Tales of Koehler Hollow

Tales of Koehler Hollow was a speculative look at a family and their history. This book should be a must read for everyone. It contents gave so much and held nothing back. It will be among my favorite reads of the year.

"Tales of Koehler Hollow" by Naomi Hodge-Muse, in collaboration with Christopher A. Brooks, is an evocative and deeply moving narrative that chronicles the rich history of Amy Finney and her descendants. This book offers a poignant glimpse into the life of Amy, a formerly enslaved Black woman who carved out a homestead in the Appalachian mountains against incredible odds.

The storytelling is intimate and powerful, bringing to life the struggles and triumphs of Amy and her family over generations. Hodge-Muse's recounting of her Great-Great Grandmother's legacy, along with the lives of her parents, aunts, uncles, and siblings, paints a vivid picture of the African American experience in southern Virginia from the mid-19th century to the present day.

The book beautifully encapsulates the complexities, joys, tragedies, and resilience of a family navigating through a tumultuous history. "Tales of Koehler Hollow" is not just a family history but a microcosm of the broader African American experience, making it a significant and enriching read.

This heartfelt tribute to Hodge-Muse’s ancestors is a must-read for anyone interested in American history, family sagas, and the enduring spirit of those who have fought for their place in the world. Highly recommended for its emotional depth, historical insight, and powerful storytelling.

A complex, emotional, and inspiring journey through a resilient Appalachian family's history.

I don't have much to say about this outside of that this was a beautiful love letter to generations of family and ancestors that I hope many more people put out there. The ups, downs, joys, sorrow, survival, and death we all experience is told elegantly and respectfully. Cheers to the authors, and much love to the family!

Tales of Koehler Hollow tells the story of Amy, a formerly enslaved woman, and her descendants who established a homestead of family and community in the Appalachian Mountains. The stories are told simply through the voice of Amy’s great-great granddaughter, Naomi Hodge-Muse, and collected by anthropologist Christopher A. Brooks. 

The stories in this collection draw on the oral tradition of storytelling and reading it felt very much like sitting with a beloved auntie, so effectively did Dr. Brooks captures Hodge-Muse’s voice. There is very little in the way of superfluous language or lengthy descriptions, people are introduced with tenderness and care but there is honesty and acknowledgement that people are complicated and flawed. I was struck by the way Hodge-Muse described complicated family members, acknowledging the difficulties of growing up with an emotionally immature mother but also we know her mother was loved and more than a selfish, flighty woman.

The African-American experience is one that has been often marred by violence and loss, but in this anthology we are presented with a family that is strong, complex and driven to remain in community. There is devastating loss and violence, but it is recounted with the same calm tenor found in the rest of the collection.

Tales of Koehler Hollow is an important book to read and I’m grateful for the opportunity. History is often controlled by the powerful, they had the money to create records and steal people from their homes. Having this record of Amy and her family’s experience is a gift. Dr. Brooks has helped preserved this family’s history in a restorative way, a long, long time after their history was brutally ripped away. This collection is an extension of what drove Amy to establish the family homestead - without that grounding, we wouldn’t have this collection of stories, as told through Naomi Hodge-Muse.

Tales of Koehler Hollow is availalbe for purchase at Unsung Voices Books,