I don't get the feeling McCoy has actually tried a lot of the things she writes about here. A similar Llewellyn offering, Silver Ravenwolf's HexCraft/American Folk Magic, was, at least, based partly on the author's own experiences using the methods described in the book; McCoy, on the other hand, appears to have written a long research paper presented in a pretty cover.

There isn't much in here that can't be found in other sources. Vance Randolph's Ozark Mountain Magic and Folklore [title?] is more interesting and was all collected firsthand from mountain people living in the 1930s and 40s. I suggest that those who are interested in American folk magic pick that one up instead, or take a look at Ravenwolf's book. This one is pretty much just a collection of secondhand material.

This book is a great introduction to Appalachian folklore from a witch's perspective, however as a book on useful magic it falls a little short. The author's attitude seems best conveyed with the paraphrased quote "when i decided to write a book on appalachia, i had no idea i'd have to dig through dozens of rare or out of print books," Indeed, with just a little effort, more practical magic can be dug up from the region, which the author didn't even visit to write this book. Furthermore, i was especially disapointed by the chapter on "death, dying, and haints" in relation to the original title of this book _In a Graveyard at Midnight_ (but then i own a newer edition and perhaps info was taken out when they changed the title?). The book _Albion's Seed_ does a better job of showing appalachia's cultural roots in scotland and northern england. Still, i have to give _Mountain Magic_ 3 stars because of McCoy's treatment of the Appalachian region and it's people.(of whom, i count myself to be among) Though she does romanticize the area's celtic roots a bit, she definately portrays the settlers of past and present in a good light, does alot to dispell mythes about hillbillies, and explains exactly why the mountains are the way they are. Most importantly of all, however, she raises a very good point, even if she doesn't elaborate on it too well, that one does not need to look to ireland or the brittish isles to find magic, or even celtic and anglo-saxon culture, but that perhaps the best place to look for these things is in our roots right here beneath our American feet.

Edain McCoy, a descent of the famous Kentucky family who feuded with the Hatfields, is an alumna of the University of Texas and studied for her graduate degree in Cultural History at Indiana University. She is the author of several reference books on Pagan and spiritual subjects and is also a practicing Wiccan.

She knows her subject well.

Appalachia was first populated by the Cherokee Indians, then came the Spanish explorers, and much later the English, Scots and Irish, many of them bringing with them the stern religious teachings of their native lands mingled with a sprinkling of pre-Christian Celtic beliefs.

McCoy's Mountain Magick paints a relevant picture of the folk beliefs still found in parts of Appalachia, and it is written with humor and compassion. It is a valuable record of the old ways and the wisdom from a part of the country modern times has, for the most part, passed by.

Here you will learn the signs the country people use to predict weather and garden; spells for love and self-protection and simple remedies still used in this land where doctors are too few and not always trusted. McCoy also includes magical spells to aid in fertility and divination, recipes used and other insightful information about the area and the unique people who live here.

Mountain Magick is a valuable resource for anyone interested in learning about Appalachia and its people.

I took four of his courses. English 101 was pretty good. 102 was great. 131 and 132 [were bad]. Read the book, ...

Bound For Shady Grove is Steven Harvey's celebration of the music arising from the southern Appalachian mountain communities. Harvey's essays derive from the four seasons of a life in music. The early pieces describe playing music in the log house of friends born and raised in the mountains, or entering a banjo contest and losing with style. Then there are his essays about fiddles and the devil, homemade instruments and homemade weapons, a trip to England to trace mountain songs back to their elusive sources. As Bound For Shady Grover progresses, the mood darkens, with essays exploring the connection between music and resentment, loss, and death. Harvey's explorations showcase descriptions of music, hills, and people, and take the reader just where the music and the mountains took him. Bound For Shady Grove is very highly recommended and rewarding reading for students of Appalachian history, culture, and music.

'Bound for Shady Grove' is a collection of personal insites into music and life. The music and words of some Appalachian ballads are woven with events in Steven Harvey's life, playing in a banjo competition, a trip to England, recovering from heart surgery. I found an instant kinship in his outlook.

As a college student from Appalachia writing about my area, I found a suprising lack of contemporary research and writing on Appalachia, even in my Ivy League college's library. Yesterday's People, although written in 1980, uses books from the late 1800s and early 1900s for some of its sources. Comments include things like, "raised in a society of so much 'known', there is little stimulation--there is no desire or skill for meeting the new and different." and "Childhood seems to be only a waiting period until adulthood is attained, adolescence is in many ways the high point of life." While some of the sterotypes Weller speaks of in this book are generally true, I feel that there are too many misinformed opinions for this book to be of much worth. It is dangerous for this book to be an "outsider's" only source of knowledge on the beautiful and rich culture of Appalachia.

Weller's book does an excellent job of portraying the subtleties, and sometimes things not so subtle, of the culture of West Virginia and of a large part of the rest of southern Appalachia. West Virginia is the only state almost entirely lying within Appalachia so it is a good representation of the region. All the other states in the region are no more than about one-third in Appalachia. The anecdotes about reactions to events ring true and are very revealing. As a native West Virginian I got new insights into the culture from which I came.

This is one of the finest books of its' genre. Applalacian poor whites are for the most part a secretive and difficult people. Their mores and folkways are a puzzle for some and unrecognised by most. This author has furnished a touchstone upon which everyone from social workers to public defenders can gain insight. The book was first recommended to me by a superintendant of a correctional institution after a particularly senseless and brutal murder involving an number of this type of individuals. Since then, I have bought several copies of this book, loaned them out and none have been returned.

Jo Carson lives and works in East Tennessee, and her work, in this book, has been taking overhard conversations around her, modifying the language into something that approximates folk poetry, and writing it down. Normally, this is a recipe for disaster. However, Carson's ear is finely-tuned enough that what comes out more often than not does resemble both rural dialect and poetry. And that in itself is more than enough reason to consider this a noteworthy book. But every once in a while, the stories she tells are the kind that tug at the heart without the naked appeal of obvious emotional manipulation (though there's certainly some of that here, too; if you go into this not expecting to find the cliched "boy, I wish people wouldn't treat East Tennessee folk like hicks," you're going to be disappointed-- but Carson does amnage to keep it to a minimum). A good, solid volume that's worth a quick read. ***

Don't dismiss the complexity of these "simple" poems too early. Jo Carson's STORIES I AIN'T TOLD NOBODY YET gives voice to an often misunderstood culture, and when we listen to this voice, we learn that economic differences are overshadowed by similarities of dreams, wants, and concerns. Carson's collection of poems might be described as an oral history in verse. These aren't the rhyming poems of greetings cards or the poised verse of classic poetry anthology. These are poems in the style of someone talking to you, or, perhaps even more powerfully, the style of overhearing others in a candid conversation. (Carson gives credit to overhearing many of these dialogues.) The result is simple language addressing complex themes. Loosely divided into main sections like Family and Work, the poems center on rural peoples' perspectives. Sure, economic hardship is a common theme, but more universal themes of family, responsibility, and dignity are also addressed. Yes, the simple language of the poems allows for a quick read. But a reader would be wise to give the collection a second read. And a third. And so on. There are layers to these simple dialogues, and even lessons to be learned. Literature can sometimes bridge the gap of misunderstanding between groups, cultures, etc. Although simple in language, this is literature that can do just that.

I am thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail right now (today I'm resting in town and using a computer at a church). I started with this book and found that it did not work well for me on the AT. It has lots of stuff that just isn't needed by a thru-hiker which makes it sooooooo heavy and it is hard to follow. I switched to wingfoot's handbook, which is more condensed and to the point. I got criticized by some people who were using this one, but it's one of the best things I have done to make my thru-hike successful so far. I threw my companion away and haven't regretted it. Get a handbook!

This guide is written by dozens of volunteers who actually hike the sections of trail they report on each year. This is the only AT guide that has first-hand knowledge of the trail every year. If you want second-hand, outdated, and fictional information you should use Wingfoot's book. The Companion lists all the services along the AT, not just the ones that have paid a fee to be listed. Get the Companion, it's the complete guide!

This is the best guide for A.T. hikers period.

This book paints a disturbingly distorted portrait of a people who have been constantly misrepresented by our society. I was born in Eastern Kentucky, in the Appalachian Mountains, and am personally offended by this book. Adams and Smith deliberately sought out to find the most backward people they could, and pass them off to the rest of the nation as mainstream Appalachia. Portraits slaps the face of everyone from the Appalachian area, and keeps the extremely unfair stereotype of Appalachia alive. It is a very culturally biased piece of work, and both Adams and Smith should have known better.

Shelby Lee Adam's doesn't, as some accuse him of, train his camera on the families of Eastern Kentucky to ridcule or expose them in their poverty or backwardness. Instead, because of his devotion to capturing in an authentic way authentic people, he simply and lovingly captures their reality. Is the poverty easy to look at? No. Is the "backwardness" easy to understand? Not very. But Adam's neither condemns nor condones his subjects; he simply and carefully records. We should all be grateful for that.

I grew up in central KY, just 1 1/2 hours away from Appalachian KY. While the stories and families depicted in these photos are quite true to their nature, it may offer a skewed view of Eastern Kentucky life. Not everyone over there lives in the condition that my dad and I jokingly call "Squalor in the 'holler." However, it happens to be the part that is fascinating. I think the purpose of this book was not to represent Eastern KY, but to represent the intense poverty of the region and to share a glimpse of a lifestyle that most of us cannot comprehend. This book shows what people want to see of Appalachian KY. It's what they are looking for, and it is delivered. That is a place that time has left behind. It's one of the poorest regions in the U.S. due to several certain factors and it is fascinating to see how other folks live. It is a different world over there. If you enjoy thinking about human geography and sociology, this book may welllead to hours of thought.

This is a poorly written book with minimal content concerning the trail or hiking in general. I bought the book because of the title and was subjected to bad poetry and worse prose. His ramblings about religion and philosophy were a poor substitute for actual trail expierences. Give me my money back!

Male menopause is correct. I do not comprehend how the author made it. Dont' waste your time unless are like me and just read everything about the AT you can get your hands on. This book is poorly written and long-winded.

This is not a movie with forced humor and stunt people. A retired military man provides an involving recount of his AT hike. I have tried to read many books on the AT (some were unbearable, so I did not finish them). This was one of the few full-reads, and a good one at that. In comparison to all other books, I might give this a four-stars rating, but seeing how bad some of the competition is, I have to give it a five-stars rating. See you on the trails!

Just as disappointing as Curran's "TheAppalachian Trail: A Journey of Discovery." Much is promised, but little is delivered.

I personally have bought every book possible concerning the Appalachian Trail while planning my thru-hike. However, if you are concerned about money, or wasting time reading for that matter, I would advise not to buy any of Jan Curran's books. I have read all three of his on the AT and have found them very boring, to the point of difficult to finish. Other books out there are much worthwhile.

Nonetheless, this book would be voted as the best of the three, with decent general purpose advice for long distance hikes. But there is nothing unique about the information. Pick up any hiking book and it will provide the same background. It just seems to skim the surface.

The book provides a general overview of the many issues that face Appalachian Trail thru-hikers. It is well-organized, beginning with the trail's history, moving through planning and equipment/food, injuries and first aid, etc. Also covered are animal issues, sanitation and etiquette. The final chapter lists some information about portions of the trail which might be interesting to those who only wish to hike certain pieces of the trail.

Most useful are the appendices, which provide necessary information about equipment manufacturers, Post Offices near the trail, ATC trail-maintaining clubs and maps.

The book could be more detailed, however it does provide a lot of information in a small format.

The author, strangely for an expert, does not present a coherent vision of the history of the area. Little nuggets of information are strung along, as if he has cut-and-pasted this history together, without any real mastery of the subject. The pace is consequently choppy, as bits and pieces are seemingly added as they occur to him, without plan. The space allotted to each topic is equally random. It is possible that these problems have their roots in his straining to be seen as a revisionist historian, tidying up the history of Appalachia for the tastes and prejudices of 21st-century readers. The choppiness allows for suspicious omissions or digressions. This makes him appear to be an unreliable, uncertain source of information about the region. The editing makes the book seem even more unreliable. Quotations are not cited, and what sort of editor lets through the use of "of course" multiple times on a single page?

A HISTORY OF APPALACHIA is a well-written, history of Appalachia. The introduction notes that "....there are those who reserve as Appalachia only those areas of the Southern Appalachians that are 'real mountains." The author's definition is broader including "all of the provinces of the Southern Appalachian" and extends to western Pennsylvania.

The book is organized in three parts. Part 1, titled THE CONTEST FOR APPALACHIA, covers the period from the Indians through the American Revolution. The author writes "The principal class who migrated to America after 1715 were mostly folk who shared a....desire for land to support their basically simple lives." These migrants passed through the coastal area and settled in the backwoods where small acreages were cleared and became basically a predominately yeoman (farm) economy.

Part 2, THE NEW NATION AND THE APPALACHIAN BACKWOODS, covers the period through the Civil War. While Appalachia supported the Revolution, they had no representation at the constitutional debates of 1787-1789. "By 1800 quite a different European-derived society had developed along the Appalachian frontier" and the author notes that a "snug little rivalry" developed between the east and west sections of the eastern states. Appalachia supported the War of 1812 when loyalty soared in the Appalachian backwoods but divisive issues would soon appear.

The text notes "most small farmers in East Tennessee, northern Georgia, West Virginia and eastern Kentucky usually identified more strongly with the....Union." These areas were often identified with the Radical Republican during Reconstruction.; however, by 1876 the ex-Confederates had again assumed control. The text briefly discusses the feuds of the era noting many were active "before the Civil War."

The author notes that after the Civil War in the remoteness of mountain regions far from adequate transportation ", a remarkable similar way of life developed in Appalachia's most isolated sections" which resulted in increased isolation reinforcing a stereotype about a 'strange and peculiar people."

MODERN APPALACHIA, Part 3, narrates the period from Post-Reconstruction to the year 2000 covering the Industrial Revolution, the Depression, the War on Poverty, and finally the dawning of the Information Age. As the text notes "Appalachia has always been a complex area." From "1865 to 1920, Appalachia was discovered" and defined "by literate America who were northern writers. The picture that emerged was often grossly inaccurate, based on stereotype and self-serving characteristics." For example, "....the word hillbilly did not appear until 1900 when a New York Journal reporter defined such people as 'free and untrammelled white' citizens living in the hills' with 'no means to speak of, 'who dresses as he can,'drinks whiskey, and fires off his revolver as fancy takes him."

During the machine age the mineral exploitation of the area took place and in many areas of the Great Valley significant industrial developments followed the railroads with an area like the Kanawha Valley in West Virginia becoming what was called "the American Ruhr. "By 1900 all the coalfields in West Virginia....were in full production." Lumbering also became an important Appalachian industry.

Tourism was another commercial activity that invaded the cultural traditional of Appalachian society, aided by the development of the National Forests of Appalachia and the emergence of The Great Smoky Mountain National Park.. However, the exploitation of region's fossil fuels was the major industrial invasion.

The author states that Appalachia went from a plutocracy to the Welfare State and back again to the present governing by the rich and powerful. With the collapse of the country's market system during the Depression new life came into the yeoman system of self-sufficient agriculture. "Because of the great economic maladjustments in Appalachia's major industries....large numbers of people were able to qualify for welfare benefits"....with the nations welfare system growing out of New Deal reform measurers. The War on Poverty, 1964 to 1968, resulted in 1965 of the formation of the Appalachian Regional Commission which remains active today benefiting the region. Regarding welfare reform, the author makes the interesting observation that "Even yet in Appalachia, it may be that the only reform that can succeed must be seen through the lens of yeomanry."

The text notes "...the region's society is far more diversified than the traditional picture painted as a stable enclave of Anglo-Saxon, Scotch-Irish, and Germans." The 1930s and WWII brought important changes to the Appalachian culture. During WWII, there was a mass migration of Appalachians north for employment. Also, there was the wartime industrial growth in Appalachian fossil fuel extraction and the development of the chemical industry in West Virginia. Unfortunately, the text notes "The regional picture in Appalachia since the 1980s has been generally gloomy."

Chapter 13 discusses the Appalachian Mind noting that "....the area began to find its own scholarly voice soon after World War II" and states this scholarship betrays a strong anger against American corporate capitalism and "....attests to the kind of tragic picture that Appalachian history presents."

The final chapter discusses the future of Appalachia noting "As coal and agriculture,...., move into further decline, the essentially insatiable industries of education, health services, recreation, and tourism will provide the major job opportunities in the future." Regarding the future, the text concludes " There is, and in fact has always been, a place for a viable, yeomanesque-style of life that is attractive to those unwilling or unable to join the mainstream's affluence." Shades of today's politician's statements about "the family farm."

The Source listing for this book is excellent. Instead of a long alphabetical and/or type listing of sources, sources are listed separately for each chapter so that the reader can determine the author's sources plus read in further depth if desired.

The only technical error I noted is on page 200 where the author stated that the nuclear fuel for the atomic bombs was processed "At its vast Centrifugal Plant, Oak Ridge...." The fuel for these bombs was processed at the Oak Gaseous Diffusion Plant NOT at a Centrifugal Plant. An Oak Ridge Centrifugal test loop wasn't built until the 1970s

I am fully aware of the late Ed Garvey's contributions to the Appalachian Trail and to his Trail club. But frankly, the man had no business writing or even telling a story. This book was a boring, failed last-ditch effort to recapture the glory of earlier hikes.
Pet peaves:
* Garvey comes off as an elitist Appalachian Trail Conference insider, and is constantly yapping away on some insane minutia about ATC governance, the history of the Trail, and his own private involvement with it over the years. Some of his hiking friends are frequent companions on the Trail, and he never tires of dropping their names, or indeed of any other perfect stranger he meets, never to be mentioned again. The elistism or snobbishness is evident in some descriptions of other hikers, especially those that weren't falling all over themselves to be friendly or act as he would have. I think Garvey hiked not for solitude in the wilds, but for the feeling of belonging to a club.
* The mind-numbing details are infuriating by the end of the book. The author obsessively counts everything: blowdowns, steps to the privy, pieces of litter, number of times he gets up in the night to relieve himself, etc. The comments that Garvey makes about trail maintenance are also tiresome: he talks on and on about the acceptability (or not) of water bars, blazing, relocations, shelters, springs, switchbacking, dangerous rocks and roots in the path, overgrown vegetation, unsavory businesses and along the way, and on and on and on. It's enough to make you want to throttle the guy and throw his book in the fireplace!
* The most unbearable thing about this book is the short shrift Garvey gives to his surroundings and the emotional aspects of hiking. I would rather hear about the beauty of a sunset and its effects on him.
This book misses the whole point of hiking the Appalachian Trail. It definitely misses the point of writing about it.

Having read the works of Bill Bryson and Jan Curran (which I would recommend) I was looking for an additional perspective on the AT experience and was disappointed by this book. This book is Edward B. Garvey's trail log for his hike on the AT. It is (over) filled with his day-to-day activities such as when he woke, who he met on the trail, what he ate, and when he went to bed. Unfortunately, there isn't much else. A few short descriptions such as "it was a nice view from the top" but the real disappointment of this book is that it fails to put the reader on the trail with him to experience what it is to hike the AT. If the writer would have done that, this book would have been worthwhile.

To get the full appreciation out of this book, You realy need to read Ed Garveys other book (Appalachian Hiker) This is a man who Realy cared for the AT and all the people who are a part of it, no matter what there function! The book is written in a journal format, This is like reading his diary! you begin to feel like you know his limitations! and his Pet Peaves!..even know what Beer he Likes!. Even at age 75 This man still tried to walk the whole AT and help to make it better for the next hiker! and if you look at the AT today and compare it to what it must have looked like back in 1970 when Mr. Garvey wrote his first book, you can see where his Books and dedication has indeed made a BIG difference in the way people look at, and take care of the AT!
If you have never read Mr. Garveys other Books, and are under the age of 40, This book may be too Real Life for you! Its not full of ( I almost got hit by Lightening while chasing off a pack of wolves ) kind of adventure. But what it is full of is a glimps into a truly caring man who realy Loved the AT and The people who made the AT worth hiking!