The Thursday Channel: Appalachian Spring Book Club (Part 3 of 4)

The Hills Remember by James Still is a complete collection of Still's short stories set in Appalachia in the era he knew it (1930s-1970s).  These intimate stories of everyday life compare with best in the art form, such as those by Anton Chekhov, Katherine Mansfield and Bernard Malamud. Though using a light touch, his stories are each immersive, and the details he sprinkles bring vividness to tales that feel timeless.  Each one will make you want to pause and think afterwards. Depicting every walk and age of life, these are stories that engage with every aspect of life in Appalachia, exploring a range of emotions, including love, humor, sense of tragedy, wonder and the experience of healing.  We will read a selection from the book, discussing two stories per meeting.

Our guest discussion leader will be Mike Ford, who serves on the Board of Trustees for Rural Action.  The books will be available for free to the first 20 people who sign up, courtesy of a grant from the Athens Foundation.