When I tell people that I’m from Appalachia, I often get a response that's something like, “Appalachia? Oh, have you read Hillbilly Elegy?” I can’t help but wince. Appalachia includes hundreds of counties across thirteen states, which contain a population of around 25 million people. No two Appalachians are alike, and neither are their audiobooks.
Since JD Vance’s HILLBILLY ELEGY came out back in 2016, he’s been platformed as “the” voice for Appalachia. But no single voice can speak for a region. So, I’ve compiled a list of some of my favorite Appalachian audiobooks performed by an all-star collection of narrators. There are authors from across the region, and they each have their own stories to tell. There are so many I want to tell you about, so let’s jump right in!
EVEN AS WE BREATHE
by Annette Saunooke Clapsaddle, read by Kaipo Schwab
Tantor Media
From the moment I first listened to EVEN AS WE BREATHE—the first published novel from an enrolled member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians—I knew I was listening to an instant classic of Appalachian Literature. This coming-of-age historical fiction novel set in Asheville, North Carolina, during WWII follows Cowney, a Cherokee young man as he takes his first job away from home. Kaipo Schwab’s performance perfectly captures Cowney’s youth and naivete as he ventures out on his own for the first time.
GOOD WOMEN
by Halle Hill, read by Tovah Ott
OrangeSky Audio
Tennessee author Halle Hill burst onto the literary scene with her short story collection GOOD WOMEN. Each story centers around a Black woman forced up against societal expectations of how a “good” woman “should” behave. Tovah Ott creates unique voices for the stories’ different protagonists, making each woman sound one-of-a-kind. Her attention to accents and expression gives these characters just a touch of South without overperforming the dialogue.
HOUSE OF COTTON
by Monica Brashears, read by Jeanette Illidge
Macmillan Audio
Much of Appalachia overlaps with the South, so of course, I have to include an Appalachian take on the Southern gothic novel. When Magnolia’s grandmother dies, a mysterious man named Cotton offers her a job impersonating his clients dead loved ones. She agrees and finds herself in the strangest job she’s ever had. Illidge perfectly captures the sinister qualities of the story with her performance, evoking Magnolia’s creepy and mysterious world. Illidge deftly handles the many different accents throughout the audiobook, adding just a touch of Southern dialect here and there in a way that brings the characters to life on audio.
NO SON OF MINE
by Jonathan Corcoran, read by Christopher P. Brown
Tantor Media
Jonathan Corcoran’s mother disowned him when she found out that he was gay. But when she dies during the first few weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic, Corcoran is forced to confront his tumultuous relationship with his mother, who he still loves despite everything. Christopher P. Brown imbues his performance with so much sensitivity and emotional depth. We feel along with Corcoran as he takes us back to his childhood in West Virginia, tells us how he finds his first love at college, and reveals how complex his relationship with his mother truly was.
REDNECKS
by Taylor Brown, read by Ramiz Monsef
Recorded Books
Taylor Brown makes the historical events around the Battle of Blair Mountain come alive with this cinematic novel. For much of the novel, we follow “Doc Moo,” a Lebanese American physician working in southern West Virginia in the 1920s. There he tends to the miners striking for better wages as they face off against the hired guns of the mining companies. Ramiz Monsef maintains the novel’s tension throughout his performance as the story’s action throttles forward.
SHAE
by Mesha Maren, read by Kira Fixx
Hachette Audio
In this quiet novel set in West Virginia, a young woman named Shae falls in love with a trans girl named Cam. Together, they start a little family that they struggle to keep together through medical crises, addiction, and so much loss. Kira Fixx performs this character-driven story, imbuing the first-person perspective with so much feeling and personality. She perfectly embodies Shae as a character, creating a truly beautiful listening experience.
TAKE WHAT YOU NEED
by Idra Novey, read by Christina Delaine and Idra Novey
Penguin Audio
Idra Novey’s latest novel gives listeners an insight into small-town Appalachian Pennsylvania. Author Idra Novey performs the perspective of Leah, an Appalachian Jewish woman returning to her hometown to take care of her stepmother Jean’s estate. In flashbacks, Christine Delaine shines as Jean, a gruff, no-nonsense metalwork artist who finds herself far too involved in her neighbor’s troubles. Together, Delaine and Novey perfectly embody their viewpoint characters, bringing them to life in that special way only the best audiobooks can.
THE BIRDS OF OPULENCE
by Crystal Wilkinson, read by Allyson Johnson
Tantor Media
Former Kentucky Poet Laureate Crystal Wilkinson is a national treasure, and her novel THE BIRDS OF OPULENCE is one of my favorites. Generations of Black women in the small Kentucky town of Opulence are forced to confront the many secrets of their past. Allyson Johnson’s narration creates unique voices for every viewpoint character, imbuing her performance with so much emotion and care.
THE UNSETTLING OF AMERICA: Culture & Agriculture
by Wendell Berry, read by Nick Offerman
Recorded Books
Parks and Recreation fans will recognize Nick Offerman from his iconic role as Ron Swanson, the Libertarian no-frills outdoorsy guy. This makes him perfect for Wendell Berry treatise on the dangers of agribusiness. Originally published in 1977, THE UNSETTLING OF AMERICA centers around the importance of community and small-business agriculture for American farming. Offerman’s no-nonsense performance perfectly matches Berry’s simple and straightforward prose.
THOSE WE THOUGHT WE KNEW
by David Joy, read by MacLeod Andrews
Penguin Audio
The bookish world has been sleeping on THOSE WE THOUGHT WE KNEW, the latest novel from North Carolina author David Joy. This novel centers around a small community forced to face the underlying racism in both their past and present. MacLeod Andrews’s narration is a masterclass in performing a book with Appalachian noir vibes. From start to finish, Andrews maintains the tension of the story while including the emotional depth Joy gives to his characters.
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For even more audiobook recommendations, check out AudioFile’s Behind the Mic podcast!
