Strange as This Weather Has Been

Strange as This Weather Has Been follows multiple generations of a West Virginia family as they face the devastating effects of mountaintop removal coal mining on their community. The story centers on Lace See, her husband Jimmy Make, and their four children as they navigate life in a hollow threatened by flooding and destruction from the mining operations above them. The narrative alternates between different characters' perspectives, revealing their individual struggles with poverty, family obligations, and their connection to the mountain landscape. Through their experiences, the novel documents the human cost of environmental exploitation in Appalachia during the early 2000s. The characters grapple with impossible choices between economic survival and preservation of their ancestral land, while facing immediate physical dangers from the mining. Their story is interwoven with local history, mining disasters, and the gradual transformation of their mountain community. The novel examines themes of place-based identity, environmental justice, and the complex relationship between humans and the natural world. Through its focus on one family's experience, it raises broader questions about sacrifice zones, rural poverty, and the true price of energy extraction.

Readers highlight the intimate portrayal of Appalachian life and the devastating impact of mountaintop removal mining on local communities. Multiple reviewers note the authenticity of the regional dialect and descriptions. Positive reviews focus on: - Vivid sensory details and atmospheric writing - Multiple narrative perspectives that show different sides of the community - Strong character development, especially of Lace and her children - Educational value about mountaintop removal mining Common criticisms: - Slow pacing, especially in early chapters - Dense, poetic prose style that some found difficult to follow - Depressing tone throughout - Some found the environmental message heavy-handed Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (1,100+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (90+ ratings) One reader on Goodreads notes: "The writing is beautiful but requires patience - this isn't a quick read." Another states: "The environmental devastation is heartbreaking, but the human stories kept me engaged."

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🌲 Ann Pancake drew heavily from her own background as a West Virginia native to create authentic dialogue and regional details, including the distinct Appalachian dialect used throughout the novel. ⛰️ The book's portrayal of mountaintop removal mining is based on extensive interviews the author conducted with residents of southern West Virginia coal communities between 2000 and 2004. 💫 The novel's title comes from a line in "Coal Tattoo," a traditional folk song about mining life that was popularized by West Virginia musician Billy Edd Wheeler. 🏆 Strange as This Weather Has Been won the 2007 Weatherford Award for Fiction, an annual recognition of works that highlight the culture and traditions of Appalachia. 🎓 While writing the novel, Pancake worked as a professor at Pennsylvania State University, where she taught creative writing and Appalachian literature, bringing firsthand knowledge of the region to her classroom.