West Virginia Books

Andrew Colvin has put together an amazing, detailed, and compendious book on sightings of the Mothman, or Garuda, whose visage Colvin has apparently captured on film--but which also touches on the Rockefellers, the Manson Family, The Philadelphia Experiment, Union Carbide, and strange 1967 premonitions of the destruction of the World Trade Center.

With transcripts of his interviews by the excellent Keith Hansen ("Vyzygoth") framing the work, Colvin weaves a fascinating tapestry of synchronicity, anomaly, and unexplained occurrence. There are transcripts also of talks by Grey Barker and John Keel, and of Colvin's own television program, The Mothman's Photograper, with annotations and asides by Colvin throughout. There is much, much more, though.

The Garuda has been legendary throughout human history as a harbinger and a protector--an inspirer of prophetic visions. That this legend would manifest itself to Americans in the 21st century is, in Colvin's view, some cause for alarm--and comfort. Alarm, because its appearance usually foretokens disaster; comfort, because those visited are forewarned and forearmed. Colvin's friends and family in and around Mound, West Virginia speak eloquently of their visitations.

My recommendation is that you unplug the phone, toss aside the iPod, shoot the television and spend a weekend delving into this most fascinating book.

This book is not only full of Mothy goodness, but much more.

Andy Colvin shows there is much more going on with Mothman than just the sightings of the creature. There are endless synchronicities and connections with other paranormal subjects, as well as fringe science such as mind control.

Honestly I think you could take the research in this book and make a great conspiracy/paranormal thriller film from it.

You get so much with this book -- interviews with Andy and dozens of other interesting people that have something to add to the Mothman tale. There are witnesses and esoteric legends like John Keel adding their two cents.

I would think this is required reading not only for those interested in Mothman, but anyone interested in the paranormal, ufos and/or conspiracy.

Two thumbs up for Andy!

Last night, I finished reading Andy Colvin's book, The Mothman's Photographer II. This is one of those books that is essential reading for those of you fascinated with Mothman.

Somewhat appropriately, and like the Mothman mystery itself, the book is full of all sorts of twists and turns, dark and disturbing scenarios, contains as many questions as it does answers, and definitely defies convention.

The book basically tells the very personal story of Colvin's interest in, and obsession with, the Mothman; something that began in his childhood in the sixties when he and his friends constructed a "shrine" to the Mothman - and after which strange and bizarre things began happening to Colvin, to his family, and to those around him.

In many ways, Colvin's book is more mind-bending than John Keel's The Mothman Prophecies. But this is a good thing: rather than simply go over old ground, and recount the original story, Colvin describes for us how the Mothman personally affected, manipulated, and possibly guided, his own life experiences, right through to the present day.

And it's written in an appropriately unconventional style too: via interviews, transcripts, personal comments and thoughts, and more.

For those who view Mothman as purely a crypto-zoological puzzle, you'll find yourselves at odds with Colvin, who places the creature in a very different category.

Essentially, Colvin views the Mothman as being akin to the Garuda - the majestic bird-like entity of Buddhist and Hindu mythology. Colvin's view is that the presence of the Mothman at the Point Pleasant, West Virginia bridge-collapse of 1967 (as described in Keel's book) was not in any way sinister.

Rather, Colvin sees the Mothman/Garuda as being basically a benign entity, and one that surfaces from its strange realm of existence at times of peril and strife, and when things are distinctly ill with the world. Part-helper, part-guide, it's inextricably linked with us - but generally for the better, Colvin believes.

But it's also a creature whose presence should not be taken lightly - nor should the fact that the creature's presence at Point Pleasant may have been tied in with a whole host of other activity, including classified government projects in the fields of mind-manipulations and psychotronics, synchronicities, the Men in Black, dark and tragic prophecies, the world of big-business, the military-industrial complex, and much more.

The Mothman's Photographer II is a fantastically strange trip into a world without rules, where just about anything goes, and where convention is thrown out of the window. But it works - and it works very well.

If you read the book, you are likely going to come away with a new view (or, at the very least, a modified view) of Mothman, thanks to a man who had the vision and guts to follow his instinct and present his data, ideas, theories and thoughts to those willing to listen.

And, given the fact that it seems the nature of Colvin's life was almost pre-destined from the day he first immersed himself in the world of the Mothman, perhaps he was meant to write the book. And perhaps we're all meant to read it. If so, Colvin has done us a great service in providing a book that is unique, unusual, riveting reading, and beyond thought-provoking.

Read and prepare to have your mind blown, bent, reorganized and, if you get the message, elevated, too.

" Mountain Memories" gave me a deeper appreciation of the Appalachian Mountains. I thoroughly enjoyed the wonderful journey through West Virginia's mountains with Jim Clark. It was inspiring to see a person so in harmony and appreciative of nature. We would all be better off to emulate that state of being. It was also fascinating to learn about the habits of some of natural inhabitants of the mountains. Jim's vivid and moving images made me want to head to West Virginia and experience the beauty for myself.

If you are a nature lover, photographer or just enjoy natural history, this is one for the permanent collection on our book shelves and in our hearts. It is a fantastic combination of excellent writing and inspirational photography.

For those of us fortunate enough to have grown up in the "country" this book will bring back those childhood memories of the lessons we learned by just going out into nature and really looking, listening but most importantly, feeling the spirit. The author has captured in words and images those inspirational moments with nature that become a part of who we are.

He has captured the essence of his personal love affair with West Virginia looking beyond the highways, the telephone lines, and all the marks of modern living to the true spirit of what it means to really connect with the personality of each changing season and the feast of visual experiences. The author then takes us beyond the beauty of the images and into his heart when he writes about what has inspired him. He shares with us his intimate knowledge of where to look and when for those special treats nature offers up each season in the West Virginia mountains.

It should appeal to anyone who has an interest in seeing the beauty in nature whether a photographer looking for great locations to photograph or someone who would like to spend a few hours with an author who has the power to capture our imaginations in a Huck Finn style of story telling about his beloved West Virginia. The book is rich with facts about the natural history of the area with extensive detail.

This is his second book and both should come with a warning. Once you read either book you will be making a trip, as I have, to the places the author presents so beautifully in words and pictures.

If you are looking for another f/stop, shutter speed, aperture setting book on photography, then Jim Clark's second book, "Mountain Memories, An Appalachian Sense of Place" probably isn't the book for you. Actually, "Mountain Memories" isn't even a book about photography. It's really a sharing of the Appalachian area and memories of renowned nature photographer, Jim Clark. As a photographer myself, though, I can't help but write this review slanted towards the wealth of knowledge the book makes available to my fellow photographers.

If you are looking for a book that teaches you that a successful image goes much deeper than the photograph, then click on the "add to cart" button and you will soon be transformed into the heart of Appalachia as well as the mind of one of its native sons. You will also begin a journey that will transform you from a technically correct photographer to a creator of images and memories.

Jim takes you on a beautiful journey of discovery, sharing his thoughts and memories as he travels and captures the beauty that is Appalachia. I felt like I was at his side as he goes through the beauty of the seasons, painting the scenes of the birds, trees, waters and plant life of regions of the region in eloquent prose and breathtaking images. His love for Appalachia is very evident.

Although Jim doesn't mention f/stops, composition, etc. each page of "Mountain Memories" holds a wealth of information that will make you a better photographer. I've had the honor of traveling some of these trails with Jim and I've learned from him, from his workshops, and from his book, that technical knowledge isn't the only element of a successful nature image. If you don't have a passion for your subject, a desire to learn about your subject, a desire to convey a feeling, elicit a thought, reignite a memory or tell a story, you've created nothing more than a technically perfect "snap-shot". Add all these elements and you've created another memory to put into your "Mason Jar" (don't miss Jim's explanation of the magic of memories and mason jars.)

I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to be a better photographer, or wants to learn more about the region, or just wants to learn about and enjoy the beauty that is Appalachia. I think that the sub-title could have easily been "An Appalachian Sense of Peace". It will be a treasured edition to my collection that will become dog-eared over the years as I revisit again and again.

My daughters, ages 8 and 6, listened intently as I read 'Way Down Deep'. We truly enjoyed this book. We found it difficult to stop reading each night as they would ask for 'one more page'. The characters are colorful and vivid and charming. We laughed out loud when the townspeople turn the attempted bank robbery into an 'opportunity' and adopt the bank robber and his family. We breathed a sigh when Ruby made her decision about where her home is... who her family is. We will certainly re-read this book in the future.

Way Down Deep is a small town that is cradled between hills in the Appalachian Mountains. This special town "did not do things by the book". In 1944 on the first day of summer, a small redheaded girl is found abandoned in front of Way Down Deep's courthouse "she was in her petticoat, just sitting there on that bench where the old-timers like to hang out and swap lies" A toddler she can only respond that "woo-bee" is her name so the town adopts Ruby informally, " if Ruby's people were dumb enough to lose something as valuable as a child, then finders keepers, losers weepers". The sheriff whose "heart was way too soft and his mind too fuzzy for sheriffing" looks the other way rather than try to locate any relatives when Miss Arbutus who runs the rambling three-story boardinghouse called The Roost volunteers to raise the little girl until "her people" are found. Ruby, now eleven, thrives on the love extended to her by the townspeople. The setting is well established: A charming little map shows: Busy Street and Ward Street where there are businesses like Bevins's BarberShop, Pure Gas Station whose owner also runs the Boxcart Grill and the medical office of Mr. and Mrs. Doctor, one is a dentist, the other is a doctor.
The cast of delightful characters include: a man who arrives with a goat which he offers Miss Arbutus in exchange for lodging and food; this goat loves to stand on a Studebaker to view his new town, Ruby's classmate Reese who loves to sing but sings off-key "In his own mind he was the second coming of Hank Williams, but to everybody else he was as off-key as a hillbilly slung up drunk on moonshine", Mrs. Thornton Elkins a "cultured lady" whose husband died in their first year of marriage so she moves into the Roost to recuperate for a few weeks, then a few months, then a few years; when she runs out of money, donations of food items and bolts of dress material are left for her so she could wear "simple but stylish dresses". One day an inept bank robber who is easily confounded, scared of real guns and so carries a plastic gun, cries when he tries and fails to hold up the town bank successfully. When it turns out he arrived in town on a bus and plans to leave on a bus, the townspeople are too polite to suggest to him a getaway on a bus was not the best idea. Nevertheless, the townspeople "adopt" his family since he is down on his luck. When Ruby is eleven years old, an uncle shows up to reclaim her; the interior motive proves to be that she is required to take care of a constantly angry and bitter grandmother. Ruby ingeniously starts telling her stories about the nurturing town where she grew up. Later when Ruby insists on returning to Way Down Deep, the grandmother wants to move there too where she might finally have some friends. This is a charming and uplifting story of a community that treasures its children (the adults put on a Kid's Day to celebrate all of them) and offers help to those in need. Yes, the residents are nosey and news travels fast, yet who would not want to live in this unique town where the residents are respectful of each other's idiosyncrasies and extend their love and care to residents and strangers alike. This is a powerful story of redemption and acceptance that is humorous and filled with interesting characters.

Ruth White's WAY DOWN DEEP tells of a toddler found abandoned in a small town. Miss Arbutus takes her in and she leads a good life - but when Ruby is twelve a new family arrives in town with news of her past - and to learn more she must travel far from her newfound home. Is it worth it? A fine story of bonds and community connections evolves.

If you feel a little guilty after reading `The Well Ain't Dry Yet 'you were probably raised to believe eavesdropping is impolite. Sure, eavesdropping on the lives of fictional characters may not seem such a crime-after all, we do it all the time with books, TV, films, etc. But there's something about the characters and settings of Belinda Anderson's collection of eighteen short stories that just might fool your conscience.

We know these characters as people before even turning the first page. They are our friends, our enemies, our neighbors, our relatives and sometimes even ourselves. We wouldn't be surprised to find them in line with us at the grocery store or sitting two pews down from us at church. And like any community, Anderson's characters pass through one another's lives (stories) just as easily as the people they remind us of pass through our own.

For instance, if you don't currently have a cranky, troublesome neighbor like Mr. Wood from the story `Rainbow Ranch', you either have before or one day will and can take a tip on how to deal with him now. Or if you haven't yet been run off the road by a de facto member of the crazy old lady drivers club, who meet monthly in the story `Delivery', count yourself lucky and keep both eyes on the road when driving near the Princeton Cracker Barrel. And though you probably haven't driven around for years with your dead sister's ashes taking up space in your trunk, you can probably sympathize with the long-standing jealousy leading the main character of `Hauling Evelyn' to do so.

Some of Anderson's tales take on a dark subtext, such as `Marital Bliss', or infuriate you at the pure selfishness of people, as the story `Junior' does. Ultimately, though, even these stories remain hopeful that a better day is just around the corner.

`The Well Ain't Dry Yet' is cross-section of life as we know it in West Virginia. Anderson's characters feel as though they were living their lives before we opened the book and will go on living them after we've closed it again. She's merely allowed us to eavesdrop on them for a little while, with perhaps a little guilt for having done so. This is Anderson's true accomplishment.

(This review originally appeared in the Reader's Corner weekly column of the West Virginia Daily News, April 1, 2002 edition.)

This is a touching book with realistic characters that could almost be our neighbors or friends. Perhaps the most fascinating aspect of this book is the ability of each character's tale to stand on its own, but also work together as one book or "novel." Anderson is a very talented writer whose work will indeed delight her readers. She is truly one of the most memorable writers of Appalachian fiction as well as one of the most talented writers I have ever known. Her work is very touching and her characters' tales tug at our heart's strings and invite us to feel something for someone we have never met before. But a closer look shows that these characters may not be such strangers at all. Their pain is so real and so familiar.

A great work, certainly meant for the shelf or even the coffee table of all frequent readers of fiction.

In The Well Ain't Dry Yet, prize-winning author Belinda Anderson shares with her audience her insider's eye about a collection of people who come from the hills of West Virginia, but who could have come from just about anyplace where the people have spunk and care about each other. Characters in The Well Ain't Dry Yet, such as quilter Twilight Dawn Johnson, who puts bits of other people's lives in perspective to patch together a lifetime of memories and hopes in each quilt for her friends and neighbors, remind us of ourselves and our neighbors at our best and funniest moments.

The title of this book is from Meister Eckhart: "Where clinging to things ends, there God begins to be." What I love about Karper's book is the way God's presence glimmers in and through ALL things: mud, collapsing sheds, grasping multiflora, escaped cats, untimely bills, you name it, Sr. Karen seems to have to struggle with it! So, while the book beautifully explores a life of solitude in a quiet hermitage in West Virginia, it's totally applicable to any life, anywhere, even the busiest. Because we all need to stop clinging to things and allow God to begin to be present, don't we?

While the book is just over 116 pages long, it is a gem and if you can find a copy GRAB IT. The Author Karen Karper was a member of the Poor Clares often associated as the female branch of what St Francis of Assisi started the Franciscans. In 1989 she opted to take a leave from the monastery to attempt a life of solitary and frugality. With a ten year old Bronco and a small amount of money she set out. She had no idea where she was going. At the request of two Nuns who lived in an Appalachian Valley area called Colt Run holler (Spencer W Virginia) she accepted their invitation to visit. This would be her welcome to what would become a way of life. Learning to live amongst people who did not know many Catholics, not to mention learning to use an outhouse, pump water and deal with everything from ankle deep mud to snakes (copperheads)in the wood pile. She writes about getting enough money to drill a new well, since the old one was unhealthy. To learning to literally do everything herself, be it repairing tin roofs, or trying to grow a garden. Learning that there is solitude and then there is solitude. That living as a woman alone on a remote area would test ones faith in God as far as protection and wisdom goes. Any woman who wants to see that being over the age of 40 or 50 doesn't need to stop you from testing yourself will love this book. It has a nice Thomas Merton Zen feel and a Mother Earth News feel that I especially appreciated.

And this is a book that I read and re-read on a rainy or sunny day and a book that changes my life everytime I read it.

This book is wonderful for anyone who seeks a short period of quiet in the midst of their busy day-to-day life. As a writer and someone who loves nature, I found amazing connections in Sister Karper's story, despite the fact that our lives are obviously very different. This book took me to the mountains of Appalachia, and made me want to stay there forever--with plumbing, however!

A great story. Kept me reading.

Since my husband and I are fans of P.D. James and other murder mystery novels, the book was "right up our alley" so to speak. Whether Tim would succeed or the fraternity would silence him permanently was well written and the suspense kept us glued to the book until it the end. The Civil War story line was thought provoking.

This book really hit me, maybe more so because I live near West Virginia. It hits on two time periods and connects them with a pretty involving mystery, plus it has some classic action elements. Overall, it's one of the coolest historical novels out there. It might not be Hemmingway, but it got me through fall break.

Found the author's book while searching for relatives of Beppie Leslie Culin Roskruge, who is likely the great aunt of Virginia Culin Roberts - because I found and am attempting to return what may be a sentimental heirloom of Beppie's to a living relative.

Good book, good author - just like her famous great aunt was.

I found the book well written, with Ms Roberts' delivering a colorful portrayal of western history. As a resident of the Nogales - Patagonia - Sonoita area I found her work verifiable and acurate, providing myself and by family a valuable source of information on our local history.

A side note: The Pennington family homestead was recently rediscovered and preservation efforts will hopefully save the remaining structure.

This book was extremely excellent, and life-like. Ms. Virginia Culin Roberts did an excellent job writing this book. Way to go Virginia!

This is a book well-worth the time it takes to read it, which is something that cannot be said of many books on the market today. Full of vibrantly-penned short stories and poems -- the kind that Jesse Stuart wrote and that become classics -- each holds the reader's interest from start to finish by grabbing his/her mind and heart and weaving it into the tale. Not being a native West Virginian, I'm free to say that Mountaineers take this writing business seriously, and as a result, aspiring writers can look to stories like the ones in this book as good examples of How to Write. If you're partial to downhome stories or smalltown life in coalmining regions or other stories along that line, buy "Backcountry..." you won't be disappointed.

I was one of the students who is thanked for the "preliminary" work in the first couple pages of Backcountry. This book was fully and entirely constructed as the sole purpose of a course at West Virginia University. We, the students, with the aid of Professor James Harms, chose the authors we wished to include, the work for each of those authors, sought reproduction rights from the publishers, and wrote the short biographies on each author.

We felt that it would be something really special to tap the poet laureate of West Virginia, Irene McKinney, to write the introduction to the book - we also decided to include some of her work in the book. Happily she accepted.

We worked long and hard on this book and were all very excited that it would someday be released, available and, in turn, earn each and every one of us at least a partial editing credit.

When it was finally released, we received no credit outside of the easily missed page (not even in the official acknowledgement), nothing aside from a complimentary copy from the University thanking us for "involvement in the project which eventually produced Backcountry," and the surprise that McKinney had "edited" the book.
She did not.

I cannot see how our product is different from this book and why the "James Harms with the students of English 271" editing credit became Irene McKinney.

It is quite possible that the publisher made a mistake (a big mistake), or that I am missing some drastic difference between our book and this book. But, if neither is the case, then who is at fault?

I do not wish to accuse Dr. McKinney of theft, do not seek to be paid, or to otherwise downplay what is an exceptional collection, I only seek an explanation.

In other words, buy this book. As ONE OF ITS CREATORS, I can speak very highly of its content. Maybe if a second pressing comes, the wrongs will be righted.

Passive aggressively yours,
Colin

Mr. Lepp can tell a tall tale like no other person. The stories are detailed making all of them nearly truthful. His incorporation of local West "by God" Virginia landmarks and history add to the stories. A must have for anyone who loves tall tales or is from southern West Virginia.

Bill can spin a story and there is no doubt he could sell ice in Alaska. Have heard him at a story telling and this is just a sample of the tales he can tell. Whether he is fishing with the Monster Stick or training a gun-shy dog,(Buck) Bill is pure entertainment. ROFLMAO...

I use this as a companion to my Butterflies through Binoculars book. The great thing about this book is the caterpillars that it shows. I'm consantly finding caterpillars in our garden and wonder what they'll turn into. This book helps sort all that out. The pictures are really good as well

I had purchased three other butterfly field guides prior to this one and this is the best in terms of help in identifying species seen in the field. Based on my experience, the butterfly photographs displayed in this book do the best job I have seen of accurately portraying species as they appear in the field. Photographs of like species are lumped together on the color plates and both upperwing and undersides are displayed. Both common and latin names are given in the species descriptions, which I personally find to be very beneficial. I found the overall format of the book to be very well done. I feel that any one living in nearby areas can be benefited by this book but, for someone living in West Virginia, this book is the definitive work on butterflies. True, there are other books that contain more, in-depth reference information, but none that exceeds it as a useful field guide. This is the book I have been waiting years to see!

Gary Felton