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I can't remember this book! HELP!
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Appalachian Mountains? It is an autobiography vs. a biography? If it is an autobiography who is telling the story?-- the second oldest girl or a sibling? Love trying to track down this kind of question, so any hints are helpful.
I'm pretty sure it's written as an autobiography by the second-oldest girl. And yes, I think it is the Appalachian Mountains. One of the two older sisters ends up marrying the older neighbor man if that helps.I am having a hard time remembering any other details. Please ask more questions if you need to, it may help me remember.
Think I found it: "Where the Lilies Bloom" by Bill & Vera Cleaver written in 1969. A book of fiction, not an autobiography, Cover is orange with a picture of the main character and siblings in an oval frame in the center of the cover. There have been variations in the cover art over the years with new printings. There was a sequel written in 1977 entitled: Trial Valley.And, it was made into a movie in 1974
Here is the summary of the storyline: Roy Luther, widowed for four years, and his four children - Devola, Mary Call, Romey and Ima Dean - live in the shadows of the Smokey Mountains of North Carolina, they truly a product of the mountains. They used to own the land on which they now sharecrop, they believing Kiser Pease stealing it from them in he paying the back taxes which Roy Luther failed to pay. Devola, the romantic, took over the domestic duties of the household following her mother's passing. However, in Roy Luther knowing of his own imminent passing due to his poor health, he instructs fourteen year old Mary Call, as the practical one - as practical as a fourteen year old can be - to take over his role in the family following his passing, including not to call in any figure of authority in his distrust, and not to allow Devola to marry Kiser, who is sweet on her and Devola who would say yes if left to her own devices. Mary Call takes the directive literally in not informing anyone of authority of their father's passing in fear that she and her siblings would be separated in the foster care system. Trying to hide Roy Luther's death becomes difficult as more and more people want to speak to him, including Kiser in his continuing pursuit of Devola. But Mary Call has to decide how far to honor Roy Luther's dying wishes as she struggles to keep everything together, and as she herself is pulled in other directions.
YES! YES! YES! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Like I said, I couldn't remember much. Some of my memories weren't right but it's been decades since I read that book. Thank you so much!!!! I know where to go if this happens again. Thank you!
You are welcome. I'm a retired librarian & I still love the reference question challenge-- especially when the topic is books.
MJ wrote: "You are welcome. I'm a retired librarian & I still love the reference question challenge-- especially when the topic is books."that is so cool!
It had to be written between 1965 and 1985, I think? It could be as early as '55 but I'm pretty sure they had a truck so I don't know how much earlier it could be. Does anyone have any idea what book this could be, any help would be appreciated.
Thank you so much!