Beyond Elegy

Appalachia's True Story of Resilience and Hope

De: Laurel Ridgewater

Narrado por: Virtual Voice

BEYOND ELEGY: APPALACHIA'S TRUE STORY OF RESILIENCE AND HOPE
By Laurel Ridgewater

"Beyond Elegy" is a compelling non-fiction narrative that challenges stereotypes and presents a nuanced portrait of modern Appalachia. Through personal stories, rigorous research, and vibrant storytelling, the book explores how this diverse region is navigating the complexities of the 21st century while honoring its rich heritage.

Moving beyond simplistic portrayals of poverty and rural decline, Beyond Elegy examines Appalachia’s:

• Cultural Diversity and Evolution
  A rich tapestry of traditions interwoven with contemporary influences.

• Economic Transformation and Innovation
  Stories of resilience and creativity, showcasing how communities are adapting and thriving.

• Educational Challenges and Triumphs
  Inspirational narratives highlighting the struggle and success of educational initiatives.

• Environmental Concerns and Solutions
  The region’s fight to preserve its natural beauty and resources through grassroots activism and sustainable practices.

• Healthcare Initiatives and Community Responses
  An exploration of the ongoing efforts to improve health and well-being, even in the face of systemic obstacles.

• Political Complexity and Grassroots Movements
  Insight into the passionate activism and political nuances shaping the future of Appalachia.

• Global Connections and Future Prospects
  How Appalachia is emerging on the global stage, redefining its identity and future.

Written with warmth, humor, and scholarly insight, this book offers both an insider's perspective and an academic's analysis of one of America's most misunderstood regions.

A book that was like a meeting that could’ve been an email 

The introduction was over an hour of telling me to “buckle up” and get ready to hear about all of the diversity that most of us forget. Also full of cute things that someone like Jeff Foxworthy would’ve said, but not nearly as funny. I think the author was trying to be “down home” and maybe feel cozy, but it really did come off like a northerner trying to repeat southern speech. I don’t think that’s just the fault of the computer voice narration. It reminded me of writing papers and later then grading papers that had a page minimum, but trying to come up with ways to meet the requirements when everything had already been said  about the relevant sources. Hence, restating the same thing several times on the same page. The premise of this book was already stated and there was no reason for it to be repeated as often as it was. Just hoping that the second chapter will actually get on to saying some thing of substance. Unfortunately. when we got to the second chapter, we immediately return to the same things repeated in the first period only this time we don’t really seem to be looking at a picture of Appalachian culture as it was originally presented (i.e. many of the people there are white though most definitely not all) but we’re only hearing about how we’re going to hear stories of people of different backgrounds and colors. Some will be new immigrants and some will be of families that we might not have realized been there for a very long time. No mention of the stereotyped majority
group of people when specific examples for being outlined is something that we would be hearing about. I’m not really sure if the book was trying to do too much or should’ve been structured differently, but I definitely think that the repetition was completely unnecessary. I had to stop listening, as it was a page after page was repeat of things that have been said before with the occasional new piece that they was promised to be discussed presumably within the same chapter. Then there would be a return to information that had already been said. Originally I had selected book two so maybe that goes into better detail? I stopped listening when I realized that I should really start with book one. In all honesty, I could only make it through about an hour and a half of the first book. Take out all of the repetitions and it really could’ve been an email.