“Tore All to Pieces” By Willie Edward Taylor Carver Jr.

I first picked up Tore All to Pieces (University Press of Kentucky 2026) by Willie Edward Taylor Carver Jr. at the Appalachian Studies Association Conference this past March. After hearing him speak on two panels, I was immediately taken by the sincerity in which he spoke about growing up in Appalachia and the challenges that come from writing about the region. I knew I wanted a copy of his book. At the author signing event there, he wrote in my copy, “May this book bring love with it.” It absolutely did.

Tore All to Pieces is a collection of poetry and short stories based in southern Kentucky following several characters over many years, one as early as 1956, and others as late as 2023. Carver gives us glimpses into these characters’ lives as we begin to weave together their relationships and timelines throughout the book. This is a great read for anyone who doesn’t have a lot of time these days to get lost in a lengthy narrative. Instead, they could read a short story or two when they have a moment on a break or before bed. However, there’s a chance they won’t want to put the book down.

Though this work handles some very serious topics of religion, mental health, addiction, poverty, and growing up LGBTQ+ in Appalachia, these are all handled with care and respect to people’s backgrounds. These themes bounce off and affect each other throughout the book, creating a realistic world and realistic people. None of the characters feel like “just addicts” or “just stuck in their ways” or any other stereotype. Carver handles it all with empathy. He mentions in the postscript that reality isn’t necessarily opposed to the stereotypes, but rather far deeper than them, and he captures this sentiment in this book perfectly.

Poems precede every short story in the collection, and they tend to give another perspective around one of the characters in the accompanying story, humanizing them even more. These poems are written in a variety of styles, making them each feel new and different from the last. Also, his language flows from beautiful poetic descriptions to frank statements made in a more conversational tone, creating a great companion to his stories. That being said, these poems could absolutely stand on their own. They add depth to the collection, but they are pieces of art themselves.

Carver’s writing within the short stories also has a unique touch because he allows Appalachian dialect and slang to come through in the narration, not just in the dialogue. This decision makes the whole book feel far more authentic. As someone from Appalachia, I feel like I am talking to a friend or relative with every “shew” and “one a them.” Each narrator has a distinct voice, so the characters don’t blend into each other. Additionally, I’m sure Carver knows how important it is for all of us to see Appalachia written so accurately on the page, and I can tell he handled this choice with the utmost care.

Jennifer Lewis

Overall, Tore All to Pieces is a gorgeous representation of modern Appalachia in all its beauty and pain. I found myself tearing up at certain parts of the book due to how deeply I felt for the characters. However, this collection is more about resilience than pain, in my opinion, which is reflective of the region it takes place in. Writing about an area that is so often overlooked and belittled is no small task. Carver manages to write the truth through his fiction, creating a realistic, three-dimensional depiction of Kentucky and much of Appalachia as a whole, giving those outside the area a new perspective, and those of us born here, a feeling of home.

Willie Carver

Willie Edward Taylor Carver Jr. is an advocate for minoritized youth, a speaker, and a Kentucky Teacher of the Year. He is the author Gay Poems for Red States (University Press of Kentucky). He has an MFA in creative writing from the University of Kentucky. His story has been featured across U.S. and international media, including ABC, CBS, The Washington Post, Le Monde, and Good Morning America. His advocacy has led him to engage President Biden and to testify before the United States Congressional Committee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties. His creative work has been published in 100 Days in Appalachia, 2RulesofWriting, Young Ravens Literary Review, Another Chicago Magazine, Harbor Review, Smoky Blue Literary Magazine, Miracle Monocle, Good River Review, Salvation South, and Gay & Lesbian Review Worldwide.