Dr. Blaustein's book is destined to become a standard reference for teachers and students of History, English, American and Ethnic Studies. The author simplifies the complex connections between Appalachian and Scotish traditions. He concludes that despite the pressures from dominant cultures, traditions are as tough as thistles and briers to destroy. Dr. Blaustein applies folklore and oral history techniques to prove that cultural revitalization movements have helped empower people who are oppressed by outside colonial forces. This book is a strong reminder of the power of poetry and music to reinforce and regenerate ethnic identity.

This comparison between the marginalized peoples of Scotland and Appalachia deserves a wider reading than it's likely going to receive. Its theme transcends the treatment of these two groups by "mainstream cultures" and shows how marginalized people in general use their creative skills to rise above discrimination and shame. Blaustein is both a part of the Appalachian culture, having lived in East Tennessee since 1970, and yet removed from it as well, having grown up in Brooklyn. His years in Brooklyn helped him understand the Appalachian mindset, because, as he writes, "the Borough of Brooklyn is to the City of New York what Appalachia is to the United States--marginal, subordinate, and popularly portrayed as uncouth." This book describes the rise of the Appalachian studies movement in the region's colleges and universities and chronicles the growth of Scottish heritage celebrations in the United States, through excerpts from a personal interview with Waynesville, North Carolina, ballad singer and activisit Flora MacDonald Gammon, a driving force behind the annual Highland Games, held on Grandfather Mountain in Western North Carolina. A particularly powerful chapter recounts instances of "colonialism" among public school teachers who derided pupils for usages such as "hit" instead of "it." Blaustein strongly reinforces the notion that dialect is unrelated to intelligence. With the deplorable proposal by CBS to create a hillbilly reality series, this book is especially timely for those who seek to understand, rather than mock, the Appalachian mountain people and their rich and complex culture.

I got to look at this book when I was a student in Dr. Blaustein's class. He is excellent and he is really passionate about his information.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I love descriptive way that Mrs. Hopkins writes. She has created characters that I can not only almost see, but care about. Pax especially is a character I would like to see more of in later books.

Having spent some time in the area where the book is set, it makes me want to do so again.

This book is wonderful. It is a true example of someone living there ideals instead of just preaching them. If you have ever wondered what unconditional love is then read this book. This book is very well written and is a great story for anyone to read. I would highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good story and appreciates the small things.

This book keeps you guessing just enough. The heroine, Freddie, returns to the Appalachian mountains to care for her grandmother who raised her. But Freddie's a mess after seeking her fortune in Phoenix, and Gram's an artistic weaver with a passle of eccentric friends and a mentor in a young gallery owner Pax, who was Freddie's first high school flame. Old hurts keep the two young folks apart as Gram tries to get them together. Then the newspaper reporter from the big city paper tries to make a name for herself by accusing Pax of exploiting the poor mountain artizans and there's a flood and . . . All this, and it's clean.

This book had everything I was looking for - beautiful, full page, color photos of every flower. The design and layout of the book are wonderful, and the full page plant desription and notes is a great read. If you love wildflowers and learning about them, you will love this book

Clear, direct, informed!! This is possibly the handiest and most usable wildflower reference for high country walkers of the eastern U.S. The photos are clearer and with better contrast than any other reference we have.

You do not have to hike the 1,000+ miles of the AT to appreciate this book. These flowers are all over the eastern US. The descriptions are easy to understand and the photos are absolutely magnificent.

There are those writers who, having found what works, rewrite the same novel for the rest of their careers. David Whitman and Weston Ochse are not those writers. With the success of "Scary Rednecks and Other Inbred Horrors", the duo decided to team up once again for this much anticipated sequel. This collection is simply brillant. It's frightening and yet causes aching belly laughs, it makes you want to look away in horror and repulsion, but you simply cannot. The characters are warm, loyal, stupid, funny and surprisingly insightful. The depth and talent in these stories cannot be overlooked. If you buy this book you are not only guaranteed a good read but also a wild ride along the river of humanity.

These two maniacs read some of this book at the Horrorfind Convention in 2002 and had the audience on the floor in hysterics. Droll, witty, over-the-top black humor (and genuine scares) from two of the brightest new minds in genre fiction. "Scary Rednecks and Other Inbred Horrors" was black-humored and amusing, but this collection manages to outshine it. Not to be missed.

Don't even think about leaving home without this book. My constant companion and 2nd in importance only to my food bag.

The Appalachian Trail Data Book, updated annually, has proven time and time again to be the indispensable Guidebook for those contemplating spending any length of time hiking on the A.T. Among thru-hikers, (those attempting to hike the entire Trail in one continuous journey) the book's usage approaches 100%. This is excellent testament to the worth of this little volume, and it's easy to see why the book carries the imprint of the Appalachian Trail Conference, the organization charged with the care, protection, and maintenance of the Trail.

In an easy-to-read format, the Data Book contains everything the hiker needs to know in order to plan their day's travels, and in order to know what lies ahead of them. It'll tell you where shelters and established campsites are located; where principal water sources can be found; where road crossings and towns are located; and where primary stores, re-supply sources, and lodging places are located. Other works, most notably the Applachian Trail Thru-Hikers' Companion, will provide more detailed information on these matters, but it is the Data Book that is the work used most frequently on a day-to-day basis by those actually hiking the Trail. Also, the fact that editor Daniel Chazin meticulously updates and fact-checks the book each year in order to take into account changes on the Trail, ensures the hiker that this is the most accurate work of its sort on the market.

A key addition and improvement to this year's edition is keying and matching of sections of the Data Book to the official A.T. maps, i.e., the ones used by most hikers. This makes it much easier for the hiker to locate their actual position on the Trail; also, as always, the book's mileage tables are printed in order to facilitate simple reading by both Northbound AND Southbound hikers, so it can be used by everyone, regardless of the direction of their hike.

In short, if you're going to spend any serious ammount of time on the Trail, this little book will prove to be incredibly useful to you, tho one may well wish to purchase other works with "expanded" information. One should, of course, also use the best maps available, regardless of the length of your intended trip. But if you bring ONE guidebook with you on your trip, bring this one.

In a few weeks, I'll be leaving to hike, for the seventh time, the Trail in its entirety. I would not think of setting out without a copy of the 2002 A.T. Data Book, and neither should anyone else.

I live near the Smoky Mountains, and was blown away by the number of campsites I didn't know existed within a 50 mile radius of my city. This is a great book for weekend trips or a small vacation on the cheap. Especially good for novice campers (like me!) who want to get away without going totally backcountry. This is a beautiful area and, though crowded in spots, this guide points you to some of the more secluded and well-maintained campsites.

I bought this book and, first try, camped in the nicest campsite that I have ever driven a vehicle into (still can't beat some backpacking sites, but backpacking sites are not the subject of this book). Besides a descriptive narrative for each recommended campsite, there are very helpful "Key Information" and "To Get There..," sections. Use this book once and it will be worth the money.

If you like noise, crowds of people near your campsite, large RV's with cable TV, or think the best thing about the Smoky Mountains is Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, this book is not for you. If the your ideal vacation includes none of the above listed things, you will enjoy Johnny Molloy's guide to exploring and enjoying the Smoky Mountains. Well written and well researched, this book is the best I've discovered on finding off-the-beaten path campsites in the nation's most visited national park.

Scholars should give this book an A+ for breadth of coverage and depth of analysis . . . but as a lay person in the field of academe, I celebrate its honesty and passion. While the chapters are uneven, each portrays a working writer who, for one reason or another, claims her Appalachian heritage as foundational in her life. By connecting with the rootedness of these widely-varying women, my own life --and spirit-- are immensely enriched. This book adds a unique perspective to the "spirituality of place" genre that includes such popular writers as Kathleen Norris and Thomas Berry. Take a chance -- read it! If it touches you as it did me, it may change your life.

It's amazing how much work the women in this collection have done, with so little national recognition. Dyer points out that none of them is represented in the new revision of "The Norton Anthology of Literature by Women," for example. Prejudices about Appalachia have prevented many readers from realizing what a gold mine (coal mine?) of literature the region offers. Hats off to Joyce Dyer for helping to bring this literature to the prominence it deserves. P.S. Also a very valuable read for anyone interested in writers and where writing comes from.

Blue Ridge Shadows is the first collection of fictional stories that I could not put down until I finished the entire book. Her character discriptions had me wondering if I knew these folks or if just maybe, these were my relatives.

All in her collection held my attention and my imagination. Davis Lee, Chanson Triste, and Dancing on Graves were three favorites. The Jacket, continues to haunt me and is by far my favorite. I attended a reading by Duncan and asked her to write a sequel with a different ending. Something touched a nerve in me. Maybe I saw too much of myelf in some aspects in Mason, maybe I knew a Mason.

A wonderful book for almost any age level. I highly recomend anyone reading this. We want more, Julia.

This is the first collection of fiction from Iris Press, a small publisher in Oak Ridge, TN, which has previously published a number of substantial "literary" poets, mostly from the region.

Duncan's abilities sparkle in this collection. Her prose is precise, seamless, and completely authentic. The reader never gets the feeling that Duncan is just an observer of her characters. The intimate relationship that she has with the blue collar people of her region is clearly demonstrated over and over in her loving presentation of these "ordinary" lives.

While "Isaac's Room," "Dancing on Graves," and "Davis Lee" are the best of this volume, there are many other of these dark stories that will linger with the reader long after the book has been finished.

Duncan is another undiscovered talent that deserves the attention of a NY publisher. To its literary crown, North Carolina adds another star.

Brier Country catches the spirit of today's Appalachia. Palencia does not depend on historical nostalgia; rather she depicts the interweaving of traditions and the modern world, showing both their tensions ands their harmony. She has a talent for the exact word and rhythm of words. She can combine humor and horror in a character such as the college president in "Man on Horseback" or a situation as in "Briers". She writes memorable lines and creates scenes I shall never forget. Would that every reader could enjoy these stories.

Memorable stories; memorable characters. "Guard Your Man" is one of the best women's sports stories I've ever read. "The Three Graces" is one of the most moving father/daughter stories I've ever read. This writer seems deeply grounded in the best classical 19th century U.S. short story tradition and at the same time completely modern. Her prose is gorgeous. I love when a writer writes with respect and insight about characters and places often treated satirically by pseudosophistacated urban provincials. This is a really terrific book. If you like short stories, read it; if you are interested in Appalacia, read it; if you like good writing, read it. My congratulations to this author.

Bruce Lessels did a nice job of augmenting Gabler's original work. This book will replace my dog-eared copy of Gabler's book in a place on honor on the backseat of my car. The extended depth and recent scouting updates on the river included within are great. My only complaint is that the pictures included in the book are not contained on the same pages of the river being reviewed. All-in-all a worthwhile purchase.

If you paddle whitewater in the northeastern United States, or intend to, this should be the first guide you purchase. Bruce has updated and extended Ray Gabler's venerable "New England White Water River Guide", greatly improving on that classic. You can supplement it with volumes of the AMC's state-by-state "river guide" series, which have information on many less interesting rivers, but there's enough here for a lifetime of delightful paddles.