What do fried pies, soup beans, canning jars, and Sunday dinners have in common? They all tell the story of Southern Appalachia. Join authors and Appalachian culture experts Jim Casada and Tipper Pressley to find out!

North Carolina Humanities’ award-winning statewide book club, North Carolina Reads, is returning for its fifth year starting February 2026. North Carolina Reads annually features five books that explore the history and culture of North Carolina. From February – June 2026, NC Humanities will host free, virtual, monthly book club discussion events where participants will hear from guest speakers, including book authors and topic experts. Libraries, community groups, and individ