Far Appalachia: Following the New River North
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Book Overview
With his sharp eye and gentle wit, Noah Adams doesn't just tell stories, he lets them unfold -- quietly, powerfully, and eloquently. Now the beloved host of NPR'sAll Things Consideredand bestselling author ofPiano Lessonstakes us on a river journey through the heart of Appalachia -- a journey shared by pioneers and preachers, white-water daredevils, bluegrass musicians, and an unforgettable cast of vivid historical characters. Noah Adams has Appalachia in his blood. A native of eastern Kentucky, he comes to the headwaters of the New River not just in search of adventure but to better understand his own unique heritage. Following the New River from its mile-high source on North Carolina's Snake Mountain to its West Virginia mouth, Adams travels by Jeep and by bicycle, by foot and, most thrillingly, by white-water raft to explore the history, natural beauty, and fascinating characters waiting around every bend and turn. Distilling history from legend, Adams tells of men and women whose lives crossed the New River before him: Daniel Boone, fleeing his farming family in search of wilderness; Cherokee Indians driven west on their Trail of Tears; and the ill-fated men who traveled thousands of miles to work on the Hawk's Nest Tunnel, making a fortune for a company while their lungs filled with deadly silica dust. And along the way Adams follows the echoes of his own distant heritage, interweaving his river journey through Appalachia with yet another voyage, thousands of miles away. With eloquence and compassion, Noah Adams paints a luminous portrait of a land and a people as richly vital and complex as America itself. At the same time, his quietly personal chronicle captures the sheer magic of the flowing waters: their sound, their eddies, their utter unpredictability. A vibrant and unforgettable read,Far Appalachiamesmerizes and haunts like the bluegrass music that still rings through the mountains and valleys in which it was born.
Format:Hardcover
Language:English
ISBN:0385320108
ISBN13:9780385320108
Release Date:April 2001
Publisher:Delacorte Press
Length:238 Pages
Weight:0.86 lbs.
Dimensions:0.9" x 5.8" x 8.6"
Customer Reviews
5 ratings
What an experience!!!...
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 23 years ago
I used to live near the New and Noah Adams describes it wonderfully. While on a quest to learn more about his family from the area, he also spends most of his Spring, Summer, and Fall in and around the New River. He bikes, hikes, canoes, and whitewater rafts in and around the New while telling about the history of all 350 miles of it. Each chapter is dedicated to a specific location on the river and he even gives the Latitude/ Longitude so you can visit the places he was. I highly reccomend this book!!
The New River
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 23 years ago
Noah Adams has provided the reader with a detailed description of the demographics, landscape, environment as well as folklore of the New River as it winds its way North from North Carolina to West Virginia. Having paddled the river from Pembroke to Glenn Lynn Va and living in this region since 1977 I was amazed at his description of the simplest details such as how to run the Narrows Falls to his stories about the surrounding communities. If you are fond of the New River Valley you will treasure this remarkable desciption of the people and places he visits while on his journey down the New River.
Adventure and more!
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 23 years ago
This rather thin book is chock full of things I never knew and was interested to learn! I grew up in Va. but had no previous knowlwdge of Mary Ingles--a fascinating true story. The book is far ranging ,from pioneer stories to a thrilling account of white water rafting (I'm wondering if a 56 year old couch potato dares try it!)Travel writing at it's best!
A powerful, meandering journey told by a master
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 23 years ago
Noah Adams is a great story-teller - this much we know from his sure, relaxed style on NPR. That he has a knack for detail and a love of the outdoors is a welcome surprise. The result is a thoroughly engaging book about a part of the country that many don't know.The book borrows its pace from the river itself. In several passages, there appears to be no point: just a casual observation of a minor detail, told in many pages. Whether it's the point where he considers leaping a fence because the trail may or may not be closed, or it's the rich detail of the rapids ahead on the river, you feel as if you're on the journey with Adams every step of the way.The strength of the book is that Adams tells it on his own terms: this book is an exploration of a part of *his* history. His people are from here, and he wants to learn more about the region that produced his ancestors. At one point he even traces his roots beyond Appalachia, back to England where his ancestors originated. These diversions, much like the tributaries of the New River, simply fill out the story and make your experience all the more complete.A final note - I listened to this book, rather than read it. Since Noah Adams does the narration, it adds just a bit more to the overall experience. Because you already know his voice, you feel as if you're listening to an old friend tell you stories by the campfire. One can't help but hear the love of the river, and the outdoors in general, as Adams recounts his story. It's a wonderful experience.
A quick trip down a fast river
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 23 years ago
As you read this book, you can hear Adams talking: slowly and carefully, stopping here and there to dwell on a minor detail that focuses on the essence of a place. This is a good place to start if all you know about Appalachia and its people is what you learned from seeing "Deliverance", but it's also fine reading if you're from the hills or have spent some time on the New River. As a native son of the Mountain State, whose ancestors settled on the Bluestone River in 1790, I was amused to discover that some folks still regard West Virginia as a scary place populated by violent, barefoot hillbillies (only the guides on the river are barefoot here). One small quibble: Adams doesn't devote any time at all to the geological history of the river itself. Given that it's generally regarded as the oldest river in North America, I thought this was surprising. My only complaint is that, just like a rafting trip down the New in Spring, it's over way too soon.
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