West Virginia Books

Para los estudiosos del tema femenino el libro ofrece un resumen sobre como las mujeres latinoamericanas lograron su independencia económica y política desde la época precolombina hasta el siglo 20. Lo más interesante es que provee los nombres de mujeres pioneras en las luchas femíneas, algo que otros libros sobre el tema obvian o generalizan. Buena herramienta para iniciar una investigación.

Set in the coal mines of West Virginia, Wrestle the Mountain is an entertaining "coming of age" novel. Jed Jefferson Tate is an eleven-year-old boy who yearns for a better life than the constant struggle for survival that his father faces in the mines. With help from his teacher and his aunt, Jed must somehow find his own path. Then when a natural disaster puts lives in danger, everything changes! Wrestle The Mountain is a compelling and heart-told story.

Donna G. Keener and another Preston County woman, Janice Cale Sisler, have performed a service for folks who are tracing their Preston County roots. My sister and I used Keener's "Written in Stone: Tombstone Readings of Preston County, West Virginia" and Sisler's "In Remembrance, Tombstone Readings of Preston County, West Virginia" as Cemetery Guide Books on a recent trip to Preston County. I recommend the books of both Keener and Sisler for folks who are researching their Preston County ancestors.

The children in this story are amazing people. This story solidifies the fact that 'some people are not meant to have children'. I loved that the hardships that the children had to overcome DID NOT break their spirit for a better life. It made me appreciate the little things!

This tear jerking tale was one that brought tears to my eyes.The fact that the tale is true is just as amazing as Janette Walls herself.Many people go through times in their lives where they need courage, and if they are lucky they find it. Janette Walls had a childhood and adult life that have both called for an abundance of courage. Infact it seams that was the one constant in her life, she is a person of amazing strength in both living her life and telling this humbeling story. I will keep this book forever and read it many times!!!

This is a beautifully rendered, poignant account of a totally dysfunctional family. It is little wonder that this book won numerous awards and was a New York Times Notable Book of the Year. I simply could not put this book down, as the author had me transfixed with her story of growing up in such an unusual family.

Born to highly intelligent, creative parents who marched to the beat of a different drum, the author and her siblings had a difficult childhood. With a dreamer of a father who battled the bottle and a mother who was somewhat irresponsible and probably mentally ill, family life was a study in contrasts with an emphasis on independence, as well as artistic and intellectual pursuits, while spurning creature comforts, stability, and the much longed for three hots and a cot. This free wheeling philosophy, espoused by the author's parents, subjected their children to hunger, homelessness, and a nomadic existence. Yet, the children were resilient and thrived, even as their parents went on a downward spiral.

The author's story is positively riveting. It is a story of survival and eventual prosperity within mainstream society. It is a story about keeping one's head, when all around one others are losing theirs. The author's journey is certainly an amazing one, and I for one am delighted that she chose to share it with others. Those who enjoy reading memoirs and autobiographies will, undoubtedly, very much enjoy this one and be fascinated and moved by the author's singular, well-told story. Bravo!

After reading so many positive reviews for this book, I was deeply disappointed by the content and writing style. The four-word sentences and atrocious punctuation were torture for me. The author may have wanted the memoir to be from a child's perspective but the childish writing style was simply too much to bear. And this from a professional writer? Easily eighty percent of the commas could have been deleted from this book with only beneficial results.
Also I found the book to be completely incredible. Walls describes in detail lighting herself on fire by cooking hotdogs as a three year-old. She describes the skin grafts and dressing changes, and even getting her first taste of chewing gum while in the hospital. She describes a look on a nurse's face. Yet never once does she mention pain. If this event could stand out in her memory in such detail the first thing she would remember is that it was extremely painful, as burns and skin grafts undoubtedly are. Not a word about it.
Her lack of insight into her past is astounding. There is no depth to her writing, no self-awareness, nothing learned from having lived such a difficult life. There is no point to this book. It was merely a series of mishaps--almost like an outline for a memoir that never got fleshed out.
I wanted to provide another positive review for this book; to talk about how moved I was by this courageous author's path to success. Maybe add something about how inspired I am to overcome my own adversities. Instead I'm left wondering how I could have been duped into paying ten dollars for this callow memoir.

Walls writes with a keen eye and a warm heart, I could not put this book down. Easily on my top 10 list, I plan to give this book to those readers on my Christmas list. Highly recommended!!

My 8 year old son actually went to bed early every night we read this book so that we could read 2 chapters. Sometimes kids books just don't hold the attention of parents, but I truly enjoyed sharing this story. I choked up and had to compose myself. What a great story. What amazing life lessons, I loved this book as much as my son did. A must read.

Shiloh is a very good realistic fiction story. Shiloh's owner Judd Travers mistreats his dogs. Whenever Judd's hunting, Shiloh runs away to Marty Preston's house. Marty tries to keep Shiloh a secret up on their big hill. One night something terrible happens, so the secret slips. Marty needs to make some decisions and some lies.
I love this book so much that I would read it a million times. If you want to know more about this book, get it and read it!

This tender, loving, dignified story about Marty and his dog is a jewel. In this book, Marty rescues Shiloh from his savage owner, Judd Travers. Marty, having fallen in love with the sweet and comical beagle, lets nothing stop him from becoming Shiloh's owner. This young boy shows true love and devotion to his cause, inspiring the reader to imitate Marty by letting nothing stop us from pursuing our hearts' desire.

Title: Shiloh
Publisher: Aladdin Paperbacks
Author: Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Date: Paperback edition 2000

This is a fantastic book for all ages. Shiloh deals with important ethical issues that anyone can relate to. I especially recommend this book for middle school students, as I think they will find its message especially compelling.

In 1990, Shiloh won the coveted Newbery Award. It is a quick fiction read, with only 156 pages. According to Scholastic, the book is at a Grade Level equivalent of 4-6, a Lexile Framework of 890, or a 5.6 Reading Level.

Shiloh tells the story of Marty, an eleven-year old boy living in rural West Virginia. His family has close relationship and strong values. Living in the country, there is an established set of social norms that all families live by. When Marty stumbles across a young beagle hiding behind a bush, he is forced to grapple with these strict social norms in his quest to define right from wrong.

After spotting the Beagle, Marty notices that the dog won't stop following him. The dog is skinny and desperately in need of a meal and some love. After coxing the dog into his arms, Marty quickly falls in love with his new found friend. He names him Shiloh, and because of his owners apparent neglect and abuse, Marty vows to take care of him.

Marty quickly discovers that the dog belongs to ornery man by the name of Judd Travers. After taking care of Shiloh for some time, his parents discover the dog and demand that Marty return him to his owner. In spite of his better instincts, Marty returns Shiloh to Judd Travers.

Adding to the plot, Shiloh manages to escape again and find his way back to Marty. This time Marty is faced with a difficult ethical dilemma: should he return the dog to his abusive owner, or should he defy his parents to keep and protect Shiloh?

After an accident in the woods, Marty's parents once again discover his secret. Despite their growing affection for the dog, his parents demand that he return the dog again to its rightful owner. At this point , Marty is so desperate to keep the dog, he offers to do almost any thing for Judd, so long as he can have Shiloh back.

The book is riveting and keeps the reader engaged all the way to the last page. The characters are well developed; the reader truly feels Marty's pain as he grapples with his difficult situation. This book is a must read for all animal lovers or anyone learning to make difficult decisions.

As a caveat, children without a rural background may have trouble understanding or relating to Shiloh. The book uses beautiful imagery to describe the scenery of rural West Virginia; however, this may not appeal to someone who grew up in an urban setting.

This book is a poorly written adventure. From the start you know that he is going to get the dog in the end. It is not an enjoyable reader its just a book torchering you to stop all the way through it. Its insigneficant charecters have no meaning they all seem to go against marty, and are all cruel. This is a book of pain, dont read it. It will waste your money and your time.

Maybe it was just me, or that my expectations were too high, but as I was reading this trilogy it felt like the author had fallen in love with the idea in the first book, carried it through in the second, but was bored with it by the third. This was not a bad book, but when compared with the first two, it seemed like she pushed the fun and intriguing paranormal aspect of the story to the side and fell back on letting the romance side of the story carry the last book. I began wondering if the heroine would ever have to fight the villain at all.

Even though, it did bring closure to the story and was an enjoyable read. (Even if I had been hoping for more of the paranormal aspect.)

nora roberts is a brilliant novilist her last book of this triology was fasinating. she always keep me coming back for more books.

Hey guys,

I was really impressed with the last installment in the key trilogy. It didn't ramble off into nothing and there was no let down ending like some series that have been on offer. The book really tied all the 3 stories together and with Zoe's stubourness the ending could have gone either way! Definately a great series if you like romance with a twist!

The third installment in the key series is focused on Zoe McCourt and Bradley Vane's story. Zoe is a single mother, and she has had to struggle to raise her son. She was an unwed teenage mother who was abandoned by her first love James Marshall. As Zoe gets to know Bradley, she is horrified to see the similarities between he and James. It becomes obvious that to get close to the third key, Zoe must get over her trust issues, and rely on Bradley to help her. As in the past books, Kane becomes even more evil, and lives end up hanging in the balance.

A very good conclusion to the Key series. The male/female relationships were done well, but what outshined those, was the relationship that developed between the three women. Dana, Malory, and Zoe were all very different women with different life experiences, but instead of the differences being a hindrance, those differences strengthened their bond. You could feel the strong friendship between them.

This is my absolute favourite story of this trilogy.

Zoe, a single mother and hairstylist, meets Bradley Vane IV, the sexy heir to a home improvement empire. He falls instantly for her. Only she wants nothing to do with him, as their life and finances are worlds apart. And besides a rich boy left her pregnant as a teen, which makes everything far more difficult for Brad.
But Brad, loved the man for his single-minded persuit of her, will not take no for an answer.

A thrilling read, finding how Zoe learns to overcome her distrust of men and learn to love again while looking for the key.

As we return to the story of Marty and his dog, Shiloh, we find that the town bully is starting to drink very heavily, endangering all with his drunk driving and careless hunting. The whole town gives up on Judd, keeping their distance and fearing him. That is, everyone but one eleven-year-old boy, Marty. Marty tries to understand Judd's loneliness, and he believes, rightly so, that, given a chance, even Judd can change. This inspiring book reminds us to find the good in all people.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys realistic fiction. This is my fourth book that I have read by Phyllis R. Naylor and I have got to hand it to her. She is an amazing writer. The best thing that all these books have in common is that each book has its own little lesson. Asking me if I would recommend this book is like asking me if I want one million dollars. This book is fun and enjoyable too!! The book Saving Shiloh was not a boring book at all and in fact, I that in every book of hers the most the most important features are always trust and loyalty!!

I thought this book was going to be about angelina jolie & brad pitt's kid.

Saving Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor.
Imagine that your twelve years old. Your best friend has an imagination as big as the sky and thinks he's a detective. You're trying to help someone who is as stubborn as a mule but yet you don't give up on him. If you like stories like this you'll love this one.
The book is set in a little town called Friendly in West Virginia. The main character is a little boy named Marty. Who has a dog named Shiloh. He's had to work a long time to get witch probably have already read in the first book. He's trying to do anything to keep Judd's dogs from being mean. Then everyone in the counties trying to pin murder on him. Their blaming him for things that have been stolen out of some houses. And the only one who doesn't think it is him is marty. The best part of this book is you can be anyone and still make a big difference.
I would recommend this to anyone over the age of nine. This is a very good family book. For the parent to read to there child.

This is a great story, not only about a dog but about how people can change and good can overcome evil. It is the third of a series which really should be read in order starting with Shiloh. ( Ab 10 J.).then Shiloh Season - 2000 Kids' Picks. Marty decides to befriend Judd and help his other dogs too by putting up a fence so they don't have to be chained all the time and then Judd steps on his best hunting dog's paw while putting in a gate and dog bites his leg and won't let go. Judd kills dog and fells real bad. Judd ends up saving Shiloh after he jumps in the creek to save Marty's sister.

--Karen Arelttaz Zemek, author of "My Funny Dad, Harry"

The story begins with Orlando as a passionate young nobleman in Queen Elizabeth's court. By the end, Orlando is a 36-year-old woman three centuries later. Orlando witnesses the making of history from its edge. A close examination of the nature of sexuality and the changing climate of the passing centuries. Very novel and engaging if a bit loose-ended at times.

This `roman à clés' is very original. The hero continues to live in different historical periods and undergoes a sex change.
However, it is written in an emotional, sentimental, superlative style: `society in the reign of Queen Anne was of unparalleled brilliance. The graces were supreme.'
Except for the first period, there are no conflicts, only rather superficial descriptions of the mood and spirits of the times. For V. Woolf, `to give a truthful account of society ... only those who have little need of the truth, and no respect for it - the poets and novelists - can be trusted to do it, for this is one of the causes where the truth does not exist.'
`Orlando' is a perfect flight from reality: `But let other pens treat of sex and sexuality; we quit such odious subjects as soon as we can.' `Whigs and Tories, Liberal party and Labour party ... should be left to the historian.'

This book is a clean, introvert, aristocratic, long ode to pure Beauty.
Only for Virginia Woolf fans.

I like to think myself a very well-rounded reader (I have my degree in English), but I don't know if the genius of Virginia Woolf was just beyond me in Orlando. I enjoyed the story and the various historical characters that made appearances throughout, but something about it went a bit over my head. It was a strange tale of adventure and romance, with Orlando seeking the beauties of life and poetry throughout the centuries.

I read Orlando because someone told me that a central theme was Knole, the massive great house of the Sackvilles in Sevenoaks, in Kent south west of London. (I also liked Mrs Dalloway--See my Amazon review.) When we lived in London my family and I spent a day at Knole. It is supposedly the largest private house in England. Much of it now belongs to the National Trust. Knole beggars description--it is a vast mansion, brooding, and dark, but also eminent; it is a castle, a factory, mills, breweries, a village, and menagerie. I remember the deer as being especially numerous and friendly. Orlando the novel is dedicated to Vita Sackville-West who sadly was unable to inherit Knole although she grew up there. Only males could inherit.

The novel Orlando is a tour through English history from the mid-15 hundreds to 1928 always from odd perspectives. It is also a subtle and searching exploration of gender roles, social roles, and artistic and creative efforts. Themes interweave with lightning speed. It's crazy, funny, satirical, wild, and moody. I found parts to be incoherent, post-modern stream-of-consciousness, but most is entertaining and illuminating.

But this novel always comes back to Knole just as Orlando does. He/she (there is a sex change mid-novel) tours her house, thinks about it, ponders it, worries about it, and is always focused on it. Orlando lives for hundreds of years, but somehow I think he/she is a metaphor for the great house. Knole is not mentioned by name in the novel, but that's it. Knole is also the setting for The Edwardians by Vita Sackville-West. Knole is very worth a visit if you get to London or Kent. On the web at the National Trust website.

A visit in person however would help bring the novel Orlando to life. The novel is titled Orlando: A Biography. I think it is the biography of Knole.

One other odd feature: My edition (Signet Classics) has in index. This is the first novel I've read with an index. This suggests to me that Orlando is more than a novel, it is also a history of sorts.

Written in 1928, this book clearly sought to shock the reading public. For every repression delivered by Victorian authorities which surely hampered Woolf's freedoms, this book delivers a defiant rebuke to the same.

Orlando - it states in the beginning - is a man for whom "there can be no doubt of his sex." He is rich, handsome and lives a life even Hugh Hefner may be jealous of. But, scandals lead him to isolation, to public ridicule or upbraiding, which led him to sequester himself to his 200-bedroom hermitage-castle. In his hermit's existence, he does not pass time philandering, but instead pulls books off the library's shelves and romanticizes with fiction.

Eventually tedium compels Orlando to ask his friendly king to deliver him overseas where he can perform the duties of ambassador. He ends up in then Constantinople, now Istanbul, Turkey. While living there, he ends one exhaustingly long night of debauchery and partying with a seven day sleep - and awakes a woman.

This was a "good thing." As a man, he could not appreciate Tennyson, Shakespeare, Byron and the like. As a woman, their written word touched her greatly. She could be red eyed, she could be lachrymose. As a man, he never loved. Wollf says, ". . . love - as the male novelists define it . . . has nothing whatever to do with kindness, fidelity, generosity or poetry. . ." Orlando the man had no love? Maybe, with Sasha (a Russian seductress) - but maybe Sasha ruined him so that he could never love again.

As a woman, Orlando knows love. Wolff explains, "Love is slipping off one's petticoat and - "
Can you imagine the Victorians reading that?!

Orlando's life continues not for decades, but centuries. And, some other characters do as well. "The true length of a person's life . . . is always a matter of dispute. Indeed, it is a difficult business - this time-keeping thing. . . " Indeed, it was for Wolff who quite intentionally delivers this novel as a time-challenged writer.

More obscurities arise - androgynous lovers, angels' visits, children born from or for Orlando - and splendor with these very biologically-defying events.

This is not written in the weaving masterful language which Woolf delivers in "To the Lighthouse" or "Mrs.Dalloway." Instead, here the schizophrenia lies with the main character, not the writing style. Probably, a better story than "Lighthouse" or "Dalloway", but I am partial to the writing style of those masterpieces.

In any event, anyone wondering just how throttled Woolf felt in the stifling moral norms of her country, read this book. If anyone wants a bizarre tale about a bizarre man/woman, this is a must read.

Many people of all ages will like this book, Shiloh Season. If you like the book look through and look at all the pages that have pictures. Read and find out. What happens to an abused dog rescued by a boy named Marty?

Many people like this book. It is about a young boy named Marty Preston,
his family,Judd Travers,and an abused begle named Shiloh.
I love this book, and I bet you will, too. I like it because there is
a lot of action and fun. If you like beagles read this fantastic book.
I hope you like it, too.

Shiloh Season is a really great book. It is the sequal to the Newbery Medal winner Shiloh. So it contiues with Marty and his dog Shiloh who he got from a mean grumpy man named Judd Travers. Judd has started drinking and that is causing problems with him and Marty.For example Judd is blaming everything that happens to him on Marty. Will Judd and Marty ever become friends? Well to find out you should read this book!

The novel Shiloh Season is an excitant novel by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor. Shiloh Season is a good book.
In the narrative the characters were unbelievable. Marty and Shiloh are my favorite characters. Judd was mean at beginning at the end Judd was a nice guy. Phyllis Naylor wrote such an enchanting novel. She should rite another Shiloh story.
My favorite scenes in this novel is when Shiloh licked Judd's hand. If I would not change in I would not because Shiloh Season is a good book.
I learned from this novel that you should not people. I would recommend this book for my friends because I is a good book.

Shiloh Season is the second book in the Shiloh Trilogy. In this ongoing saga, 11-year-old Marty must face some of the consequences of past decisions, particularly the secret of how he managed to "buy" his beagle Shiloh from Judd Travers, his previous owner. Just when we thought Marty's fears about Shiloh's well-being were over, Judd begins to drink heavily and is displaying erratic behavior which causes Marty to once again fear for Shiloh's safety, as well as his own. Marty faces some difficult decisions again, as well as showing maturity as he wrestles with needing to protect Shiloh and wanting to find out if it's possible to teach kindness to someone who has never known it.

While this sequel was very enjoyable, it somewhat lacked the page-turning intensity of its predecessor. In Shiloh, Naylor deftly managed to make all the characters alive and a meaningful addition to the book, but Shiloh Season didn't quite draw me in as well and the scenes with Shiloh himself almost seem superfluous. If you are a fan of Marty and Shiloh, then you will most likely enjoy this next part of the story. If you haven't read the first book, I would highly recommend reading it first and become a fan before reading this second book.

Positive Elements: Though Marty's willingness to take risks in reaching out to Judd Travers stem from his desire to keep Shiloh safe, he learns compassion in the process and then attempts to teach it to Judd himself. Again, this book demonstrates to us an excellent work ethic and devotion to family. Marty may not always know what the right thing to do is, but his desire to do the right thing is refreshing.

Negative Elements: As in the first book, there are scenes which may frighten or disturb some children, including the use of firearms. One of the main themes of the book deals with abusing alcohol, and I edited out some language as I read this book aloud to my children.

If you have read Rocket Boys, it's imperative you continue with Coalwood Ways and Sky of the Stone. All are wonderful reads with great life lessons. Sky of the Stone was my favorite of the three but they build on each other. I look forward to reading Red Helmet in February!

Just a great part 3 continuation of "The Rocket Boys", AKA: "October Sky". I could hardly put it down. I really enjoyed this book, too.

A wonderful book that was not only an engaging story, but offered a glimpse into the life of West Virginia coal miners. Following on the heels of the "Rocket Boys" ( the book that inspired the movie "October Sky"), this book carries on the story of Rocket Boy and author Homer Hickam. You won't be sorry you read this book.

I read October Sky a week ago and then grabbed this one. I haven't read The Coalwood Way but after starting Sky of Stone, don't think it's necessary. This book continues where October Sky left off, and in many ways people are introduced in this book that were never mentioned in the first book. In manyways this book seems to be derived from all the notes taken out of the first book. Sonny's father's character comes to light in this book and we see the continued tension between father and son, and the son's reluctant growth into adulthood when he accepts (or is forced into) adult decisions for the first time.

Homer is a year out of college and he's slowly learning that many of the naive things he experienced in boyhood are coming back to haunt him. Where we all read about the fame and success of the six Rocket Boys, we now find that they are scattered across the country in college. With Homer, the grades in the first year weren't anything out of this world, or anything indicative of an aspiring rocket scientist. Without reading October Sky this book may appear to be a mystery, and I recommend reading October Sky first before attempting this one.

It is unfair to compare one book to the other, although I am doing it right now. What the first book was in childish charm, this one is with mature awakening. The writing style is still superb, the narrative flowing. The built-up to the plot, however, takes longer. The rocket scientist is no longer a rocket scientist in this book, and we find Homer Jr more of his father's son as a summer miner, exactly what he never wanted to be while in high school.

There is much more sadness in this book. The focus is on the death of a miner at the mine that Sonny's father manages. This book is more of a country suspense than it is a happy-go-lucky story like October Sky is. I think that this change in tone was necessary because the first book was full of optimistic, youthful naivete.

The problem with sequels and trilogies is that to understand the whole picture, all books must be read. I have now read two of the three and don't plan on reading the second book.

Sky of Stone, by Homer "Sonny" Hickam, is the sequel to his famous memoir, Rocket Boys, (October Sky). The story takes place in 1961, a year after his graduation from high school. Sonny, now eighteen, has just finished his first year of college at VPI, and is hoping to spend his summer with his mother in Myrtle Beach, lying on the beach, watching the girls go by, and dreaming about building rockets with Wernher Von Braun, the world famous rocket engineer. Out of the blue, his mother calls and says that he can't go to South Carolina; he to go back to Coalwood, West Virginia, the place he thought he was free from, to keep his father company. Sonny, shocked out of his socks, at first argues, but he eventually gives up knowing that he would not want to get on his mom's bad side. So, he heads up to Coalwood, filled with confusion pounding at his head. His father is a pretty stubborn man who can hold is own. Why would he need his company?
Within the first few days of being in Coalwood, Sonny wrecks his father's car. In order to pay his father back for repairing the damages, Sonny has to do the one thing that he never dreamed he would do in this or any other life time: he joins the UMWA (United Mine Workers of America), which is the union for the Coalwood miners. He becomes a "track-laying man," one of the hardest jobs in the mining business. His father, completely enraged with this, as well as having the pressure of the Tuck Dillon case on his mind, threatens to cut off Sonny's college fund if Sonny doesn't stop working in the mines. Yet, Sonny, who is actually beginning to enjoy the hard work of being a miner, refuses.
As the story goes on, Sonny slowly begins to find more and more information about the Tuck Dillon accident, and starts to wonder if his father might have actually killed Tuck. Sonny also has many other adventures during this experience of being a miner. He makes many new friends, some of whom give him very important advice and teach him life lessons; he meets a girl engineer who is older than he, and he starts to have feelings for. He also participates in a heated track-laying race with the other mining group.
Sky of Stone, like Rocket Boys, is a beautifully well-written memoir, filled with such amazing images, you feel as though you are reading a novel. The fact that this is a true story about one man's experience is astonishing. Along with it being about Homer's life, it deals with the hardships of growing up, changing from a teenager into a young man, trying to find your place in the world, while dealing with reality and the new feeling of independence. Each page you read takes you further into this adventure, making you fall in love even more with the book. You feel as though you are with Sonny every step of the way, learning more and more from this new experience. Personally, having read October Sky, I love both books and think that Homer Hickam is great author. It is a wonderful book, for anyone, as it reflects on life and the many lessons it teaches us, "I knew then, as I faced the sky, that Coalwood would go on. Its buildings might be torn down, its mine closed, its people might even die, but Coalwood would persevere. There was something about this place that maybe, as the Reverend Richard maintained, God just liked. Coalwood had nothing to fear and I guessed I didn't, either. When I needed it, the old place of my boyhood would yet be there waiting for me with all its wisdom and purpose, if not in stone and wood and iron, then still in my memory and my heart. I closed my eyes and felt the rain against my face, and smelled the smoke of the defeated fire, and thought of Coalwood. Coalwood, as it was, and shall be. Coalwood my home. Coalwood forever." (354). As I got to the end of the book I felt as though I was looking back on memory, in awe and filled with respect. In conclusion, I think this is great book, and I highly recommend it to anyone.