The Loneliest Road in America

The only thing I know about nature is how to plant my garden, I can't tell one tree from another, I hate camping, and I wouldn't live in a cabin in the mountains for a billion dollars. In spite of all that, I found these to be beautiful, splendidly crafted stories. Some of the best I've ever read. There are plenty of fleshed-out women characters in them too, as the U.S. reviewer pointed out, but even if there weren't, so what? I'm a chick and I'm perfectly happy to read about men. If the writing is superior, as this writing is, then who cares whether it's about men or trees or donkeys? Buy this book. Buy Roy Parvin's next book. I predict a spot in Best American Short Stories some time in the next five years.

I love this book. Not only is the writing beautiful (who can resist lines like "We watched a section of moon get visible, hang in the sky, a funny buck tooth."?), but the stories are rich and full of grace. Best of all for me is the way Parvin treats his characters--a lively assortment of loners and misfits--with understanding and compassion. No matter how down and out the characters, Parvin brings them to life and gives them dignity. And, contrary to the East Bay reader's comments, there are strong women here who are fully drawn, realistic, and compelling. I'll never forget May, Alice, Carmela, and the narrator of "The Ames Coil." A wonderful first book, I can't wait to see more from him.

The characters from the Trinity Alps are vivid, believable, and true to life. Roy is a master craftsman with words, packing depth and emotion into his stories. The result is an amazing story that has the power of poetry and the believability of the personal essay. You will find yourself reading this one over and over, and something new happens every time.