A classic of Appalachian literature-- River of Earth is told through the eyes of the oldest son (around 7 years old, he remains unnamed throughout, although his parents lovingly call him one of their chaps) who narrates the story of his family's struggles in the hills of eastern Kentucky. The father maintains that he is a born coal miner and insists his family follow him to live in town, while the mother longs to stay lonesome farming in the mountains. I am reminded of The Grapes of Wrath when the family leaves their farm to live in the depressing coal mining camps.

A favorite section that had me smilin' early on is when the wife stands up to her husband and tells him to ask his kinfolk to leave-there simply isn't enough food. He refuses to turn them out, so what does she do?--burns down their cabin and moves her children into the smokehouse!
Another part I loved was when the 2 oldest children find out that they will be able to finally attend school. Father tells them,
"I saw Jonce Weathers, the Flat Creek school-teacher today. I asked him how many scholars he had and he says eighty-six, he thinks, but they wiggle so he couldn't count 'em for shore. I said I had two chaps ought to be in school. He says send them along, now he did."

The title is referred to by Ma's favorite mountain preacher, Brother Sim Mobberly-- "My brethren, they hain't a valley so low but what hit'll rise agin. They hain't a hill standing so proud but hit'll sink to the low ground o' sorrow. Oh, my children, where air we going on this mighty river of earth, a-borning, begetting, and a-dying--the living and the dead riding the waters? Where air it sweeping us?"
Indeed the theme of birth and death resonates strongly. (In one of the words the author uses often): This beautiful novel leaves me with a feeling of dolesomeness -a sad, but hopeful, longing for my home state of Kentucky. ( )

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