The Handywoman Stories
by Lenore McComas Coberly
Swallow Press, 2002
A
collection of unique short stories set in Appalachia, these tales
are driven by characters shaped by the place they have lived
most of their lives. They deal with economic depression, mine
and war deaths, the arrogance of community leaders, and what
might have been, but was not, a stultifying environment. Their
tools are resourcefulness, steadfast friendship, and humor.
The stories describe the civil defense preparations of a small West Virginia town in World War II, the same town years later dealing with an influx of hippies, and the return of a woman to her roots after decades up north.
The title story, "The Handywoman," depicts Ruby Louise as a locally famous woman able to do anything from comforting the dying to making slipcovers. A friend relates her lifelong friendship with Ruby Louise, saying "She made things beautiful and I made them work. We thought the same about life and about death, too, how temporary they are."
"Garnet" tells the quiet, deceptively simple story of a backwoods girl. A widower trades used tools to a poor family and gets in return a young girl with bad teeth, a wonderful work ethic, great cooking abilities, and a love for children.
She gains respect in the community through goodness, hard work, and sheer endurance.
The 20 stories are arranged chronologically and feature warm characters who return to be seen from different angles and stages of life.
A Valley Called Canaan: 1885-2002
by Edwin Daryl Michael
McClain Printing Co., 2002
The
prologue begins with a brief history and description of the Canaan
Valley. The story describes the natural history of wetland wildlife
that inhabit Canaan Valley, set against a background of major
events that occurred from 1885 through 2002. Canada geese, brook
trout, woodcock, wood frogs, and snapping turtles are some of
the wildlife featured in this novel that blends human history
with natural history.
Chelydra and Chelonia, the main characters (snapping turtles), are followed in the depths of the Valley through stages in their lives, which include major environmental alterations. Logging, railroads, fires, farming, the Davis power project, and even a wildlife biologist affect the animals in the area. Although not all projects had a direct impact on the turtles, most had an indirect effect.
Aquatic animals were no match for the log floats in 1888 that tore down beaver dams, quickly flooding their abodes, and pushing snapping turtles and any other animal unfortunate enough to be in the water, downstream toward the Blackwater River.
These events and others are chronicled and show the effects humans had on animals, how populations declined and regenerated themselves, and how closely intertwined the animals are in the 36,000 acre ecosystem.
The book provides glimpses into the author, a professor emeritus of wildlife management at WVU, who studied the Canaan Valley through research, surveys, canoeing, and hiking the area for over 25 years. Pen-and-ink sketches illustrate many of the events and wildlife featured in the book.
We Are Not Afraid
by Homer Hickam
Health Communications, Inc., 2002
Inspired
by the tragic events of 9-11, and by requests of audience members
at his speaking engagements, Homer Hickam offers advice on how
not to be afraid.
Again writing about Coalwood, West Virginia, and using its residents and their experiences as examples (and contributors), Hickam describes the people of Coalwood as filled with a sense of purpose and driven by a set of attitudes about living that made them resilient and fearless in the face of everyday danger. Hickam says "we are proud of who we are, we keep our families together, we stand up for what we believe, and we trust in God but rely on ourselves."
Through his recollections and those of other Coalwood residents, they relate their antidote to fear, both real and imagined. Hickam urges you to love yourself and others, to trust and be trusted, and to be vigilant but never afraid.
To be unafraid, you must be connected to something larger than yourself, and it needs to be something good and fine. But there is something more you need to do. You need to tell stories and you need to listen to them, too. Stories are how you will learn who you are and become connected to the strength all of us need to survive and prosper in the world today.
The folk of Coalwood are a tight-knight community, and they care for one another like a large family might. The author uses stories so they might be used as a model for others to live a good and happy life.