I come from a long line of Appalachian women and love reading stories of actual lives of women in the region. I remember volumes of Foxfire books in homes when I was growing up. The format here is a bit story corp, a bit Federal Writers Project , and suffers a bit, I think from the outsider looking in (some women may not have been comfortable with interviews, not forthcoming or candid, etc). And, the editing and commentary seem to reflect this.

The Foxfire Book of Appalachian Women is a wonderful volume of interviews of mostly north Georgia-area women who have lived lives of deprivation and hardship, some abandoned to survive on their own, who talk openly of their strong faith in God and how life has changed over the years. Family histories include moonshiners, root doctors, indigenous peoples and crafters, who used whatever was available to survive and better their circumstances. The stories are a testament to the human spirit, determination and what can be achieved despite having all odds against you; a very encouraging read.