In the middle of the Middle West Literary nonfiction from the heartland

The 42 nonfiction pieces about America's heartland found in this collection offer different perspectives, as their contributors include not only novelists and poets but also journalists, filmmakers, and many others who have either been raised in the Midwest or have lived there at one point in their lives (e.g., Stuart Dybek, Mary Swander, and James McManus). Edited by Bradway (Pink Houses and Family Taverns), the collection is divided into ideological segments, such as "Outskirts," "California, Midwest," "Houses," and "Transit." Although almost any essay could easily stand alone, the thematic organization makes sense, whether the essay is about a displaced Californian who can come to love the "middle of nowhere" or an in-depth examination of the L in Chicago. Many of the pieces examine the geography of the Midwest or the lack of a single unifying geography. Others express a delight in the subtlety and beauty of the region and its people. As a native Midwesterner, this reviewer was most interested in the sense of wonder from those who come from the right or left coast and view this large midsection of our country with fresh eyes. Recommended for libraries collecting regional materials.-Jan Brue Enright, Augustana Coll. Lib., Sioux Falls, SD (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.