Novel speaks up for the rural South

David Joy is once again writing about the rural South, but this time, it’s fictional.

Last year, he published a celebrated essay called “Digging in the Trash,” about the caricaturization of poor southerners.

Now, his new novel focuses on the aftermath of a tragic hunting accident in Appalachia, while portraying the region’s culture with accuracy — and respect.

Joy discussed The Line That Held Us with Weekend Edition’s Lulu Garcia-Navarro, and you can either listen to the interview in full below or read highlights on NPR’s website.