Stories I Lived to Tell

Book excerpt: Stories I Lived to Tell is more than a selection of stories from revered mountain storyteller Gary Carden—it is a testimony of a distinguished culture, sense of place, and spirit of community that connects the Appalachian past to its present. This memoir-in-stories invites the reader to move beyond stereotypes to experience the scenes, characters, and community of the author's childhood and formative years, intersecting with the regional folktales and mythologies that fired his imagination. It is not only a fascinating window into an Appalachian community in the middle of the twentieth century but also an insightful reminder of who that community is today, in spite of the external changes. Featuring an introduction by documentarian Neal Hutcheson, this book is a moving, often funny, collection by a talented storyteller who cuts through cliche and sanctimony with his powerful words.