Bits and Pieces

The uniquely Appalachian characters, places, and events one encounters in Eastern Kentucky have a tendency to blur the lines between fact and fiction. The gift of storytelling is democratically bestowed upon all Appalachians and poetic turns of phrase are standard in the rhythms of day-to-day linguistics. Colloquialisms roll off of Appalachian tongues thick like gravy, with the weight of complex familial ties and community loyalties informing a shared vocabulary. Words seldom represent their corresponding definitions, except when they absolutely do. This is the splendor reflected in Phyllis Tilly Skocypiec’s book, Appalachian Bits & Pieces – a blurring of the literal with the figurative in the pursuit of describing mountain life to the uninitiated.

Skocypiec’s Bits & Pieces weaves together the stories of disparate characters, real and imagined, to paint a tapestry of Appalachian life. These poignant vignettes piece together to form a mosaic that illuminates not only the realities of those growing up in the mountains, but also the lingering psyche that transcends the particulars of any specific story. From the tale of young love that spans a lifetime to the account of a boy trying to provide for his mother and sisters, the “pieces” of Skocypiec’s book utilize fiction to point to truths deeper than their surface narratives.

The majority of the book’s stories are set in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. That these anecdotes exist in a past so far removed is a testament to the abiding nature of Appalachian culture, because without the few minor cues speckled throughout the stories, one could assume these characters and scenarios are contemporaneous. Skocypiec’s gift for creating fullyformed characters within just a few lines draws the reader into their distinctly Appalachian existences in a disarmingly universal manner.

There is a gothic tilt to these tales. These characters are very aware of their Appalachian setting and feel deep down in their bones the claustrophobic limitations of what is and is not possible. This matter-of-fact attitude toward the realities of life in the mountains never strips these characters of the longings and desires that drive their thoughts and underscore their interactions. When one character meditates on the death of a sibling, he does so in a manner that at once gleefully and humorously dances around mortality and also soberly walks straight through the center of the topic.

The last section of the book is devoted to the true stories of Skocypiec’s experiences as a volunteer and donor of Christian Appalachian Project. The nonfiction foundation of these tales doesn’t diminish the enchanting style that galvanizes the whole book; it simply grounds these stories in a definitive time and place. One particularly tender narrative describes, in dogs-eye-view, the introduction to Phyllis and her husband’s dog during a fateful encounter at WorkFest. The final pages of the book are devoted to the student favorite recipes of WorkFest, from Irish Raisin Bread to Pizza Casserole.

Phyllis’ time as a volunteer, which spans more than 20 years and continues to this day, has profoundly impacted her life – so much so that she has chosen to give Appalachia her time, her energy, her passion, and now, her imagination. Phyllis is using the gift of her imagination to give voice to the people and places she loves and she is donating all of the profits of Appalachian Bits & Pieces to Christian Appalachian Project. Community is built on this kind of storytelling and compassion; the kind that blurs the lines between where one person’s life story ends and the next person’s begins.

If you would like more information on how to purchase a copy of “Appalachian Bits & Pieces,” please contact us at publications@ chrisapp.org.