In the Shadow of the Valley, Bobi Conn
In the Shadow of the Valley, Bobi Conn
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In the Shadow of the Valley
A Memoir

Author: Bobi Conn

Narrator: Bobi Conn

Unabridged: 10 hr 21 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 05/01/2020

Synopsis

A clear-eyed and compassionate memoir of the Appalachian experience by a woman who embraced its astonishing beauty, narrowly escaped its violence, and struggles to call it home.Bobi Conn was raised in a remote Kentucky holler in 1980s Appalachia. She remembers her tin-roofed house tucked away in a vast forest paradise; the sparkling creeks, with their frogs and crawdads; the sweet blackberries growing along the road to her granny’s; and her abusive father, an underemployed alcoholic whose untethered rage and violence against Bobi and her mother were frighteningly typical of a community marginalized, desperate, and ignored. Bobi’s rule of survival: always be vigilant but endure it silently.Slipping away from home, Bobi went to college and got a white-collar job. Mistrusted by her family for her progress and condescended to by peers for her accent and her history, she was followed by the markers of her class. Though she carried her childhood self everywhere, Bobi also finally found her voice.An elegiac account of survival despite being born poor, female, and cloistered, Bobi’s testament is one of hope for all vulnerable populations, particularly women and girls caught in the cycle of poverty and abuse. On a continual path to worth, autonomy, and reinvention, Conn proves here that “the storyteller is the one with power.”

About Bobi Conn

Bobi Conn was born in Morehead, Kentucky, and raised in a nearby holler, where she developed a deep connection with the land and her Appalachian roots. She obtained her bachelor’s degree at Berea College, the first school in the American South to integrate racially and to teach men and women in the same classrooms. After struggling as a single mother, she worked five part-time jobs at once to support her son and to attend graduate school, where she earned a master’s degree in English with an emphasis in creative writing. In addition to writing, Bobi loves playing pool, telling jokes, cooking, being in the woods, attempting to grow a garden, and spending time with her incredible children.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Amy

Over all, this book would have benefitted from some serious editing. The story, heartbreakingly sad and difficult, is told in such a haphazard and circuitous way that it is almost impossible to build up any kind of righteous anger or sympathy, or feeling for the author and her plight. Conn’s prose i......more

Goodreads review by Valerity (Val)

I found this to be an interesting memoir by Bobi Conn, who grew up in small town Kentucky. It’s actually a holler in Kentucky, growing up with her dysfunctional family, she shares what it was like, along with the beauty of the area. She also shares what her life is like later, as she struggles to ha......more

Goodreads review by Darcia

So, wow. This book packs one hell of an emotional punch. Bobi Conn writes with an intimacy and raw honesty that I felt to my core. She's unflinchingly honest about her upbringing and the way those early years chased her through adulthood. I have immense respect both for her writing skills and for her......more

Goodreads review by Steve

Although I had my own familial challenges growing up, the author’s situation was exponentially worse. However, the narrative of blaming her life situation and background instead of either learning from her mistakes or taking personal responsibility for her actions became tiring. I have trouble belie......more

Goodreads review by Kymberli Ward

While I commend the author for persevering and achieving some success in her life, "In the Shadow of the Valley" was not a book I will recommend. Her childhood was horrific and for that, she most definitely has my empathy (yes, I said "empathy," not sympathy). And since she has accomplished much, I......more

Quotes

“An Appalachian memoir from a woman who escaped a cycle of violence, substance abuse, and self-loathing in order to find her voice…the author is to be commended for her courage and determination to change her life circumstances…an inspiration for those attempting to come to terms with abuse.” —Kirkus Reviews“This memoir, although at times achingly sad, provides an uplifting tale of a woman who decided that she would prevail over the hand that life dealt her…An engaging read that will connect with fans of Tara Westover’s Educated and those interested in the ability of the human spirit to overcome adversity.” —Library Journal

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