DOG DAYS AND DRAGONFLIES by Chrissie Anderson Peters

In the preface, Peters writes, “The people, places and stories presented in Dog Days and Dragonflies are, by and large, stories of my life.” This collection of short stories and poems presents a childhood in Appalachia surrounded by kin, from carefree preschool days spent with a great-grandmother with one leg to a dark day with a friend who whispers the ugly secret of child abuse. Of a young woman who tries to commit suicide to an older one who wishes nothing more than to kill her abusive husband. Of a teenager’s driving lessons with her grandfather to a mystical trip with a boyfriend to Salem, Massachusetts. From a cousin running down the ice cream truck to a young child watching her mother, grandmother and great-grandmother wrap meat. All beautifully written, many with a wistful tone, reflecting a time and place free of modern-day electronic gadgetry where families were bonded and held together through the good times and the bad.

THE TALL WOMAN by Wilma Dykeman

THE TALL WOMAN
by Wilma Dykeman
Holt, Rinehart and Winston
10801 N. MoPac Expressway, Austin, TX 78759
ISBN: 0030309654
http://www.harcourt.com

Lydia Moore grew up in the Appalachian region before the Civil War and married Mark McQueen shortly after it began. Her husband went off to fight for the Union while her father and brother fought for the Confederates. While the men were gone, outliers raided Lydia’s mother’s home, assaulting her and stealing the livestock. A pregnant Lydia returned to her old home place to tend to her mother and brothers and sisters. When her labor began, the doctor was too inebriated to come, so Lydia’s Aunt Tildy delivered the baby, who was turned the wrong way, causing brain damage. After the war, when Mark returned, Lydia learned he had been imprisoned. Her Mark was a changed man who dealt with demons from the war and harbored a deep hatred for the men who had raided Lydia’s mother’s home, blaming his son’s mental problems on them. Through the years, Lydia had more children while dealing with her husband’s alienation and cynicism, hoping that through her love, he would become the man he used to be. Times were rough in their mountain region, but Lydia worked hard, trying to do her best for her children and their small community.

Lydia McQueen is the epitome of a strong Southern woman. She never let challenges daunt her and plowed ahead, trying to do the right thing and persevere through. The Tall Woman tells one woman’s journey through life and the lives she touches as well as the changes she leaves behind.

REAL COUNTRY: FROM THE FAST TRACK TO APPALACHIA

REAL COUNTRY:
FROM THE FAST TRACK TO APPALACHIA
by Leslie Brunetsky
Mill City Press
212 3rd Avenue North Suite 570
Minneapolis, MN 55401
www.millcitypublishing.com
ISBN: 9781934937488
Tradeback, 172 pages, $13.95
Genre: Humor

Life partners Leslie and Hope lived a busy life near Washington DC, working long hours and spending much of their commuting time stuck in traffic. Leslie had always dreamed of living in the mountains so the two decided to find property on a mountain and build a log cabin there once Leslie retired. After much research, they settled on the Appalachian region in North Carolina and spent the next five years counting the days. Once Leslie retired, they moved to a temporary house while their own log cabin was being built, and Leslie began sending epistles to family and friends updating them on the progress of their dream home and their transition to living in the Bible Belt surrounded by Republicans.

The two, unused to Southern speak, struggle to understand what is being said to them while trying to acclimate to a more leisurely lifestyle. Nicknaming themselves the Two Stooges Construction Company, they are challenged with trying to figure out how to put furniture together and put up a mailbox while dealing with mice that have taken up residence in their attic. On top of which, their new home seems jinxed, with a washing machine that won’t stop dancing and an oven that quits in the middle of baking.

Real Country is based on the real-life experiences of two Northern women trying to blend into the Appalachian way of life and be accepted by its populace. The author’s witty style will bring plenty of laughs via her characters’ reactions to a totally unfamiliar culture and its divergent perspectives relating to most aspects of life, including religion, politics, and social dynamics. Highly recommended.

PERFECT FOR FRAMING by Maggie Bishop

PERFECT FOR FRAMING
By Maggie Bishop
High Country Publishers
197 New Market Center #135
Boone, NC 28607
ISBN: 9781932158847
Trade paperback, 176 pages, $12.00
Genre: Mystery

Jemma Chase and Detective Tucker return for another suspense-filled escapade in Perfect for Framing, the latest addition to Maggie Bishop’s acclaimed Appalachian Adventure Mystery series. With the advent of winter, Jemma turns from helping run Chase’s Dude Ranch to utilizing her skills as photographer and wood worker. Jemma is hired by Petula Windsor, president of a local property owners’ association, to build cabinets in her guest house, but before Jemma can collect her pay, Petula burns to death in the same house. Jemma, a CSI wannabe, would like nothing more than to be in on the investigation, and Tucker has a hard time trying to keep her interest at bay. But when Petula’s husband is found dead and Tucker’s life is jeopardized, Jemma won’t be stopped until she finds the murderer.

Once more, Maggie Bishop delivers a thrilling whodunit peppered with lovable characters and set against the beautiful backdrop of the mountains of North Carolina. Packed with breath-taking action and nail-biting suspense, with a twisting plot that guarantees constant speculation, this is one book that will have readers quickly turning pages, eager to find out what happens next.