Book Review: Mailman

Stephen Starring Grant, Mailman: my wild ride delivering the mail in Appalachia and finally finding home. New York: Simon and Schuster, 2025. 9781668018040.  

Genre: memoir, work, jobs 

Subgenre: Appalachia, USPS

Format: hardcover

Source: Hutchins Library, Berea College  

 

This is the author's memoir of his one-year stint working as a rural postal carrier in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. When he loses his fairly high end consulting job, he needs work that will provide some good health insurance. It turns out the U.S. Postal Service does that, and the health insurance kicks in right away once you are hired. Also, he loses his job just as the pandemic is starting to explode, he has health issues, cancer, and he is 50, so that adds to the urgency. 

The publisher describes the book as "exuberant, hilarious, and profound memoir." I would not go that far. I picked up this book for a couple of reasons. One, I thought the topic about a mailman and the USPS would be interesting. Two, the book is set in the Appalachian Region, so it has a regional interest locally. I had some high expectations, though I knew this book is another example of "someone does a stunt for a fixed amount of time then gets a book out of it" genre. I've read a few of those books. Some were good, and others not so much. This one for me falls into the not so much. 

An issue for me is that the book is not that interesting at times. The quality of interest can vary. There are some slow parts, some amusing parts, and some parts where he is just a dumbass. Some of the history of the postal service and the look at how the postal service works, especially in rural areas, are interesting. Some of the deliveries he made and the stories that go with them can be interesting and humorous as well. Yet there are some slow moments, some moments where he is wallowing in self pity, and one or two not so bright moments where you wonder how he stayed employed. So the narrative goes up and down a bit. 

For me also the book felt a bit predictable. Like we knew he was only doing this for a year, and you could kind of figure out he would go back to a more "normal" life by the end of the book. Spoiler alert: he does. He finds a new job in his field, and he leaves the postal service. Naturally, he ends up growing as a person with a better appreciation for the postal job as well as its service ethic and nobility. He ends with a bit of a promotion bit for people getting more involved in public service. In that regard, the book is not that much different than other "stunt" books where the protagonist decides, whether for fun, necessity, or other reason, to do the thing, and then writes a book about it to share their insights and growth. To be honest, fun as some of the stories were, the end just feels like another feel good story with a touch of treacle. 

Overall I liked it, but I found myself forcing my way to get to the end. It just did not keep my attention that much. However, the subject and setting have a strong regional appeal, so folks who enjoy reading about Appalachia and rural settings may enjoy this more than I did. Also if you want to learn a bit more about how the postal service works, especially the rural service that is so vital to those areas, yet few outside of those areas think about it, this may be a book for you too. I would still recommend it for all libraries, especially ones in the region. I am sure the regional interest is part of why our library ordered it. 

In the end, it was mostly OK. 

2 out of 5 stars.   

 

Books that may have similar appeal factors: 

A.J. Jacobs, The Year of Living Biblically (my review).  

Josh Peter, Fried Twinkies,  Buckle Bunnies, and Bull Riders: A Year Inside the Professional Bull Riders Tour (my review).

Andrew Beattie, Sleeping Around in America: Revisiting the Roadside Motel (review, which includes a list of additional similar appeal books).

 

 

Book Review: The People's Project

Saeed Jones and Maggie Smith, eds., The People's Project: poems, essays, and art for looking forward. New York: Washington Square Press/Atria, 2025. ISBN: 9781668207024. 

Genre: politics, current affairs

Subgenre: anthology, essay, poetry

Format: small hardback

Source: Hutchins Library, Berea College 

 

This small book is a collection of essays and poems on what people can do given the 2024 United States elections. This is basically a collection of advice, strategies, and calls for hope and inspiration for the Hard Times. 

The book features 27 items including essays, poems, and one art piece. It features a very diverse group of authors. The pieces call forth various emotions ranging from sadness to anger, yet there are notes of hope, assuming folks do the necessary work. For me, that is the catch: are people willing to do the necessary work?  

The book as a whole is a short and easy read. Most of the pieces are relatively short, yet they are moving and powerful. These pieces may stay with you after reading the book. 

I'd recommend this book for public libraries. Some academic libraries, especially those with strong social justice interest and curricula may want to add it as well. 

4 out of 5 stars. 

 

Additional reading notes: 

Start with not abandoning yourself: 

"What does it mean to abandon yourself? It means to pretend you don't know what you know, don't hear what you hear, don't see what you see. In other words, to gaslight yourself. To stay quiet and compliant. To make nice. To compromise your values to keep the peace, which is not peace at all" (13). 

That is part of why I ended my politics/social issues/activist material moratorium. After the regime part one came to power in 2016, I needed a serious break. I was burned on politics, etc. But in 2024 I could no longer stay silent and pretend to be ignorant, or at least tuned out partially given a good librarian can never really tune out completely. So I am reading again books like this book, and sharing what I read and learn. It is my small contribution for the good of the cause. 

And by the way, once you set the intention and work to not abandon yourself, make sure you do not abandon others. 

 

On taking care of yourself: 

"For those of us who are constantly under attack, contributing requires prioritizing ourselves on purpose. When everything is set up to diminish you and insist that you diminish yourself, defending yourself will only speed your destruction. Our time and energy are better spent on whatever will allow us to embody a proactive stance more often than a defensive posture" (34).   

 

Qualifies for the following 2026 Reading Challenge: 

  

Book Review: Age of Darkness

Various authors, Age of Darkness. Nottingham, England: Black Library, 2011. ISBN: 9780857871534. 

Genre: science fiction

Subgenre: military science fiction

Series: Horus Heresy, Book 16

Format: e-book

Source: I own this one. 

 

This short fiction anthology is number 16 in the Horus Heresy series. This volume features nine stories: 

•  "Rules of Engagement" by Graham McNeill.
•  "Liar's Due" by James Swallow.
• "Forgotten Sons" by Nick Kyme.
• "The Last Remembrancer" by John French.
• "Rebirth" by Chris Wraight.
•  "The Face of Treachery" by Gav Thorpe.
• "Little Horus" by Dan Abnett.
• "The Iron Within" by Rob Sanders.
• "Savage Weapons" Aaron Dembski-Bowden.

As often happens with anthologies some stories are better than others. The stories look at various situations and events of the Horus Heresy, often things happening behind the scenes or in more out of the way places. The book as a whole is a pretty good read. Pacing may vary; one or two stories may be a bit slow. 

Let me highlight the stories I found interesting and/or memorable:

•  "Rules of Engagement" looks at Roboute Guilliman as he is writing the Codex Astartes. This provides a frame to a story of space marines involved in various engagements. 
• "Liar's Due" is about a spy infiltrating a backwater world and sowing chaos and conflict. As he says, he is the whole invasion because the Warmaster has more important things to do. Once the twist is revealed, the story gets interesting. 
• In Abnett's story, Little Horus Aximand is bothered by dreams he probably should not be having. The story also looks a bit at how Little Horus relates to the Warmaster. 
• I always like a story of the Iron Warriors, and "The Iron Within" fit the bill well. 

Overall, this is an average collection. It's not great, but it is not bad either. Can you skip it? Yes, probably. Completists will want to read it. I'd recommend it for readers who enjoy short fiction and stories that focus more on behind the scenes rather than epic battles. 

I liked it. 

3 out of 5 stars. 

 

Additional reading notes: 

"Liar's Due" offered a couple of quotes that resonate for our Hard Times such as this one: 

"It's the people who are killers. People down there, in Town Forty-Four and every other place just like it. People like your father, and Prael and all the rest. They let themselves be manipulated, because deep within them, they want to be right. They want to have their darkest fears come true, to validate their loathing of the lives they lead" -- Mendacs, in "Liar's Due" (74).  

 

From "The Face of Treachery" 

"In times such as these, even the most trusted face can conceal an enemy" (181). 

 

From "The Iron Within" 

"From iron cometh strength. From strength cometh will. From will cometh faith. From faith cometh honour. From honour comes iron. This is the Unbreakable Litany. And may it forever be so" (238). 

 

 

Book qualifies for the following 2026 Reading Challenge: 

    

Short Book Review: Department of Mind-Blowing Theories

Tom Gauld, Department of Mind-Blowing Theories. Montreal, Canada: Drawn and Quarterly, 2020. ISBN: 9781770463752.  (Publisher link)

Genre: comics

Subgenre: science and scientists

Format: small hardback

Source: Eastside Branch, Lexington (KY) Public Library 

 

 

This is a collection of Tom Gauld cartoons focusing on science and scientists. If you've enjoyed his relatively minimalist art, you will probably enjoy this book. As in his other books, the humor varies. Some comics are funny, and others are just OK. The strips are published in color. 

A few of my favorite comics include: 

• The new journal issues out now. 
• The smartspoon.  If you are not a fan of "smart" appliances, you may appreciate this one. 
• The "out of office" e-mail auto-reply.
• The virtual assistant and robot-cleaner. 

Overall, I think the book is a nice, quick, and easy read. It is entertaining, but it is one to read and move on. If you need something light to read, this is a good option. On campus, your science faculty may particularly appreciate it. 

3 out of 5 stars. 

 

Book qualifies for the following 2025 Reading Challenge:  

 

 

 

Book Review: Queer Communion

Davis Shoulders, ed., Queer Communion: religion in Appalachia. Lexington, KY: University of Kentucky Press, 2025. ISBN: 9781985902961. 

Genre: memoir, Christianity, Appalachia

Subgenre: religion, regional interest

Format: trade paperback

Source: Hutchins Library, Berea College  

 

This book is a collection of 12 poems, essays, and stories by and about LGBTQ+ folks and their experiences with religion in Appalachia. Religion in this context is Christianity, and in Appalachia this mostly means very conservative, right wing Christianity. In other words, the kind of Christianity that, to put it charitably, is not very welcoming to queers and other LGBTQ+ folks. 

I found the book to be very moving. Personally it challenged me as I struggled a bit to understand why some choose to stay despite awful treatment. The answer to that can be complicated for the writers. For good or ill, their Christianity may be tied to racism and outright bigotry, but it is also tied to some good close family experiences, friendships, and/or positive spiritual moments. It may be hard to leave the religion of your kin, bigoted as they may be, when your granny happens to also be the one who helped raise you or just plain loved you despite the fact she may hate queers otherwise. I can see where the writers experience some tough choices and struggles with their consciences all while trying, often, to accept their queerness and decide whether to come out or not, to leave or stay home, so on. At times you feel the tension as you read the book. 

This is the kind of book I say more people should read, but sadly they won't. It is also a book that clings to some hope. 

I recommend the book for all libraries, especially libraries in the Appalachian region. Academic libraries need to have this, especially for academic programs in religion, women and gender studies, LGBTQ+ studies, and social justice. It may be an academic press book, but its accessibility makes it a good selection for public libraries too. 

I am glad I read it even if there are parts I disagree on or struggled with them, mainly about those who may remain to stay inside a religious tradition that hates them. Then again, I am a heathen, and it is their choice to make. 

Overall I'd consider this an essential book. Definitely a good one to include in various LGBTQ+ library displays. 

5 out of 5 stars. 

 

Additional reading notes: 

On loving people who hate them: 

"It occurred to me, gay Appalachian man that I am, that effectively all queer Appalachians and Southerners have loved people who hated them-- or at least parts of them, parts that can't be divided out. If we hadn't loved people who hated parts of us-- perhaps even most-- of us would never have learned to feel love at all" (x). 

 

On queerness as spiritual: 

"In a world of fascist ideologies, I have learned that queerness is spiritual in its own right. That simply coming into being and surviving in this world is an act of spiritually defiant, radical soul resilience" (21). 

 

On some Christians: 

"There are people who want to run us off the road, burn us, shoot us. There are others who don't want to hurt us but wish they could close their eyes and in a flash we'd cease to exist. Some of those people call themselves Christians" (86).

So very often it goes between Christians willing to get their hands dirty to hurt queers and those unwilling to act on their bigotry, unwilling to get their hands dirty, but very willing to support policies and provide silent tacit support to the active bigots.   

 

This book qualifies for the following 2026 Reading Challenge: