Fine Just the Way It Is: Wyoming Stories 3

Annie Proulx continues her mastery of the short story. In Fine Just the Way It Is: Wyoming Stories 3, Proulx once again gives us stories primarily taking place in or associated with Wyoming. Her characters are terribly human--warts and all--and her stories are typically blunt, to the point, and full of (sometimes brief) life. But, as straightforward as her stories are with their plainspoken characters, Proulx also delivers stunningly beautiful narrative language when detailing landscapes, flora, and animal life. Some of her imagery literally astounded me it was so well crafted and provocative. However, unlike previous Wyoming volumes, this addition to the series is far more brutal to its characters. Now Proulx has never occurred to me as a woman who gets overly sentimental about her creations, but I was surprised at the tragedies she forced her men and women to endure. That being said, she certainly did not cross the line into sensationalism; everything she threw at her characters was well within reality's parameters. Well, for the most part. I was especially happy that in three stories in particular, Proulx exits her normally grounded repertoire and gives us something bordering fantasy. Now, because it's Proulx, we're not talking Tolkien here, but two of her stories hilariously focus on the devil and the other, well, I don't want to spoil anything, but it features a sagebrush where mysterious disappearances persist. I think that with her particular style and sensibilities, calling them tall tales may be more appropriate than fantasy. Consequently, I sensed a real sense of dark humor in these stories, and I loved it! While most of the stories were very serious in terms of subject matter, they all utilized a morose fun that--unless happening to us--demanded a chuckle or two. All in all, this collection was a bit of a break from Proulx in terms of style, especially when read between the lines, but every bit as exquisitely written and enjoyable as past works. Proulx's talent is unrelenting with each new work she releases. ~Scott William Foley, author of The Imagination's Provocation: Volume II

If there is a travel and tourist bureau in Wyoming, I suspect all of them have tossed a noose up over a limb and hanged themselves thanks not to Dick Cheney--although that would also do it--but to Annie Proulx. You just don't want to let this lady loose in your state for long. But you sure will want to read about those who have to endure living there. All of the stories are five-stars. Never thought about what to do with your dead dog? Stuff him and give him to a nursing home. Those residents will love patting him. "Family Man" is the opener, a guy who is allowing his granddaughter to tape record his memories of family except he has a little more to say than she might want to hear. And don't we all? This is not a bunch of stories about high hopes! But it sure is funny as one by one Ms. Proulx knocks her characters off. Not ha-ha funny. But black ha-ha funny. If you already love Annie Proulx--does anyone not?--then you will really love this Annie Proulx, including getting to know the modern devil. And it ain't Wyoming's other notorious citizen in the caves behind the White House although one senses that soon he too will get knocked off by Annie!!

Best know as the author of "Brokeback mountain," Ms.Proulx is a master story teller and exceptional writer. In some ways I think it is too bad her main claim to fame my keep some from reading her other stories. I thought Brokeback was a worthy story but it is by no means my favorite of this author. This third addition to the Wyoming stories is just as excellent as the first two. These stories cover the range of human emotion from clever to crude to tragic. The failings of the human is exposed by the rugged bleak Wyoming landscape. My favorite in this collection is "Tits up in a ditch" about a veteran of the Iraq war who returns home to her family carrying the emotional scars of her experience. This story was hard to read as it tore at my insides. It made me wonder if the author actually knew this person? It seemed so real. This one of the strengths of Proulx, you totally believe she is writing about real people. Do your self and take a trip through Wyoming with Ms, Proulx.

Ms. Proulx is the author of "The Shipping News" (1999) and two former collections of short stories about the Wyoming frontier: "Close Range" (1999) and "Bad Dirt" (2004). This third edition of tales about Wyoming spans from the pioneers to a veteran of "Eye-rack" in the present day. These are not uplifting stories, just as "Brokeback Mountain" from the first collection of stories was not uplifting. They are tales of persons playing the hands they are dealt -- and the hands are not very good. But her characters play out their fate the best they can, just like real people. Thought the stories could be read in a single sitting, they should be read over several evenings for them to be savored.