A coal mining town was a world unto itself. Such was the concept conveyed by this very talented writer. Having grown up on the east coast, I had an awareness of microcosms tucked away in the hills of West Virginia. The tale offers a total immersion! The ethnic strains, the strong presence of the Catholic Church, the very limitedness of the people with regard to perspectives and avenues of escape – all are in the mix and combine to establish a vivid setting. How thoroughly the mine dominated their lives! The shifts dictated daily schedules of the townspeople with regard to eating, sleeping and socializing. Financial mobility, life expectancy and ambition were likewise caught in the all-encompassing web. Few escaped, as people were poor, and there was pressure for young men to ‘go down’ after high school in order to contribute financially. Reminders of the transitory nature of life and death were ever present.

‘Mining coal was like challenging the grim reaper every shift. Most times, the miners won. But those times they didn’t, the tragedy scythed a notch out of the town’s soul. Nobody wanted to remember but they never could forget’.

It seems to have been a harsh existence, laced with much hardship and few joys. Fascinating, however, and I remained totally enthralled, as the lives of these colorful characters unfolded!
The author’s mother-in-law grew up in a coal mining town, and provided a great deal of insight. I was delighted to learn that Homer Hickham was also an advisor! He was the author of October Sky, which was set in a coal mining town, and was eventually made into a very memorable movie.