At Home in the Heart of Appalachia: A Memoir

by John O'Brien

Book Overview

John O'Brien was raised in Philadelphia by an Appalachian father who fled the mountains to escape crippling poverty and family tragedy. Years later, with a wife and two kids of his own, the son moved... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0385721390
• ISBN13: 9780385721394
• Release Date: September 2002
• Publisher: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 0.67 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.2" x 7.9"

Customer Reviews

Beautiful, Piognant

I love to read, but im not much of a writer. However, i was so moved after reading this book that i had to share my thoughts. For years I have struggled with labels while traveling outside of the my home state of WV. If people even know that the state exists i get comments such as "Are you married to your Uncle? Ha, Ha" I would get so frustrated because these people have absolutely no idea what they are talking about, Where do they get this?!? O'Brian does an excellent job of explaining where the stereotypes of our region origiate and how some people then unknowingly act the part of the stereotype. I had to read this book for a college course, but i could not put it down. First, it is interesting in that I am from the area his book describes and I can identify with so many of his feelings about his home. Second, unlike many reviews at this site, I believe that his life story is essential to the book. His dads relationship is described to aid in the understanding of the region and the people, and i personally found his introspection honest and refreshing, instead of trying to remove himself from the book he put his soul in it.

This Book Touched My Heart...

Having spent the first 19 years of my life in Appalachia and still returning every few years, I found this book to be extremely insightful and thought provoking. I did not understand the class systems of McDowell County WV in the 50's & 60's. Having lived in a neighborhood of "Haves" I had little contact with the "Have Nots." I did not understand at that time how important it was to my parents to not be seen as "hillbillies" and why those living in poverty and squalor (prior to the establishment of welfare) were so distasteful to them. I wasn't aware of these stereotypes until I went to college and met people from New York who found me to be different from what they expected a "hillbilly girl to be." John O'Brien's book helps certain parts of my past make more sense. I also appreciate his personal history and feel that this is part of the story that needed to be told.

At Home in the Heart of Appalachia

As a native "Appalachian" who has lived in areas other than Appalachia I feel that John O'Brien's book was right on target. He understands and explains the fatalism that exists but also provides a terrific description of the hardships which are physical, political and economic (including the colonial mentality of many). He depicts kindness, intelligence, values, and the importance of sustainability present in the lives of many of the residents. It is also just a great story.

An instant classic for Native West Virginians

This is a terrific book. O'Brien writes with a compelling style that could almost classify the book as a page turner (which is quite rare for this type of non fiction).As a native West Virginian, just about every chapter had something that I strongly identified with...the West Virginia style family reunion in Pocahontas County, the "deep family secrets" that only the women talk about, the strong sense of family and community, the love of the outdoors, etc.Growing up in Northern West Virginia, I always considered (and still do) my childhood to be somewhat idyllic. It was small town life with football, 4-H camp, camping vacations, spending summers at my grandmother's farm, etc. I was always puzzled as an adult after I had moved out of the state for graduate school at the quizzical/sorrowful looks that I would receive from people when I told them of my native state. John O'Brien has clearly articulated the history and reasons behind those stereotypes and I believe debunked most of the unfair ones.I would recommend this book to any West Virginian (both resident and expat) who has that strong sense of pride in their heritage, but is searching for answers and explanations about the conflicting messages they receive from "the outside".My only trepidation in this whole thing is that it took John O'Brien so long to write this first book, that another book from him may be a long time in coming.

Exciting, thought provoking book

As a resident of Pendleton County during the first 22 years of my life, I have discovered through the writing of John O'Brien why I harbor an intense pride of my home state. A must read for anyone who has lived in the beautiful mountain state, anyone who has traveled there, or anyone who is curious about Appalachia. Beautifully and simply written, with historical facts and interspersed with personal vignettes.