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Mountain Voices: A Legacy of the Blue Ridge and Great Smokies
Oral histories capture vanishing lifestyles of Appalachian natives
- GenresNonfiction
320 pages, Paperback
Published March 1, 1997
72 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
July 24, 2009
Panoramic view of the people of Western North Carolina. The book is divided into sections relating to a theme (ex. "school", "religion", "outside influences", etc.) and there are straight quotes taken from natives. A great way to learn about the people and history of the area.
July 21, 2010
This book was a gift from my son and daughter-in-law for Mother's Day.
The images and stories of the mountaineers were very entertaining!
I grew up in the mountains north of Asheville. Until 1978 my family still used a mule and horse to plow. Belle and Ginger. We six children rode in the back of a horse drawn wagon above our home to pick up walnuts to store for winter. The best part was when my Mother would make the first walnut cake from what we had harvested.
Catching fireflies and putting them in jars during summer was the best! Work on our tobacco farm was not easy. My mother used to say we were land rich and cash poor. But I would not give up the times that I and my brothers and sisters had during those late summer evenings in our yard playing Red Rover, tag, baseball, volleyball (using the t.v. antenna line as a net) and looking for the big dipper! We had no t.v. and when we finally got one it could receive in the best of times one channel.
Mountain people are very proud; even today that trait endears them to my heart. My Mother had the best advice as I was growing up; trying to fit in and heading off to college. (The first in my family to do so) She told me "You are as good as anyone else. No one is better than you." I only wish the people who visit the mountains and make judgements could know these people and their traditions. We must keep alive that rich mountain heritage that goes back generations. Respect them. Do not look down on them. Learn from them.
This book did an excellent job of representing this heritage with the respect they deserve.
Thank you Eric and Lauren for bringing me "home" for a wonderful while.
The images and stories of the mountaineers were very entertaining!
I grew up in the mountains north of Asheville. Until 1978 my family still used a mule and horse to plow. Belle and Ginger. We six children rode in the back of a horse drawn wagon above our home to pick up walnuts to store for winter. The best part was when my Mother would make the first walnut cake from what we had harvested.
Catching fireflies and putting them in jars during summer was the best! Work on our tobacco farm was not easy. My mother used to say we were land rich and cash poor. But I would not give up the times that I and my brothers and sisters had during those late summer evenings in our yard playing Red Rover, tag, baseball, volleyball (using the t.v. antenna line as a net) and looking for the big dipper! We had no t.v. and when we finally got one it could receive in the best of times one channel.
Mountain people are very proud; even today that trait endears them to my heart. My Mother had the best advice as I was growing up; trying to fit in and heading off to college. (The first in my family to do so) She told me "You are as good as anyone else. No one is better than you." I only wish the people who visit the mountains and make judgements could know these people and their traditions. We must keep alive that rich mountain heritage that goes back generations. Respect them. Do not look down on them. Learn from them.
This book did an excellent job of representing this heritage with the respect they deserve.
Thank you Eric and Lauren for bringing me "home" for a wonderful while.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews