Lee Smiths Schreiben ist tief in der Appalachenregion verwurzelt und schöpft Inspiration aus den Geschichten und Menschen, denen sie in ihrer Jugend begegnete. Ihre Romane und Kurzgeschichten bieten tiefe Einblicke in die Kultur und das Leben der Appalachen, wobei sie Themen wie Religion, Flucht und Zugehörigkeit erforscht. Smith besitzt die bemerkenswerte Fähigkeit, die ausgeprägten Stimmen und Erfahrungen ihrer Charaktere einzufangen. Ihre Werke schwingen mit einem authentischen Verständnis von Ort und der menschlichen Verfassung mit.
Focusing on themes of independence and the complexities of aging, this humorous and heartwarming novel follows an elderly man who embarks on an adventurous joyride with a young friend, both grappling with their own secrets. Their journey not only highlights the bonds of family but also explores the challenges of maintaining autonomy in later life, all while delivering the charm and wit characteristic of a renowned Southern fiction author.
"Delightful and entertaining." PEOPLE When Jennifer, a college student, returns to her childhood home of Hoot Owl Holler with a tape recorder, the tales of murder and suicide, incest and blood ties, bring to life a vibrant story of a doomed family that still refuses to give up.... "Deft and assured....[Lee Smith] is nothing less than masterly." THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW From the Paperback edition.
Crystal Spangler, a beauty queen from the small mountain town of Black Rock, embodies both ambition and charm, capturing the affection of her community. Despite her promising future and academic success, she grapples with the environmental decline surrounding her, symbolized by the polluted river. As she navigates the complexities of adolescence and the expectations placed upon her, the story explores themes of identity, ambition, and the impact of one's roots on their destiny.
In 1944 a tradition was begun in the Pickett family that would bridge three generations of women. This captivating story, told in letters and recipes, paints an intimate portrait of American family life.
Thirty-five years after a trip down the Mississippi on a raft with their classmates, four women are reunited to cruise the river once again where they plan to release the ashes of a fellow rafter, Margaret "Baby" Ballou. Revered for her powerful female characters, here Lee Smith tells a brilliantly authoritative story of how college pals who grew up in an era when they were still called "girls" have negotiated life as "women." Harriet Holding is a hesitant teacher who has never married (she can't explain why, even to herself). Courtney Gray struggles to step away from her Southern Living-style life. Catherine Wilson, a sculptor, is suffocating in her happy third marriage. Anna Todd is a world-famous romance novelist escaping her own tragedies through her fiction. And finally there is Baby, the girl they come to bury-along with their memories of her rebellions and betrayals
A dusty box discovered in the wreckage of a once prosperous plantation on Agate Hill in North Carolina contains the remnants of an extraordinary life: diaries, letters, poems, songs, newspaper clippings, court records, marbles, rocks, dolls, and bones. It's through these treasured mementos that we meet Molly Petree.Raised in those ruins and orphaned by the Civil War, Molly is a refugee who has no interest in self-pity. When a mysterious benefactor appears out her father's past to rescue her, she never looks back.Spanning half a century, On Agate Hill follows Molly’s passionate, picaresque journey through love, betrayal, motherhood, a murder trial―and back home to Agate Hill under circumstances she never could have imagined.
The book addresses the evolving job market shaped by technological advancements, globalization, and economic fluctuations. It explores the challenges of securing employment in a landscape where job mobility is high and career paths are less stable. The content provides insights into navigating these changes effectively, making it a valuable resource for job seekers in today's dynamic workforce environment.
Speed, Alabama, is frantically preparing for the event of a lifetime: Sesquicentennial Week. And all her proud citizens are kicking up their heels in a lively, pompous fancy strut....
