- Shopping Bag ( 0 items )
Other sellers (Paperback)
-
All (20) from $1.99
-
New (7) from $16.69
-
Used (13) from $1.99
More About This Textbook
Overview
Editorial Reviews
Herald-Leader Staff Lexington
Quite simply, Creeker is one of the finest autobiographies ever written by a Kentuckian.Kirkus Reviews
A memoir of growing up in, and then living outside of, eastern Kentucky's Appalachian Mountains, by an author proud of her heritage. Linda Sue Preston Scott DeRosier may not be as famous as Loretta Lynn, Appalachia's most beloved daughter, but her journey has been as long as, and perhaps even more unlikely than, that of the "Coal Miner's Daughter." Born at home in 1941, raised in the rural community of Two-Mile Creek, and finding herself still unmarried at 17, she went to college on a scholarship and, among many other experiences (marriage, work, raising a son), discovered that what she truly craved was knowledge. Now a professor of psychology at Rocky Mountain College, she offers this book as her tribute to the family who nurtured her and the community that, though DeRosier lives in Montana, she still calls home. Her hillbilly-influenced syntax (for which a full and entertaining glossary is provided) shines through the palimpsests of higher education and feminism, giving readers a hint of what life as a "creeker" (i.e., one who grew up in the more rural "hollers" of Appalachia) must have sounded like. Though her childhood was in some ways characteristic of those highly intelligent women who grew up stifled by the '50s and discovered themselves in the '60s, there is nothing typical about this memoir, which is full of not only the language but also the values, humor, and perseverance of DeRosier's family. The sheer amount of physical work, as portrayed in her descriptions of the routine of chores and cooking and farming, provide quite a contrast to the Leave It to Beaver image of the typical '50s suburban household. By the time she writes that "there is a comin'-home spirit that is anessential part of growing up in Appalachia," that much, and quite a bit more, is abundantly clear. Rich in both language and history, enjoyable, informative, and "sharper'n ary tack." (32 b&w photos, unseen)From the Publisher
"Effectively blends sociology, memoir, autobiography, coming of age and discovering voice, and probably a whole lot of other things. Most of all, however, it's a story that tells a tale of our age, and that is priceless for future generations." -- Bowling Green Daily News
"Creeker is must reading if you want to understand Appalachian family values." -- Central Record (Garrard Co., KY)
"I was prepared neither for the power of DeRosier's prose nor for the fact that much of her story would have me laughing out loud." -- Huntington Herald-Dispatch
"A place this reader delights to be taken, and a person it was a pleasure to meet." -- Huntsville Times
"Both a joy to read and a serious exploration of rural Appalachian culture." -- Journal of Appalachian Studies
"Does what all good biography and autobiography and memoirs should do -- it shows the inner spirit and humanity of an individual, complete with frailties and doubts, rather than trumpeting a list of lifelong accomplishments and good deeds. DeRosier has produced an absolute gem." -- Journal of Southern History
"Her narrative is captivating, moving quickly and sensitively, creating a sense of personal connection with the reader." -- Kentucky Libraries
"[DeRosier] chronicles her life with honesty, wit, and insight. A tale that begins and ends with family, this is a story not only of accomplishment but of acknowledgement -- of self, relationships, the challenges and consequences of choice, and the impact of the past on the present." -- books-regional-us.blogspot.com
"Arthur DeRosier has done a wonderful job of recovering and recreating Dunbar's life and times." -- Frank Cogleano, Scottish Historical Review
Product Details