Riveting, often heartbreaking stories that take readers through country that is figuratively and literally unmapped. These stories are set in a nameless community too small to be called a town, a place where wanting an education is a mark of ungodly arrogance and dowsing for water a legitimate occupation. Offutt has received a James Michener Grant and a Kentucky Arts Council Award.
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Riveting, often heartbreaking stories that take readers through country that is figuratively and literally unmapped. These stories are set in a nameless community too small to be called a town, a place where wanting an education is a mark of ungodly arrogance and dowsing for water a legitimate occupation. Offutt has received a James Michener Grant and a Kentucky Arts Council Award.
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Add this copy of Kentucky Straight: Stories to cart. $8.69, good condition, Sold by GreatBookPricesUK5 rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Castle Donington, DERBYSHIRE, UNITED KINGDOM, published 1992 by Vintage.
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Good. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 192 p. Vintage Contemporaries. May show signs of wear, highlighting, writing, and previous use. This item may be a former library book with typical markings. No guarantee on products that contain supplements Your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed. Twenty-five year bookseller with shipments to over fifty million happy customers.
Add this copy of Kentucky Straight: Stories to cart. $11.87, like new condition, Sold by GreatBookPricesUK5 rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Castle Donington, DERBYSHIRE, UNITED KINGDOM, published 1992 by Vintage.
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Fine. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 192 p. Vintage Contemporaries. In Stock. 100% Money Back Guarantee. Brand New, Perfect Condition, allow 4-14 business days for standard shipping. To Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. protectorate, P.O. box, and APO/FPO addresses allow 4-28 business days for Standard shipping. No expedited shipping. All orders placed with expedited shipping will be cancelled. Over 3, 000, 000 happy customers.
Add this copy of Kentucky Straight to cart. $15.50, new condition, Sold by Books2anywhere rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Fairford, GLOUCESTERSHIRE, UNITED KINGDOM, published 1992 by Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group.
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PLEASE NOTE, WE DO NOT SHIP TO DENMARK. New Book. Shipped from UK in 4 to 14 days. Established seller since 2000. Please note we cannot offer an expedited shipping service from the UK.
Add this copy of Kentucky Straight: Stories to cart. $12.39, new condition, Sold by Ria Christie Books rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Uxbridge, MIDDLESEX, UNITED KINGDOM, published 1992 by Vintage.
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PLEASE NOTE, WE DO NOT SHIP TO DENMARK. New Book. Shipped from UK in 4 to 14 days. Established seller since 2000. Please note we cannot offer an expedited shipping service from the UK.
Add this copy of Kentucky Straight: Stories to cart. $8.74, good condition, Sold by Goodwill Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Hillsboro, OR, UNITED STATES, published 1992 by Vintage.
Add this copy of Kentucky Straight: Stories to cart. $10.10, very good condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Reno rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Reno, NV, UNITED STATES, published 1992 by Vintage.
Add this copy of Kentucky Straight: Stories to cart. $10.11, good condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Baltimore rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Halethorpe, MD, UNITED STATES, published 1992 by Vintage.
Simple, unvarnished, undecorated language - clearly drawn from the lives of the people it portrays so vividly. Sounds like it might be boring - but no - one page turns into 20, or until the story closes - and then another awaits, beckons. Strong stuff.
sundancer
Feb 7, 2008
A Native Son Holds a Grudge
Chris Offut was born in eastern Kentucky and is the son of a Professor of English at Morehead State University. This book, published in 1992, was his first collection of short stories. He now lives in Iowa, but his subject matter continues to be the rural hills of eastern Kentucky. Jim Harrison, who has written a blurb on the back cover says these stories are "...set in a nameless Appalachian Community too small to be called a town, a place where wanting an education is a mark of ungodly arrogance and dowsing for water a legitimate occupation; where hunting is not a sport but a means for survival, pursued with the desperation of a grudge". The stories are masterfully written. Offut is capable at times of bringing the reader with him to the rugged beauty of Appalachia where he turns up rocks exposing the hillfolk in their native habitat. They left this reader with the nagging suspicion that the "grudge" spoken of belongs to the author himself. He sets the tone for the stories with his choice of quote on the flyleaf: this is the mirror in which pain is asleep this is the country nobody visits -Mark Strand "Another Place" In my opinion the author of "Kentucky Straight" should stay in Iowa till he gets over his mad spell. By all means read this book, but follow it soon after with a good dose of Lee Smith or Harriet Arnow to counteract the side effects.
