Haywood Community College

Between a Rock and a Hard Place by Aron Ralston: "In a moving account of strength in the face of adversity, Ralston presents the full story behind the 2003 event that became worldwide news: his self-amputation of his right arm after it was caught between a boulder and a canyon wall during what began as a routine day hike in the Utah Canyons. An experienced climber, Ralston, 28, effectively shows he wasn't a risk-taker, and alternates between describing how his jaunt turned into a nightmare when a huge stone suddenly came unstuck as he used it to climb down a ledge, and recalling early experiences that changed his novice attitudes toward hiking, which he admits "were not intrinsically safe." Ralston candidly renders the details of six days of entrapment, using transcribed monologues from videotapes he made while trapped, including his increasingly exhausted thoughts as well as poignant farewells to his family. But his best writing details his self-amputation and his subsequent march to safety, in which he rappelled one-armed down a hill and then hiked six miles before someone found him." -Publisher's Weekly


South of Broad by Pat Conroy: Pat Conroy is my favorite author and I thoroughly enjoyed this book, the most recent of his novels. Set in Charleston, SC, it is the story of an unlikely group of friends, spanning a twenty-year period in their relationship from the 1960s to the 1980s. All of them are emotionally scarred in some way, but their friendship helps them deal with their troubled pasts and with trials they must face as a group. Conroy has an amazing ability to write about some of the most heart-wrenching life events that one can imagine and to realistically portray how people experience those events and react to them. In South of Broad he finds heroism in the course of lives filled with anguish. He is a master at writing dialogue and South of Broad is an excellent example of that ability. Caution, however: if you are offended by or do not enjoy reading coarse/bad/salty language, this may not be the book for you. Some of the characters here are pretty rough, and Conroy doesn’t sugar-coat their language, but writes it as true to the characters as possible. If you have never read Pat Conroy, I would start with either Prince of Tides - which is also in our collection - or The Great Santini, and then read South of Broad. If you have already read some of his works, I highly recommend South of Broad. – Bill


Absolutely American: Four Years at West Point by David Lipsky: Drawing on complete, unprecedented access to West Point and its cadets, David Lipsky explores the academy's rich history, describes the demanding regimen that swallows students' days, and examines the Point as a reflection of our society. Is it a quaint anachronism, or does it still embody the ideals of equality, honesty, and loyalty that moved Theodore Roosevelt to proclaim it the most "absolutely American" institution? Lipsky tackles these questions through superbly crafted portraits of cadets and the elite officers who mold them, following them into classrooms, barracks, mess halls, and military exercises. His reportage extends from 1998 through 2002, arguably the most eventful four years in West Point history. He witnesses the end of hazing, the arrival of TV and telephones in dorm rooms, the exposure and concealment of several scandals, and the dramatic aftermath of 9/11. He depicts young people of every race and class, and details a rigorous training program that erases their preconceptions and makes them a tight-knit community. Lipsky's extensive experience covering college students for Rolling Stone helped him gain an astonishing degree of trust and truth from both cadets and administrators. They offer candid insights on drug use, cheating, and the army's tortuous search for meaning as new threats loom. Amid all the turmoil, Lipsky finds, to his surprise, that "of all the young people I'd met at all the colleges I'd visited, West Point cadets -- although they are epic complainers -- were the happiest." – Publisher’s summary, recommended by Bill.

Also Recommended

Gideon's Sword by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child: Fans of the authors' Agent Pendergrass novels will enjoy this new series and its new protagonist, Gideon Crew. Crew must unravel the mystery of an apparent defection by a Chinese scientist in possession of deadly governments secrets. The trail leads him across the world, trailed by assassins, and the clues he finds provide new evidence for his father's controversial death. A new, and pleasantly different, thriller from two masters of the genre.

Greasy Rider by Greg Melville: A hilarious cross-country buddy memoir in which the author and an old college friend see the the nation from behind the windshield of their french-fry-oil powered Mercedes. A thoughtful musing on reducing one's carbon footprint avoids being preachy and the narration of the journey's side-trips makes for an interesting and quick weekend read.

Best Easy Day Hikes of the Blue Ridge Parkway by Randy Johnson: Find a scenic spot for a picnic or spend an afternoon taking in some breathtaking views. This handy pocket guide offers a detailed list of day hikes complete with illustrations and maps.

The Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy: Tom Wingo travels from his home in South Carolina to New York City to investigate what has happened to his twin sister, Savannah, who has attempted suicide. Tom meets his sister’s psychiatrist, and through his relationship with her he learns the strange tale of his sister, while at the same time learning how to deal with his own difficult life history and that of their largely dysfunctional family.

Cataloochee by Wayne Caldwell (local author): Nestled in the mountains of North Carolina sits Cataloochee. In a time when “where you was born was where God wanted you,” the Wrights and the Carters, both farming families, travel to the valley to escape the rapid growth of neighboring towns and to have a few hundred acres all to themselves. But progress eventually winds its way to Cataloochee, too, and year after year the population swells as more people come to the valley to stake their fortune. Never one to pass on opportunity, Ezra Banks, an ambitious young man seeking some land of his own, arrives in Cataloochee in the 1880s. His first order of business is to marry a Carter girl, Hannah, the daughter of the valley’s largest landowner. From there Ezra’s brood grows, as do those of the Carters and the Wrights. With hard work and determination, the burgeouning community transforms wilderness into home, to be passed on through generations.But the idyll is not to last, nor to be inherited: The government takes steps to relocate folks to make room for the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, and tragedy will touch one of the clans in a single, unimaginable act.

Wayne Caldwell brings to life the community’s historic struggles and close kinships over a span of six decades. Full of humor, darkness, beauty, and wisdom, Cataloochee is a classic novel of place and family. -Random House synopsis

Another Roadside Attraction by Tom Robbins: An absurd take on the Second Coming powered by four fascinating protagonists, a roadside flea circus, religious conspiracies and a darkly satirical recreation of the 60s counterculture. Considered by many to be Robbins' best work, it will have you in alternating fits of laughter and introspection.

Bottom of the Ninth: Branch Rickey, Casey Stengel, and the Daring Scheme to Save Baseball from Itself by Michael Shapiro: A fascinating look at a forgotten chapter of baseball's history: Branch Rickey's vision of creating a new, third professional baseball league. Populated by a vividly-written cast of characters, Bottom of the Ninth offers an inside look at the history and politics of Major League Baseball.