all gave me a better knowledge and perspective of what it means to be an Appalachian woman. I have a deeper appreciation for this region and it's people.

[Sondra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook narrator was good at points but all the voices melded together. Such a great glimpse of people, our shared histories and our connection to place. I really like this series and especially this one had a lot of wisdom to offer.

[Aimee]

DNF. Not because it's not interesting, but because I'd rather have this as a physical book and read a chapter here and there.

Got this after I found the Foxfire cookbook at the LFL. I didn’t read this cover to cover, might at a later date. Hoopla has several of the Foxfire books available.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love all things Appalachia, especially focused on the female perspective. Foxfire is the standard!!!
This is a great compilation of women's stories but I feel that they offer only a limited regional angle. I would like to have had the stories encompass more regions within Appalachia.

[Pam Argot · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book!