A review by dawnhosmer
Appalachian Alchemy by Barlow Adams

5.0

Once I started reading Appalachian Alchemy, it was almost impossible to put down. I am generally a very fast reader but found myself purposefully slowing down just so I could savor it a bit longer. I lived in Appalachia for many years, so the characters created by Adams felt like people I've met along the way. The author uses beautiful prose to describe the dismal reality that many people face living in poor, Appalachian towns. This book made me laugh and then cry. It broke my heart, then stitched it back together, only to break it again. Appalachian Alchemy dives deep into themes of generational poverty and explores the reasons behind the seemingly unending cycles of it. Highly recommend this book.