http://www.friedchickenandcoffee.com/2008/10/28/some-musing-and-some-discussion-of-carolyn-chute/ a blogazine of rural literature, working-class literature, Appalachian literature, and off-on commentary, reviews, rants Wed, 01 Sep 2010 22:31:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 http://www.friedchickenandcoffee.com/2008/10/28/some-musing-and-some-discussion-of-carolyn-chute/comment-page-1/#comment-37 Court Wed, 29 Oct 2008 03:47:00 +0000 http://friedchickenandcoffee.wordpress.com/2008/10/28/some-musing-and-some-discussion-of-carolyn-chute#comment-37 A nonfiction book that addresses politics in redneck country is Deer Hunting With Jesus by Joe Bageant. Not read it myself but from what I've read about it, it gets right to the heart of some of these matters. His website is also worth checking out.As for fiction, I've not read any Carolyn Chute, so I can't comment on that. About Wal-Mart, I think the point is, local business can't do what Wal-Mart does, for better or worse. Barring some major government intervention, and people in my part of rural America still have a very strong libertarian streak, and so would be opposed. Maybe against their own better interests, but there you have it. Corporations like Wal-Mart know this, and take advantage. And rural folks get cheap goods. Just not in very aesthetically pleasing surroundings.Why do most fiction writers writing about rural America shy from politics? I suppose because, as you indicated, most rural people do. A nonfiction book that addresses politics in redneck country is Deer Hunting With Jesus by Joe Bageant. Not read it myself but from what I’ve read about it, it gets right to the heart of some of these matters. His website is also worth checking out.As for fiction, I’ve not read any Carolyn Chute, so I can’t comment on that. About Wal-Mart, I think the point is, local business can’t do what Wal-Mart does, for better or worse. Barring some major government intervention, and people in my part of rural America still have a very strong libertarian streak, and so would be opposed. Maybe against their own better interests, but there you have it. Corporations like Wal-Mart know this, and take advantage. And rural folks get cheap goods. Just not in very aesthetically pleasing surroundings.Why do most fiction writers writing about rural America shy from politics? I suppose because, as you indicated, most rural people do.

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