John O'Brien (2) (–1943)

Quite simply, At Home in the Heart of Appalachia is about family and home. However, right from the beginning you know there is a darker story bubbling under the guise of a memoir about a place. The quote on page three is very telling, "The flurry of phone calls two days ago made it clear that my presence would only add the family stress." Later you learn that father and son have not spoken in 18 years. This is the backbone of O'Brien's story. He weaves family memories and specific anecdotes show more of his dad into the landscape of Appalachia. A secondary motive is to make excuses and offer explanations for the misconceptions about Appalachians in the areas surrounding Franklin, West Virginia. Time and time again O'Brien refers to the region as "redneck" or "hillbilly" or "backward." It is a way of life that is complicated and simple all at once. show less