I really like the way you express your words. In the last couple of weeks, I have been watching Peter Santenello's YouTube channel where he made a couple of documentary videos about Appalachia, and it was such an eye-opening experience for me. I highly recommend that everyone take a look at it. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEyPgwIPkHo5If6xyrkr-s2I6yz23o0av
Thank you for articulating this in real time. The inclusion of the bike ride
context of this evocation of resonating "rooted beyond th rootlessness" provides a contemplation a reader can gather into, and exercise a deeper awareness of their own longing... and (perhaps) undeveloped connections to internal voices that seem remote, but (perhaps) that awareness is keyhole access on the road to opening the door to them. I appreciated your delving into it, made even more poignant by the connection to Kingsolver's work.
Gosh, Mandy, your writing is so sharp and clear. Thank you so much for sharing it with the world. I grew up in small, homogenous communities, but as someone who wasn't from there and who envied those who had the deep, multi-generational roots and sense of belonging. Thanks for stretching my brain with a different, and complex, POV. :)
This is so beautiful and thoughtful, Mandy (just like you are!). We just took our teens to Europe, and I experienced a version of what you’re writing about here while in Krakow, Poland. My dad has been dead for 21 years, but his family was Polish, so being there brought up such strong feelings in me. I felt a longing, and a sadness, but also a deep appreciation and bond with this place that formed my grandfather, my dad, me, and now my kids. Our histories are powerful and nuanced entities - endlessly fascinating to explore and discover.
This was all so fascinating to me, having just finished this novel and also being haunted by it in a way, but not having any experience at all with Appalachia. Thank you for expanding my experience of both Demon and my education about Appalachia.
I don't like the stereotypes that developed around Appalachian people but some of them didn't come out of thin air. As you write yourself, you were very closed off to other cultures and religions. I've met great, friendly people in that region but some of those great, friendly people also held very bigoted beliefs, out of ignorance - sure, but they also had a prideful type of stubbornness to keep them ignorant because they liked their biases. I particularly encountered an extreme level of religious bigotry in that region.
I really like the way you express your words. In the last couple of weeks, I have been watching Peter Santenello's YouTube channel where he made a couple of documentary videos about Appalachia, and it was such an eye-opening experience for me. I highly recommend that everyone take a look at it. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEyPgwIPkHo5If6xyrkr-s2I6yz23o0av
Thank you for articulating this in real time. The inclusion of the bike ride
context of this evocation of resonating "rooted beyond th rootlessness" provides a contemplation a reader can gather into, and exercise a deeper awareness of their own longing... and (perhaps) undeveloped connections to internal voices that seem remote, but (perhaps) that awareness is keyhole access on the road to opening the door to them. I appreciated your delving into it, made even more poignant by the connection to Kingsolver's work.
Gosh, Mandy, your writing is so sharp and clear. Thank you so much for sharing it with the world. I grew up in small, homogenous communities, but as someone who wasn't from there and who envied those who had the deep, multi-generational roots and sense of belonging. Thanks for stretching my brain with a different, and complex, POV. :)
This is so beautiful and thoughtful, Mandy (just like you are!). We just took our teens to Europe, and I experienced a version of what you’re writing about here while in Krakow, Poland. My dad has been dead for 21 years, but his family was Polish, so being there brought up such strong feelings in me. I felt a longing, and a sadness, but also a deep appreciation and bond with this place that formed my grandfather, my dad, me, and now my kids. Our histories are powerful and nuanced entities - endlessly fascinating to explore and discover.
I always love your newsletters!
This was all so fascinating to me, having just finished this novel and also being haunted by it in a way, but not having any experience at all with Appalachia. Thank you for expanding my experience of both Demon and my education about Appalachia.
I don't like the stereotypes that developed around Appalachian people but some of them didn't come out of thin air. As you write yourself, you were very closed off to other cultures and religions. I've met great, friendly people in that region but some of those great, friendly people also held very bigoted beliefs, out of ignorance - sure, but they also had a prideful type of stubbornness to keep them ignorant because they liked their biases. I particularly encountered an extreme level of religious bigotry in that region.