| Reviews:
"Dyer succeeds admirably in a dual purpose: to promote a
vital and virtually unknown body of work, and to suggest an Appalachian spirit
that transcends state borders and artistic genres."—Publishers Weekly (starred
review)
“A marvel of a book, one whose significance far exceeds the
boundaries of the mountains.”—NWSA Journal
"If the word Appalachia conjures
little more for you than mining disasters and Walker Evans photos, turn these
pages and discover the remarkable storytelling tradition that flourished there,
and survives still. . . . This collection won the 1997 Appalachian Studies
Award—and deservedly so."—Kirkus Reviews
"Wherever your own roots lie, you
will find Bloodroot moving, inspiring—and a reminder that we are all
shaped by the landscape we spring from, the place we call home."—Chicago
Tribune, Charlotte Observer
"Each essay is filled with illuminating honesty
and allows the reader to glance into the writer's soul. The conclusions of most
of the essays are exquisite gems."—Bloomsbury Review
"These women describe
Appalachia with poignancy, eloquence, forthrightness, and humor and produce a
powerful collection of reminiscences, each different in its own way, to enrich
both the region they describe and the reader who turns the pages."—Louisville
Courier Journal
"It's a book that speaks in the many voices of Appalachia's
women writers. Sometimes their voices sing. Sometimes they tell a story or a
fragment or a memory. but always they offer a piece of their soul. It's a gift
worth accepting." — The Knoxville News-Sentinel
"A volume rich with
unexpected gifts." — Appalachian Heritage
"In Bloodroot are the
real mountains and their prolific and grateful offspring." — The Roanoke
Times
"The writers here represent some of the most unique and often unsung
talent in literature. These essays will carry you to a far mountain place and
whet your appetite for more"—Magazine (Baton Rouge, LA)
"Although all of the
writers discuss their writing and its ties to their Appalachian experience in
some fashion, the book should appeal to audiences who have little or no
knowledge of the Appalachian region as well as those who are particularly
interested in it and its literature."—Choice
"Contained in this book are a
collection of memories as rich, strong, and unforgiving as the land from which
they came."—BookLovers
"In voices that are honest and true, these women
celebrate the rich cultural mother lode of the Appalachians."—Magill Book
Reviews
"The contributors are an impressive group, distinguished
international lecturers and respected scholars, winners of numerous grants and
literary awards."—Southern Quarterly
"Taken together, these essays
articulate the difficult beauty, history, culture, and deep-rootedness of the
'Southern Appalachian region, the section that forms the book's focus'."—Ohioana
Quarterly
"The seed for an intriguing nonfiction collection was planted with
one simple question: 'What were the influences on your writing?'"—Southern
Living
"This is a wonderful book. Not the kind you can't put down, not the
kind for which you take copious notes. This is a book you can read for awhile
and then come back to. It's a book that makes you start thinking about your own
life."—Journal of Appalachian Studies
"From the well-known, like Dykeman,
Sharyn McCrumb and Denise Giardina, to the lesser known, these essayists, in one
way or another, write of what it means to come to fully appreciate one's native
tongue; to be inspired by the courage and fortitude of their Appalachian
foremothers; and to glory in their profound attachment to the natural beauty of
the Appalachian hills, hollers and trails."—Bowling Green Daily News
"Gratitude permeates this collection, making it a warm invitation to experience
Appalachian country."—The Appalachian Quarterly
"Dyer's collection of short
essays by some 35 'Appalachian women writers' makes a fairly riveting witness to
the whole process of deciding that you are from anywhere, and what
that means anyway."—Appalachian Journal
"Hats off to Joyce Dyer for such a
grand idea for a book."—Now & Then
"Each essay is like sitting on the
porch and drinking a cool lemonade while each writer weaves a story of a
grandmother or uncle or describes some homeplace long abandoned, but never
forgotten."—Paintsville Herald
“After reading the essays, the reader should
come away with a much better concept of this place we call home,
Appalachia.”—Floyd County (KY) Times
“A worthy addition of any collection of
Appalachian literature.”—Ace Magazine
“Although the stories in the
collection are diverse, the authors’ shared connection to the region stands out
and speaks of a part of America’s literary history that has been unexplored for
too long.”—Kentucky Monthly
“A rich and
outstanding contribution.”—McCormick (SC) Messenger
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