That You Remember
1970. The residents of Otter Creek Hollow, Kentucky, have been working in the coal mines for generations. They work there because there are few options and because they always have. But tragedy comes with the job, and Sara, who grew up in the “holler,” knows that well. If you didn’t die in an accident, the black lung might take you like it did Sara’s father. If you make it out of the mine one day, you might not be so lucky the next. When she meets Frank Rowan, one of the visiting mine bosses who lives in New York, she tries to call out all the ongoing problems and safety issues. But along the way, a relationship begins that she never saw coming. Thirty years later, Aleena, Frank’s daughter, finds a cryptic note and tries to locate Sara.
That You Remember is an intriguing novel set in Appalachian coal country. The actual operation of a coal mine is described so well that the reader feels as if they are there. The ways that coal mining can lead to flooding are meticulously researched and plainly laid out for the reader. But the human side is where this book shines. The feeling of always impending disaster shared by the miners’ families leaps onto every page, and is made so real in the quote: “You always kiss a miner goodbye.” The prioritization of money over safety is made obvious. The romance is unique but does not take over the story. There are multiple points of view from people on both sides—management and workers—to create a complete picture of a serious problem. The devastation of a flood is so well written that the reader can see the raging waters. This is a gripping, informative, and tragic story. Highly recommended.
