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/