Book description
Two of Verna Mae Slone's most beloved books-How We Talked and Common
Folks-are now available in a single edition. How We Talked is a timeless
piece of literature, a free-form combination of glossary and memoir that
uses native expressions to depict everyday life in Caney Creek,
Kentucky. In addition to phrases and their meanings, the book contains
sections on the customs and wisdom of Slone's community, a collection of
children's rhymes, and stories and superstitions unique to Appalachia.
More than just a dictionary, How We Talked is a rich compendium of life
“on Caney,” offering an understanding of the culture through the
distinctive speech of its people. Originally published in 1979, Common
Folks documents Slone's way of life in Pippa Passes, Kentucky, and
expands on such diverse topics as family pets, coal mining, education,
and marriage. Slone's firsthand account of this unique heritage draws
readers into her hill-circled community and allows them to experience a
lifestyle that is nearly forgotten. Whether she is writing about
traditional Appalachian customs like folk medicine or about universal
aspects of life such as a mother's yearning for the little girl she
never had, Slone's instinctive sense of what matters most makes Common
Folks a compelling meditation on a legacy worth remembering. Published
together for the first time, How We Talked and Common Folks celebrate
the spirit of an acclaimed Appalachian writer. Verna Mae Slone, a
native of Knott County, Kentucky, is the author of several books,
including the bestselling memoir, What My Heart Wants to Tell, and the
novel, Rennie's Way.
