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grotta's review against another edition
4.0
This is a very good collection of related (very) short stories. They center around a family in Appalachia and pull together what a family is about. Wherever you hail from, Wilgus and his family will remind you of people you know and bring out qualities in the small things they do.
cartoonmicah's review against another edition
5.0
A collection of 10 stories, all involving Wilgus Collier at various stages of his life. These stories are short and interesting, supremely easy to read and highly engaging. Gurney Norman feels like a more honest Wendell Berry, an author who writes endearingly about rural Kentucky living, but one who is unflinching in exposing the cyclical hardships and evils at the center of human relationships. Wilgus himself becomes the real miracle, the constant force for good who is empathetic toward and proactive in the lives of all those many varied family members he has spent his life learning to love and to cope with.
dennisfischman's review against another edition
5.0
Did you ever read a book that was so apparently simple you raced through it and then said, "I have to read that again"? That was my reaction to Kinfolks. Each story is complete on the surface, but it has hidden depths of character, conflict, and history. By following a boy to manhood in his Appalachian family, Gurney Norman says more about the culture of the area and the devastation that coal mining (and the collapse of the industry) have left behind than all the nonfiction books I have read about this region so far. And the stories are gems of fiction.
poorlenore's review against another edition
4.0
Why have I not read more local authors? Great book. Can't wait to read his counter culture stuff.
emilymhb's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
chloewithoutanh's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
karianne791's review
3.0
Didn't love it, but didn't hate it. It was relatable, and inclusive for Appalachians or really anywhere in the world. Everywhere has some poverty, everyone has some crazy relatives and I'm sure we all know a little about dysfunctional family. It was a quick easy read. Got a little worried at the end, but ended up liking the book overall.