What My Heart Wants to Tell

by Verna Mae Slone

Book Overview

"God knew that it would take brave and sturdy people to survive in these beautiful but rugged hills. So He sent us His very strongest men and women." So begins the heartwarming story of Verna Mae and her father, Isom B. "Kitteneye" Slone, an extraordinary personal family history set in the hills around Caney Creek in Knott County, Kentucky.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0813101743
• ISBN13: 9780813101743
• Release Date: January 1988
• Publisher: University Press of Kentucky
• Length: 160 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.6" x 8.5"
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

Her brain said to her hands...

In response to Paul D. Williams review, I have to say that Verna Mae would be upset with her last name being spelled Sloan. She was very proud of the Slone spelling of the name. Verna Mae and my grandmother, Alice Slone, went to school together and were close friends until their deaths. This book reminds me of the poor South Eastern Kentucky I grew to know as a kid visiting my family there, in Knott County. Mousie specifically, and Hindman being the biggest town nearby. I have read this book multiple times, and have had occasion to ask Verna Mae about the authenticity of the stories. I have no reason to believe she did anything other than document the truth. She was an amazing woman, as can be gathered from even a casual read of any of her books. To speak to her in person was like re-living history. And she was always happy to speak to visitors, apologizing for keeping us so long, and willing to entertain for as long as she could. As if living history needs to apologize for anything. I count having "knowed" her personally as one of the high points of my life.

From my Heart to Yours, Verna Mae

Verna Mae is and always will be a part of my family. These families lived and are still living in Caney; Pippa Passes and the Hindman, KY areas just a few miles from where Verna Mae lives today. I was there for a long weekend in July 2007 visiting with family; some that I have never met and some that I have not seen now for some 50 yrs. I was visiting one of my 2nd cousins in Hindman, Ruth Taylor-Lake. I picked up a book on Ruth's end table that was titled, "What my Heart Wants to Tell," by: Verna Mae Sloan. Recognizing the author's name from my 10+ years of my family genealogy work, I asked Ruth about the book. She said, "the author lives right here in Hindman, and I will take you and introduce you to her, as she is family to; but before we see her, we need to go over to Caney and meet her son, Orben and get one of her books for her to autograph for you." As I wanted to visit my Great Aunt's (Dora Belle Taylor; Ruth's Grandmother) resting place on what is now part of the extended grounds of Alice Lloyd College, we would be passing right by her son Orben's home so that we could stop and get a copy of Verna Mae's book. Orben was out when we went by, so Ruth said that I could have her book for the signing and she would get herself another from Orben later on. Ruth took me to meet one of her closest friends, Mrs. Verna Mae Sloan. We saw the reason that Orben was not at home as he was there visiting with his mother. We waited until Orben finished his visit and departed, and as soon as Ruth introduced me and told Verna Mae that I was part of the family, Verna Mae reached out to me for a hug, and I gave that hug back with all my heart. This woman is sharp as a tack. After some Taylor Family, short story telling by my cousin Ruth so that Verna Mae would know where I fit into the family, this beautiful woman of 92 yrs of age began reciting some of her very private poems and verses and telling of her life stories to Ruth and I as though she were writing them at that moment. Much of the personal stories she shared with Ruth and I that day can not be found in any book, and they came straight from her heart. This almost three hour-verbal treasure I will hold in my heart forever, and will hold the autographed book, "What my heart wants to Tell," close by on my reading table as well. Asking her permission, I had one of the nurses take a photo of Verna Mae and myself, and asked Verna Mae if it was OK for me to attach this photo over her autograph in the front of the book. She said, "You're family, it's your book and our photo;" I had to leave Ruth and Verna Mae together for a moment while I went into the hallway to take a breath and have a moment of my own. During this visit, Ruth and Verna Mae was like two school girls together; laughing and cutting up; each in turn reminding the other about things that they enjoyed; "back in the day". Once in a while one of them would start to tell the other something, and would pause a moment to give a gl

From my Heart to Yours, Verna Mae

Verna Mae is and always will be a part of my family. These families lived and are still living in Caney; Pippa Passes and the Hindman, KY areas just a few miles from where Verna Mae lives today. I was there for a long weekend in July 2007 visiting with family; some that I have never met and some that I have not seen now for some 50 yrs. I was visiting one of my 2nd cousins in Hindman, Ruth Taylor-Lake. I picked up a book on Ruth's end table that was titled, "What my Heart Wants to Tell," by: Verna Mae Slone. Recognizing the author's name from my 10+ years of my family genealogy work, I asked Ruth about the book. She said, "the author lives right here in Hindman, and I will take you and introduce you to her, as she is family to; but before we see her, we need to go over to Caney and meet her son, Orbin and get one of her books for her to autograph for you." As I wanted to visit my Great Aunt's (Dora Belle Taylor; Ruth's Grandmother) resting place on what is now part of the extended grounds of Alice Lloyd College, we would be passing right by her son Orbin's home so that we could stop and get a copy of Verna Mae's book. Orbin was out when we went by, so Ruth said that I could have her book for the signing and she would get herself another from Orbin later on. Ruth took me to meet one of her closest friends, Mrs. Verna Mae Slone. We saw the reason that Orbin was not at home as he was there visiting with his mother. We waited until Orbin finished his visit and departed and as soon as Ruth introduced me and told Verna Mae that I was part of the family, Verna Mae reached out to me for a hug, and I gave that hug back with all my heart. This woman is sharp as a tack. After some Taylor Family, short story telling by my cousin Ruth so that Verna Mae would know where I fit into the family, this beautiful woman of 92 yrs of age began reciting some of her very private poems and verses and telling of her life stories to Ruth and I as though she were writing them at that moment. Much of the personal stories she shared with Ruth and I that day cannot be found in any book, and they came straight from her heart. This almost three hour-verbal treasure I will hold in my heart forever, and will hold the autographed book, "What my heart wants to Tell," close by on my reading table as well. Asking her permission, I had one of the nurses take a photo of Verna Mae and myself, and asked Verna Mae if it was OK for me to attach this photo over her autograph in the front of the book. She said, "You're family, it's your book and our photo;" I had to leave Ruth and Verna Mae together for a moment while I went into the hallway to take a breath and have a moment of my own. During this visit, Ruth and Verna Mae was like two school girls together; laughing and cutting up; each in turn reminding the other about things that they enjoyed; "back in the day". Once in a while one of them would start to tell the other something, and would pause a moment to give a glan

Beautiful description of the bedrock of Appalachia strength

Appalachia has gotten a bad rap...hillbillies, poor, ignorant, etc. Those who have lived there, or know people who have, know this is false. After all, Appalachians formed the bedrock of the union movement in this country (think United Mine Workers), fought much of the Civil War, and ran our steel miils.Ms. Slone does a powerful job of exposing the powerful inner strength developed by residents of these mountains over the generations. She makes you believe that "hillbilly" is not an epithet, but--as she says--an adaptation of the Shakesperean Wiiliam ("Billy") to the mountains--hence, hill billy's.A great book for anyone who wants to understand (or who already admires) this very important region in our country.

A beautiful Appalachian memoir!

Simple and truthful. If you love the Appalachian South, you'll enjoy this one.