Storming Heaven by Denise Giardina Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Storming Heaven
Book Review: Capturing the passion of collective struggle
Summary: 5 Stars
This has to be my favorite political novel of all time. Giardina, who grew up in a coal camp, has an extremely lyrical - almost poetic - style. She strikes just the right note in juxtaposing the brutal corruption of the mine owners, stealing the land deeds, homes, labor and lives of the entire region - and the energy, excitement and pure romance of the union drive that organizes against immense odds to reclaim its members' rights to a living wage, safe working conditions and personal dignity.
The union is eventually broken at the end of the book - in part due to the vigilante mine guards that terrorized union members. In her afterward Giardina fast forwards 12 years to the Roosevelt administration, when a resurgence of the union movement leads to the abolition of the mine guard system. And coal miners win the right to organize.
By Dr Stuart Jeanne, author of THE MOST REVOLUTIONARY ACT: MEMOIR OF AN AMERICAN REFUGEE
Book Review: Coal Miner's Daughter
Summary: 5 Stars
As I wrote above I am a coal miners daughter from a small Southern West Virginia town. I am now married to a coal miner as well. First of all I will have to say that I loved this book from beginning to end. The only problem I had with it is that the language is a little hard to understand. I understand some people in West Viriginia talk like this, but most of us do not. But, This book is so amazing and while I was reading it I felt like I was 7 again at my Great-Grandfather's house listening to his many stories about coal mining in the old days. I feel that this is a part of history that often gets looked over. I mean the Battle of Blair Mountain, was the largest labor uprising fought on US Soil. How many people know that? Not many. I read this book my junior year of college in my West Virginia History class. I not only feel like it is great West Virginia history, but American History as well. I can not praise this book enough! Everyone should read it! Thanks so much Ms.Giardina for bringing this tale of the struggles of coal miners to life!Book Review: Don't have to have Appalachian heritage to enjoy!!
Summary: 5 Stars
I read this book for a class focused on Appalachian families, and at first I was like, "Oh no. Hillbillies. I don't care..." But this book CHANGED MY LIFE. I laughed, I cried, and one of the characters, Carrie Bishop, became a hero to me. It was amazing. My family is from New York, and I have no ties to Appalachia, so my thinking initially was,"This is not going to interest me." BUT I WAS WRONG!! It doesn't matter who you are or where you are from, this book will captivate you. I can't WAIT to read the sequel The Unquiet Earth.Book Review: Fantastic book
Summary: 5 Stars
As luck would have it, the author of this fantastic tale teaches at my college. That's right, I get to experience (and even be taught by) her any time I feel like sneaking by her room or dishing out money to be a student. BS aside, it's a good book--buy and read it, or forever be lesser than you could be.Book Review: Good book, but...
Summary: 3 Stars
I thought the book was good. I finished it in two sittings. It's plot was good, but I could have done without all of the foul language and sex scenes. I thimk it would have been fine for the author to mention them without going it to so much detail. I did see a rationale behind one sex scene but not all of them. As for the language, I can see the importance of its existance. For these two reason, I cannot recommend this book to others in my family. But, if you can get past the language and the sex, I think the story is good.