Winder Hollow

Winder Hollow is a trip to the past. A trip that will open your heart to possibilities and a wonderful story about the hill people of West Virginia. I was born in the hills of West Virginia and can relate to the characters in the story and wonderful characters they are. You will find yourself reading into the night, enjoying each word that is written.

I enjoyed this book as it took you back to the rural hills I knew when I was young. Going to my Great Grandfathers J. D. Cox's home near Salem WVA. It was not a log cabin but there was a wood stove and a pump for water outside the back door. There was a three hole outhouse built during the depression by the WPA and a creek where we caught crawdads and minnows. Eating tea berries and chewing sassafras bark. Walking up the hill to the old cemetery where some of the graves were only marked by a large stone. There was the smell of natural gas as sometimes it would seep up out of the ground. There was the taste of the mineral water so cold and refreshing coming out of the pitcher pump as we pumped it. This wonderful book brought back so many memories. I am getting ready to read " The Promised House" so I got to go.

Deathly ill, 19-year-old Alma Lee Holcomb needs to be taken immediately to a hospital. The problem, however, is that she lives in Winder Hollow, a rural community tucked deep into the Appalachians. Getting her to medical help will involve a treacherous mountain descent down steep trails threatened by falling rocks and mudslides, then fording a flooding river. But her younger brother Jacob and their friend Hillard are determined to get Alma Lee the help she needs.While McClure does a wonderful job describing the journey - full of detail about Appalachian scenery and life in general - he falls flat upon Alma Lee's arrival at the hospital. The story is said to be set in the 1960s, yet the girl is rushed into surgery and never is a single word said about insurance or payment for her treatment and subsequent stay. Given the lifestyle, the former is highly unlikely and it doesn't seem that people living such an off-the-grid existence would have enough cash, either. Perhaps the hospital was able to cover such patients, which is always possible. But no one utters a word about anything related to money, which is a HUGE omission when writing about such matters.The story then jumps - rather abruptly - forward 19 years. We learn what's happened to Jacob and Alma Lee since they were teenagers, and it's honestly nothing that wasn't almost hitting readers over the head all throughout. But the alarming part is that the thirty-something Jacob has just hired a young employee, Ruth, who he invites out to dinner after a long workday. That would be fine - if the dinner weren't candlelit, with wine, and involved lots of closeness and touching. This is depicted as cute and romantic, not creepy and/or borderline illegal.Of course, as a reader I know that some things have to be hand-waved. But these two things seemed pretty major, especially given that there simply AREN'T all that many events altogether. It really left me hard-pressed to like this.

A heart warming story, about a brother and sister living in the mountains of West Virginia. Facing many obstacles, they honor their past, and ultimately create a bright future.

MountainS. In North Idaho. At thatHad time it was with out electricity or paved roads. Grow Hadwhat we ate. we have chicken ;pigs ,cows,horses,a.nd a very huge garden.5acres.we had root seller for preserving our potatoes, carrot s,turnip s squash, cabbage, the corn,beans peas, were canned. Also we rhub arb our nearest neighbors was a mile away. also the Indian mission was was just across the mile wide valley. We lived on one side it was on the other side. In the summer we would hear their pow lows.. That area this a sign saying it was settled in1902.

I enjoy reading stories of families from Appalachia. I can relate to these stories because my dad's family had similar experiences. This story is a relaxing story, and I liked the characters and the conversations.

I enjoyed first half. Late 1960s, Story of 19 year old girl ,Alma Lee who has lived in West Virginia mountains all her life. She becomes ill and needs hospital care. It is quite a experience from her secluded life. Her and younger brother Jacob live alone last 3years since death both parents.Her doctor Robert, becomes interested in her and folk medicine and the older healer Granny. I rarely read other reviews before doing mine. I also agree the 19 year jump did not help the story. Too me it seemed like a different writer took over. Story of Alma almost stops and focus now on Jacob, now a doctor. I feel lot left out about how he got his education, Alma new life with the Doctor and their romance. But does go into getting medical care back too mountain folks after Granny dies.

Beginning of book was very interesting. But after the initial excitement it turned into sickly sweet pap and stayed that way through the end.

Another more recent Appalachian time here. Great yarn and links another time with nowadays very impressiveLove the Appalachian dialect

I found it boring and didn't t finish

I wasn't to sure at beginning of this story .I was trapped by 3rd page into a very different way of life and couldn't put book down .I really enjoyed it