I could not put this book down. I grew up in the Brohard area of Wirt County, West Virginia, although a few years before Debbie, and had forgotten some of the people Debbie wrote about. What a WONDERFUL world this would be if people today took care of each other like they did in Debbie's book. Right times were hard, but people appreciated what they had worked so hard to get. A job well done Debbie.
This book is absolutely amazing. I grew up with the author in WV, oh how the childhood memories came back, I haven't read a book from front to back in over 20 years till I got this one. I just couldn't put it down. Also it was in one evening. Also my 13 year old picked it up and you know with technology today that's rare and she read it from front to back without picking up her iPhone once, to me that shows you it is a excellent book. Great job well done.
This is a well written book of growing up in the hills of West Virginia when times were much simpler, yet much harder.It is a good read for anyone, especially if you are from WV. The author describes many of the historical attractions and places of interest of WV well. There are humorous and heart breaking stories that will make you laugh and cry. Best of all is how people back then worked hard and looked out for each other, love thy neighbor, applied! Something we need more of today!
I so enjoyed this book as the author could paint such beautiful, heartwarming pictures with her words. It took me back to my youth and captured and maintained my interest throughout the whole book. I highly recommend this to everyone. It left a warm feeling in my soul.
A delightful insight to growing up in the hills of West Virginia. I could hardly take a break from reading this book. It brought back a lot of good memories from my own childhood. A must read for anyone that grew up in small town rural America. Thank you Debbie.
I really enjoyed the book. Even though I grew up almost a decade behind the author (Debbie), the stories brought back memories of my childhood growing up in Walton, WV and vacationing or visiting the surrounding West Virginia counties. After all, things do not change very fast (if at all) in a small town.
I found myself laughing out loud a couple of times. I particularly liked the story of the bird that left a present atop Debbie’s head. The comment that was made “they sing for some people” made me laugh out loud, which resulted in me having to share that story with my wife and daughter; they laughed as well.
I’m glad that I read this book. I’ll recommend the book to my friends and family.
Item Description
Deeply rooted in Appalachia, Hills of Home offers a rich literary patchwork of reflection, memoir, and humor. The story opens in the 1950s in the remote community of Munday in Wirt County, West Virginia. Though comprised of a mosaic of individual stories, the compilation reads like a novel, and is characterized uniquely with the author’s personal diary entries and a sailor’s letters home.
Hills of Home is filled with light-hearted adventures, coming-of-age romances, pie socials, county fairs, older brother pranks, frog gigging, chicken canning, persimmon picking, porch sitting, and reunion going. Harsh winter survivals, personal family struggles, and humorous folklore, which have been handed down through generations, also grace the pages.
In Hills of Home, readers will discover that mountaineers have pride in their heritage as well as the natural resources of their state. They will discover people who are fiercely independent, hardworking, have a love for family, and a keen sense of loyalty to neighbors. Most of all, readers will find gracious friends, families, and neighbors who help one another in times of need, a quality which has proved sufficient to preserve their way of life in the hills.
Praise for Hills of Home
"I think the book is a valuable detailed and most honest documentation of a part of Appalachia that has not been celebrated so well until now."
--Earl Hamner, Jr., bestselling author of Spencer's Mountain
and creator of the beloved The Waltons television series