In This Valley I Grew, Life on Blacklog and Happy Hollow
by Mary Ellen Goble Preece
ISBN: 1-4137-9399-1
Review: Mary Ellen Goble Preece's narrative, In This Valley I Grew, welcomes the reader with homespun stories about Appalachian living. The author recalls people, events, and circumstances that on the surface seem primitive and harsh. Her unpretentious style warms the heart as she presents an era where jobs were scarce and wages were low; where people lived from the land; and where application of the Christian ethic of 'loving thy neighbor as thyself' (Leviticus 19:1 )often made the difference between surviving or starving. The reader cannot help but draw comparisons between subsistence living and the fast-paced, but often uncaring lifestyle, that pervades much of America today. Mrs. Preece's book proves that love of self, of family, of friends, of neighbors, is not borne from material wealth, but from faith-based love--given without limitations, conditions, or attached strings. Mrs. Preece's book invites you to 'set down' in the rocking chair on her front porch where you'll smell the fresh-baked biscuits, wave to a friendly neighbor, and listen to the distant strains of a hammer dulcimer or banjo. Soon she'll join you and begin her recollections. Portions of In This Valley I Grew are suitable for a Smithsonian Museum documentary on twentieth century Appalachian living and culture.
Submitted by: David S. Rosenberg, author Geo-political thrillers: 'No Shortage of Evil' ‘Infusion of Evil' ‘Extension of Evil'
Also: Psychological Thriller: 'Position 12' See: http://www.drosenbergsbooks.com Work in progress: Non-fiction
Monday, December 26, 2005
Friday, November 11, 2005
More Reviews for In This Valley I Grew Review
Review Nov. 9, 2005
IN THIS VALLEY I GREW
Life on Backlog and Happy Hollow
by Mary Ellen Goble Preece
This is a delightful account of an Appalachian family as recalled by the author, Mary Ellen Goble Preece. Set predominately in the fifties she tells of a simple but proud lifestyle. One that endures hard times and in spite of the harsh realities of life, survives by shear determination, hard work and the grace of God. It is sprinkled with good, down home philosophies, stories of heartache, love, and laughter. If you have ever enjoyed such treats as homemade cornbread and fresh churned buttermilk, this will bring back pleasant memories of yesteryear. If you are a child of the current modern society, you will learn just how blessed you are to enjoy today’s modern conveniences. You will learn about making everything from scratch. How to preserve enough food for your family and some extra for a neighbor in need. Making “sugar sweetened French Toast” and “Black Walnut Fudge”; About bitter cold winters with only minimal sustenance and wonderful summers spent roaming the hollow with relatives and friends. Most of all you will have the unique privilege of glimpsing into the heart and soul of the author, her beautiful family, and sharing her true source of strength, an unfailing faith in God.
B. Davis Greer,
Author of "The Pegasus Affair"
ISBN: 1-4137-8817-3
______________________________________________________________________
Oct. 22, 2005
Review of In This Valley I Grew by Mary Ellen Preece In This Valley I Grew, by Mary Ellen Goble Preece, is the heartwarming epoch of an Appalachian family––its early beginnings and present realities––related at times in the style and dialect of this mountainous region. The author is an educated woman in the sense that she knows what it is to be “poor in spirit” and remain rich in spiritual and cultural values she can pass along to her children and grandchildren. With a remarkable memory and insight, she tells the stories of the men and women, mothers and fathers, artisans, friends, relatives, teachers and workers she grew up with. She describes their beliefs, how they dressed, (and there are photographs as well to show what they looked like), how they acted, where they lived, worshipped, and how they spoke––down to the last detail. She describes the food they ate, how they prepared it, and even the childhood goodies, or the candy, by name, taste and wrapper. In many ways, it would seem that such a life in the valley, although hard at times, would still have been peaceful and serene enough to help develop her depth and degree of memories. As a reader born and raised in the South by parents who experienced the hardships of World War II, I could relate to many of the people and experiences she wrote of in such a charming way. I was most impressed by the teachers who molded the students’ minds and held spelling bees and by other means educated their students. The author has benefited from this experience by having developed over the years a deep desire to write and tell her stories, which may never be known, she believes, unless she reveals them. She describes equally well how times are changing for the valley she grew up in––the gains and losses of “progress.” For all who enjoy reading stories and the histories of people who live in every area of America, I recommend this book as a wonderful tribute to the Appalachian American people.
Joyce Ann Edmondson author of
"The Listening Tree"
"Falling Petals"
IN THIS VALLEY I GREW
Life on Backlog and Happy Hollow
by Mary Ellen Goble Preece
This is a delightful account of an Appalachian family as recalled by the author, Mary Ellen Goble Preece. Set predominately in the fifties she tells of a simple but proud lifestyle. One that endures hard times and in spite of the harsh realities of life, survives by shear determination, hard work and the grace of God. It is sprinkled with good, down home philosophies, stories of heartache, love, and laughter. If you have ever enjoyed such treats as homemade cornbread and fresh churned buttermilk, this will bring back pleasant memories of yesteryear. If you are a child of the current modern society, you will learn just how blessed you are to enjoy today’s modern conveniences. You will learn about making everything from scratch. How to preserve enough food for your family and some extra for a neighbor in need. Making “sugar sweetened French Toast” and “Black Walnut Fudge”; About bitter cold winters with only minimal sustenance and wonderful summers spent roaming the hollow with relatives and friends. Most of all you will have the unique privilege of glimpsing into the heart and soul of the author, her beautiful family, and sharing her true source of strength, an unfailing faith in God.
B. Davis Greer,
Author of "The Pegasus Affair"
ISBN: 1-4137-8817-3
______________________________________________________________________
Oct. 22, 2005
Review of In This Valley I Grew by Mary Ellen Preece In This Valley I Grew, by Mary Ellen Goble Preece, is the heartwarming epoch of an Appalachian family––its early beginnings and present realities––related at times in the style and dialect of this mountainous region. The author is an educated woman in the sense that she knows what it is to be “poor in spirit” and remain rich in spiritual and cultural values she can pass along to her children and grandchildren. With a remarkable memory and insight, she tells the stories of the men and women, mothers and fathers, artisans, friends, relatives, teachers and workers she grew up with. She describes their beliefs, how they dressed, (and there are photographs as well to show what they looked like), how they acted, where they lived, worshipped, and how they spoke––down to the last detail. She describes the food they ate, how they prepared it, and even the childhood goodies, or the candy, by name, taste and wrapper. In many ways, it would seem that such a life in the valley, although hard at times, would still have been peaceful and serene enough to help develop her depth and degree of memories. As a reader born and raised in the South by parents who experienced the hardships of World War II, I could relate to many of the people and experiences she wrote of in such a charming way. I was most impressed by the teachers who molded the students’ minds and held spelling bees and by other means educated their students. The author has benefited from this experience by having developed over the years a deep desire to write and tell her stories, which may never be known, she believes, unless she reveals them. She describes equally well how times are changing for the valley she grew up in––the gains and losses of “progress.” For all who enjoy reading stories and the histories of people who live in every area of America, I recommend this book as a wonderful tribute to the Appalachian American people.
Joyce Ann Edmondson author of
"The Listening Tree"
"Falling Petals"
Review for In This Valley I Grew
In This Valley I Grew by Mary Ellen Goble Preece A father hands over his last twenty dollars to his wife to buy Christmas gifts for an entire family at the Dollar General store. A pine branch decorated with popcorn strings serves as the Christmas tree. These are typical scenes from “In This Valley I Grew” by Mary Ellen Goble Preece, who beautifully recorded her life growing up in the Appalachian Mountains during the poverty-stricken 1950’s. Written in a style that not only allows the reader to hear the charming dialect of the characters' voices, it also portrays the visual imagery of the picturesque region around 'Blacklog' and 'Happy Hollow'. There were times when reading this book that I seemed to be able to actually smell the cornbread baking in the old wood fired oven! In This Valley I Grew is a poignant, genteel and heartwarming story of a family whose faith in a loving, omnipotent God never falters. Share the triumphs and joys, and experience the pain and sorrow of a loving family by reading this book. Those who remember a similar life will be filled with nostalgia. Those who were raised in better circumstances will perhaps better understand and appreciate the “Good ol’ days” that their grandparents talk about! ******* Phil Whitley_________________KEECHIE: ISBN # 1-4137-9587-0 http://www.freewebs.com/brew99/
Sunday, October 30, 2005
Mary Ellen Goble Preece new Publish America Author
As a new and grateful author to Publish America allow me to tell you a little about myself as briefly as I can.
Foremost in my life I want to do God's will. Second I am a wife, mother, and grandmother, sister and friend. I am also a struggling writer. After many attempts at getting published, I will soon be. It will be up to the public to decide if I am an "author" worthy of taking up their time. I will be writing about what I know as most new authors do and that will be to tell you about my growing up years in the Appalachian mountains of eastern Kentucky. My first book titled In This Valley I Grew, Life on Blacklog and Happy Hollow depicts the hardships of my own family in the 1950's and 1960's growing up poor with even poorer all around us. It is filled with sentiment, heartache, love and laughter in the midst of poverty and suppression. An easy read for even young readers 10 and up.
The book will be out soon and I will be back to post the release date with price and ISBN.
Watch for more of my books coming soon from PA.
Foremost in my life I want to do God's will. Second I am a wife, mother, and grandmother, sister and friend. I am also a struggling writer. After many attempts at getting published, I will soon be. It will be up to the public to decide if I am an "author" worthy of taking up their time. I will be writing about what I know as most new authors do and that will be to tell you about my growing up years in the Appalachian mountains of eastern Kentucky. My first book titled In This Valley I Grew, Life on Blacklog and Happy Hollow depicts the hardships of my own family in the 1950's and 1960's growing up poor with even poorer all around us. It is filled with sentiment, heartache, love and laughter in the midst of poverty and suppression. An easy read for even young readers 10 and up.
The book will be out soon and I will be back to post the release date with price and ISBN.
Watch for more of my books coming soon from PA.