Proud Flesh

In Nancy Parshall's Proud Flesh, circumstances and questionable decisions have put these unpretentious Midwesterners on the ropes. They preach, smoke weed, make meatloaf, bury horses-and fight back. Parshall has crafted some well-built stories, buttressed with clear, matter-of-fact sentences, wry humor, and carefully observed details. One character, who has seen many horses get euthanized, reels at feeling "the gentle shake of the ground as the horses go down." These stories will move you like that. A powerful collection.-Andy Mozina, author of Contrary Motion and Quality Snacks