 When I pick up a novel written in 1925 by someone I’ve never heard of, I’m prepared for quaint narrow-mindedness, ready to tolerate the ignorance of bygone days. You know how you laugh or shake your head at vintage movies, their old-fashioned ways and effects? I figured it would be like that. This is not what I found in Furman’s novel set in remote mountains of early 20th century Kentucky, where a glass window-sash meant monumental change for cabin-dwellers. Time and again I was taken aback by turns of events or character development that countered my expectations. There are timeless interior struggles here, not to mention exquisitely detailed and often beautiful scenes of primitive living in the hollows of rural Kentucky. I plan to track down Furman’s book that first introduced this world – The Quare Women. I doesn’t hurt that I can imagine Rachel Field sitting in this island house, reading this very book about 90 years ago. My 60th year in 60,000 words Day 338: 158 words, TOTAL = 54,884; 5116 remaining |
AuthorRobin Clifford Wood is a writer and writing teacher. She lives in central Maine with her husband and dogs, loves to be outdoors, and enjoys ever-expanding horizons through her grown children and their multi-species families. Archives
June 2021
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