Fiction_L Archives Harriette Arnow Dates: 1/4/05,2:18 PM  through  1/6/05,3:30 PM  (14 postings) Search for: Select one or more indexes to search: 2011-current     2009-2010     2004-2008    1995-2003    (Matches from each index will be displayed separately in the results page.) Return to January 2005 thread menu   |   Fiction_L Archives Menu

FROM: "Chris Mills" <[removed]@oplin.org>
REC'D: 1/4/05, 2:18 PM

I know that this is a really obscure request, but I have an elderly patron
who is in love with the books of Harriet Arnow. Because there are only
five, it didn't take her long to exhaust them. Does anyone have any
suggestions for similar reads? I have tried Novelist, etc to no avail. Any
and all help is appreciated!

Thank you

Christine Mills
Greenwich Branch Library
Greenwich OH 44837
[removed]@oplin.org

FROM: "Joy Tofteland" <[removed]@ankeny.k12.ia.us>
REC'D: 1/4/05, 3:32 PM

What appeals to her about these books? Place? (Appalachia) Well-developed
characters? Plot? true-to-life human drama I have read Harriet Arnow and
have some suggestions but it depends on which factors most appeal to your
reader.

Parchment of Leaves by Silas House would be a close match. I have not read
his new one A Coal Tattoo.

She might like Sue Miller or Anne Tyler. Both have well-developed
characters and true-to-life drama. I found Harriet Arnow's books to be
rather dark like Miller and Tyler.

Joy Tofteland
Reference/ Technical Resources Librarian
Kirkendall Public Library
Ankeny, IA

-----Original Message-----
From: [removed]@maillist.webrary.org
[[removed]@maillist.webrary.org]On Behalf Of Chris Mills
Sent: Tuesday, January 04, 2005 1:54 PM
To: Fiction_L
Subject: Harriet Arnow

I know that this is a really obscure request, but I have an elderly patron
who is in love with the books of Harriet Arnow. Because there are only
five, it didn't take her long to exhaust them. Does anyone have any
suggestions for similar reads? I have tried Novelist, etc to no avail. Any
and all help is appreciated!

Thank you

Christine Mills
Greenwich Branch Library
Greenwich OH 44837
[removed]@oplin.org

FROM: Carolyn Scheer <[removed]@mail.connect.more.net>
REC'D: 1/4/05, 4:22 PM

I'm not sure why on all of these, just snap ideas, but here goes:

Jessamyn West - LEAFY RIVERS & the Quaker stories
A. B. Guthrie - Pioneering novels with gritty characters
LeGrand Cannon - LOOK TO THE MOUNTAIN & COME HOME AT EVEN
McKinley Kantor - "Bugle Ann" books - Mountain fox-hunting tales
Janice Holt Giles - any of the Kentucky novels
Harry Caudill - Fiction and non-fiction on the Cumberlands
Sharon McCrumb's "ballad" mysteries (if she reads mysteries)
Jesse Stuart - Fiction & non-fiction
Kathleen Morehouse's RAIN ON THE JUST
Ernest Haycox's THE EARTHBREAKERS
Borden Deal - The older titles, published before 1970.
Carolyn Scheer
Reference Librarian
Scenic Regional Library
308 Hawthorne Drive
Union, MO 63084
636-583-3224

FROM: "Chris Mills" <[removed]@oplin.org>
REC'D: 1/5/05, 9:59 AM

I have received requests to clarify what the patron likes about Ms Arnow's
books. The main requirement is the setting. My patron only wants books set
in the familiar (to her) area of Appalachia. However, she enjoyed "The
Dollmaker" because the family struggled with their traditional values and
learning in modern society. I will admit, I was doubtful that she would
like "The Dollmaker" because of its modern setting, but the characters took
over. I had (mistakenly) thought that she would enjoy Sharyn McCrumb
because of the wonderful characters, but the storylines proved a little
"rough" for her. I had though about Wendell Berry, but I'm not familiar with
his works.
I have already received several wonderful suggestions and more are always
appreciated!

Thanks a million!

I know that this is a really obscure request, but I have an elderly patron
who is in love with the books of Harriet Arnow. Because there are only
five, it didn't take her long to exhaust them. Does anyone have any
suggestions for similar reads? I have tried Novelist, etc to no avail. Any
and all help is appreciated!

Thank you

Christine Mills
Greenwich Branch Library
Greenwich OH 44837
[removed]@oplin.org

FROM: "Anne Kabel" <[removed]@sfldlib.org>
REC'D: 1/5/05, 10:34 AM

Try books by Fred Chappell -- here is Booklist's review of the first in
a series of 5 or 6 titles -

Chappell's description of mountain farm life around the time of World
War II contains many beautifully written passages and memorable
characters, among them, Uncle Gurton with his astonishing beard; Uncle
Runkin, who sleeps in his own casket; and Aunt Sam, a feisty country
singer who once performed for the queen of England. All are seen through
the eyes of Jess, a youngster who finds the adult world both fascinating
and mysterious. Though the life depicted here seems idyllic, even
magical, it is not untouched by tragedy: Johnson Gibbs, a farmhand who's
almost one of the family, joins the army and is killed. There's no high
drama in this charming novel, just gentle humor and fine writing.
((Reviewed April 15, 1985))

Anne Kabel
Adult Services Librarian
Southfield Public Library
26300 Evergreen Rd
Southfield MI 48076
248-796-4381

FROM: "Anne Kabel" <[removed]@sfldlib.org>
REC'D: 1/5/05, 10:51 AM

forgot to include the name of the book! sorry!

It is "I am one of you forever"

Anne Kabel
Adult Services Librarian
Southfield Public Library
26300 Evergreen Rd
Southfield MI 48076
248-796-4381

>>> [removed]@sfldlib.org 1/5/2005 11:27:58 AM >>>
Try books by Fred Chappell -- here is Booklist's review of the first
in
a series of 5 or 6 titles -

Chappell's description of mountain farm life around the time of World
War II contains many beautifully written passages and memorable
characters, among them, Uncle Gurton with his astonishing beard; Uncle
Runkin, who sleeps in his own casket; and Aunt Sam, a feisty country
singer who once performed for the queen of England. All are seen
through
the eyes of Jess, a youngster who finds the adult world both
fascinating
and mysterious. Though the life depicted here seems idyllic, even
magical, it is not untouched by tragedy: Johnson Gibbs, a farmhand
who's
almost one of the family, joins the army and is killed. There's no
high
drama in this charming novel, just gentle humor and fine writing.
((Reviewed April 15, 1985))

Anne Kabel
Adult Services Librarian
Southfield Public Library
26300 Evergreen Rd
Southfield MI 48076
248-796-4381

FROM: "Bessie Makris" <[removed]@acpl.lib.in.us>
REC'D: 1/5/05, 1:24 PM

Two other authors to consider are Howard Norman--especially the book
NORTHERN BORDERS and John Ehle (THE WINTER PEOPLE and a couple of other
books that are interconnected.)

Bessie Makris
Allen County Public Library
P.O. Box 2270
Fort Wayne, IN 46802

"The view, opinions, and judgments expressed in this message
are solely those of the author. The message contents have not
been reviewed or approved by the Allen County Public Library."


>>> [removed]@sfldlib.org 01/05/05 11:33AM >>>
forgot to include the name of the book! sorry!

It is "I am one of you forever"

Anne Kabel
Adult Services Librarian
Southfield Public Library
26300 Evergreen Rd
Southfield MI 48076
248-796-4381

>>> [removed]@sfldlib.org 1/5/2005 11:27:58 AM >>>
Try books by Fred Chappell -- here is Booklist's review of the first
in
a series of 5 or 6 titles -

Chappell's description of mountain farm life around the time of World
War II contains many beautifully written passages and memorable
characters, among them, Uncle Gurton with his astonishing beard; Uncle
Runkin, who sleeps in his own casket; and Aunt Sam, a feisty country
singer who once performed for the queen of England. All are seen
through
the eyes of Jess, a youngster who finds the adult world both
fascinating
and mysterious. Though the life depicted here seems idyllic, even
magical, it is not untouched by tragedy: Johnson Gibbs, a farmhand
who's
almost one of the family, joins the army and is killed. There's no
high
drama in this charming novel, just gentle humor and fine writing.
((Reviewed April 15, 1985))

Anne Kabel
Adult Services Librarian
Southfield Public Library
26300 Evergreen Rd
Southfield MI 48076
248-796-4381

FROM: Kristen Gettys <[removed]@yahoo.com>
REC'D: 1/5/05, 2:49 PM

Hello,

You might suggest these titles to your patron. The Appalachian Mountains encompass a variety of
settings from Maine to Georgia, so that should widen your search net.
http://www.nps.gov/appa/

Both these books are set in North Carolina.
Frasier, Charles. "Cold Mountain"
Although an account of war, this book is very descriptive of the setting. It's also a moving love
story. The war action is brief but it might be too rough.
"Cold Mountain, a debut novel that tells the extraordinary story of a soldier's perilous journey
back to his beloved at the end of the Civil War, made publishing history when it received
unprecedented critical acclaim and went on to sell over three million copies. Now the Oscar
award-winning director and screenwriter of The English Patient and The Talented Mr. Ripley,
Anthony Minghella, translates Charles Frazier's masterpiece to film and ""promises one of the
richest screen experiences of the year" (The New York Times)

Marshall, Christy. "Christy"

I loved this book as a girl. It's certainly "clean", a precursor of Christian Fiction. "At
nineteen, Christy Huddleston left home to teach school in the Smokies --- coming to know and care
for the wild mountain people, with their fierce pride, terrible poverty dark superstitions... and
their yearning for beauty and truth. But in these primitive surrounding, Christy's faith would be
severely tested by the unique strengths and needs of two remarkable young men --- and challenged
by a heart torn between desire... and love." (VOYA)

Good luck,
Kristen

Kristen Gettys
Children's Librarian
South Broken Arrow Branch Library
Tulsa City County Library
Tulsa, OK

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com

FROM: "Nancy Crabbe" <[removed]@ci.santa-clara.ca.us>
REC'D: 1/5/05, 3:33 PM

Has anyone suggested Evidence of things unseen, by Margaret Wiggins? I was totally taken with it (apart with having grown up in Knoxville TN and identifying with the area) Here's some info from an LJ review:

World War I veteran, longtime bachelor, and quintessential common man Ray "Fos" Foster meets Opal, the love of his life, during his annual journey to North Carolina's Outer Banks to observe the August meteor showers. They marry, and the intelligent but inexperienced young wife is soon deeply involved with both the Knoxville photography business Fos runs with a quirky, doomed Army pal and with Fos's dreams of scientific discoveries. Opal joins Fos in exhibiting his X-ray machine at county fairs, demonstrating modern technology to skeptical crowds by irradiating Opal's foot. Fos's reputation as a knowledgeable amateur gains him employment with the Tennessee Valley Authority¯which eventually claims Opal's inherited farm for a dam, evicting the couple and their young son. In the early 1940s another, better opportunity seems to fulfill the family's faith in both scientific progress and the American dream: a good job and comfortable housing at Site X, a.k.a. Oak Ridge, TN. But when Opal falls mysteriously ill, the hideous, unintended consequences of Fos's well-meaning quest overtake and batter two generations. Strong characters, vivid settings, and extreme situations are described in masterly prose; this is another tour de force from a first-class literary novelist. LJ May 15, 2003

Nancy Crabbe
Library Division Manager, Collection Services
Santa Clara City Library
2635 Homestead Rd.
Santa Clara, CA 95051

ph:(408) 615-2903
fax: (408) 296-5688
email: [removed]@ci.santa-clara.ca.us

>>> [removed]@oplin.org 01/05/05 07:56AM >>>
I have received requests to clarify what the patron likes about Ms Arnow's
books. The main requirement is the setting. My patron only wants books set
in the familiar (to her) area of Appalachia. However, she enjoyed "The
Dollmaker" because the family struggled with their traditional values and
learning in modern society. I will admit, I was doubtful that she would
like "The Dollmaker" because of its modern setting, but the characters took
over. I had (mistakenly) thought that she would enjoy Sharyn McCrumb
because of the wonderful characters, but the storylines proved a little
"rough" for her. I had though about Wendell Berry, but I'm not familiar with
his works.
I have already received several wonderful suggestions and more are always
appreciated!

Thanks a million!

I know that this is a really obscure request, but I have an elderly patron
who is in love with the books of Harriet Arnow. Because there are only
five, it didn't take her long to exhaust them. Does anyone have any
suggestions for similar reads? I have tried Novelist, etc to no avail. Any
and all help is appreciated!

Thank you

Christine Mills
Greenwich Branch Library
Greenwich OH 44837
[removed]@oplin.org

FROM: Cynthia Orr <[removed]@cpl.org>
REC'D: 1/5/05, 4:14 PM

I wonder if your patron might like some of Cynthia Rylant's books--not Henry and Mudge or the Poppletons--but even though she's known as a children's author, some of her books have a great appeal to adults. She writes nostalgic, gentle, beautiful celebrations of her heritage in West Virginia and Virginia.

I'd suggest any of these -

Appalachia: the Voices of Sleeping Birds
When I Was Young in the Mountains
Missing May
The Relatives Came
And Night in the Country
This Year's Garden
The Blue Hill Meadows
But I'll Be Back Again

Cindy

Cynthia Orr
Collection Manager
Cleveland Public Library
17133 Lake Shore Boulevard
Cleveland, OH 44110
Phone: 216-623-2906
Fax: 216-623-2977
http://www.cpl.org

----- Original Message -----
From: Chris Mills <[removed]@oplin.org>
Date: Wednesday, January 5, 2005 10:56 am
Subject: Harriet Arnow
> I have received requests to clarify what the patron likes about Ms
> Arnow'sbooks. The main requirement is the setting. My patron
> only wants books set
> in the familiar (to her) area of Appalachia. However, she enjoyed
> "TheDollmaker" because the family struggled with their traditional
> values and
> learning in modern society. I will admit, I was doubtful that she
> wouldlike "The Dollmaker" because of its modern setting, but the
> characters took
> over. I had (mistakenly) thought that she would enjoy Sharyn McCrumb
> because of the wonderful characters, but the storylines proved a
> little"rough" for her. I had though about Wendell Berry, but I'm
> not familiar with
> his works.
> I have already received several wonderful suggestions and more are
> alwaysappreciated!
>
> Thanks a million!
>
>
> I know that this is a really obscure request, but I have an
> elderly patron
> who is in love with the books of Harriet Arnow. Because there are
> onlyfive, it didn't take her long to exhaust them. Does anyone
> have any
> suggestions for similar reads? I have tried Novelist, etc to no
> avail. Any
> and all help is appreciated!
>
> Thank you
>
> Christine Mills
> Greenwich Branch Library
> Greenwich OH 44837
> [removed]@oplin.org
>
>
>
>
> ......................................................................
> Need to subscribe, unsubscribe, search the archives?
> Everything Fiction_L: http://fictionl.webrary.org
>
>

FROM: "Emily Wichman OH0018" <[removed]@oplin.org>
REC'D: 1/5/05, 6:29 PM

Others to try might be:

The Awakening Land - Conrad Richter (sometimes published as 3 volumes: The
Trees, The Fields, The Town)

A Lantern in Her Hand - Bess Streecher Aldrich (this is set in Nebraska, but
I read it at a time when I was reading Arnow's books and thought the feel
was similar)

Emily T. Wichman
Adult Services Librarian
Milford-Miami Township Branch
Clermont County Public Library
[removed]@oplin.org

FROM: Susan Smith <[removed]@pub-lib.ci.arlington.tx.us>
REC'D: 1/6/05, 11:54 AM

That's funny, I was thinking the same thing about Ruth White--

I really liked Belle Prater's Boy and Weeping Willow--

Susan Smith
Reference Librarian
Northeast Branch Library
Arlington Public Library System
1905 Brown Blvd
Arlington, TX 76006
(817) 277-5573

[removed]@pub-lib.ci.arlington.tx.us

-----Original Message-----
From: [removed]@maillist.webrary.org
[[removed]@maillist.webrary.org]On Behalf Of Cynthia Orr
Sent: Wednesday, January 05, 2005 3:21 PM
To: Fiction_L
Subject: Re: Harriet Arnow

I wonder if your patron might like some of Cynthia Rylant's books--not Henry
and Mudge or the Poppletons--but even though she's known as a children's
author, some of her books have a great appeal to adults. She writes
nostalgic, gentle, beautiful celebrations of her heritage in West Virginia
and Virginia.

I'd suggest any of these -

Appalachia: the Voices of Sleeping Birds
When I Was Young in the Mountains
Missing May
The Relatives Came
And Night in the Country
This Year's Garden
The Blue Hill Meadows
But I'll Be Back Again

Cindy

Cynthia Orr
Collection Manager
Cleveland Public Library
17133 Lake Shore Boulevard
Cleveland, OH 44110
Phone: 216-623-2906
Fax: 216-623-2977
http://www.cpl.org

----- Original Message -----
From: Chris Mills <[removed]@oplin.org>
Date: Wednesday, January 5, 2005 10:56 am
Subject: Harriet Arnow
> I have received requests to clarify what the patron likes about Ms
> Arnow'sbooks. The main requirement is the setting. My patron
> only wants books set
> in the familiar (to her) area of Appalachia. However, she enjoyed
> "TheDollmaker" because the family struggled with their traditional
> values and
> learning in modern society. I will admit, I was doubtful that she
> wouldlike "The Dollmaker" because of its modern setting, but the
> characters took
> over. I had (mistakenly) thought that she would enjoy Sharyn McCrumb
> because of the wonderful characters, but the storylines proved a
> little"rough" for her. I had though about Wendell Berry, but I'm
> not familiar with
> his works.
> I have already received several wonderful suggestions and more are
> alwaysappreciated!
>
> Thanks a million!
>
>
> I know that this is a really obscure request, but I have an
> elderly patron
> who is in love with the books of Harriet Arnow. Because there are
> onlyfive, it didn't take her long to exhaust them. Does anyone
> have any
> suggestions for similar reads? I have tried Novelist, etc to no
> avail. Any
> and all help is appreciated!
>
> Thank you
>
> Christine Mills
> Greenwich Branch Library
> Greenwich OH 44837
> [removed]@oplin.org
>
>
>
>
> ......................................................................
> Need to subscribe, unsubscribe, search the archives?
> Everything Fiction_L: http://fictionl.webrary.org
>
>

FROM: "Sarah Nagle" <[removed]@carverlib.org>
REC'D: 1/6/05, 3:03 PM

THE GREAT MEADOW by Elizabeth Maddox Roberts - pub c. 1930, dealing with
settling of Kentucky I think.

STORMING HEAVEN and UNQUIET EARTH by Denise Giardina

Sarah Nagle
Branch Manager and Reference Coordinator
Carver County Library - Chaska Branch
3 City Hall Plaza
Chaska, MN 55318
email [removed]@carverlib.org
Phone: 952-227-7615
Fax: 952-279-5216

FROM: "christine jeffords" <[removed]@hotmail.com>
REC'D: 1/6/05, 3:30 PM

Janice Holt Giles wrote several novels about life in 20th-C. Appalachia
which your patron may enjoy. Also, check out this Fiction-L list from
October '02 (compiled by Me):
http://www.webrary.org/rs/flbklists/appalachian.html.

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