In the Middle of the Middle West Literary Nonfiction from the Heartland [Paperback]

The 42 essays in this collection take their inspiration from the Midwestnot just from its physical terrain but from its emotional terrain as well. They come from writers of diverse backgrounds: poets, novelists, filmmakers, and journalists; some who came and stayed, some who came and left, and some who were born and raised in this place. The essays revolve generally around issues of conflict between place and identity, and the theme of diversitybe it religious, sexual, racial, artistic, cultural, occupational, or geographicalruns throughout. Writers featured in this collection include Maxine Chernoff, Stuart Dybek, Michael Martone, Cris Mazza, James McManus, Scott Russell Sanders, Mary Swander, and many others of national reputation.

Becky Bradway is the author of Pink Houses and Family Taverns (IUP, 2002). Her essays have appeared in DoubleTake; E: The Environmental Journal; North American Review; Troika; and elsewhere. She lives in Normal, Illinois.

Preliminary Table of Contents:

Introduction, by Becky Bradway

Outskirts
Stuart Dybek. Midwest.
Mary Swander. That Glorious Time of Old.
James McManus. Your What Hurts?
Benjamin Alvey. Fag.
Jaimy Gordon. Little Man in the Woods.

Geography
Janet Wondra. Mid.
Scott Russell Sanders. Big Trees, Still Water, Tall Grass.
Becky Bradway. What It Is and Used to Be
Reginald Shepherd. A Walking Tour of the Chicago Lakefront, With Detours.
Sonia Gernes. Back Home in Indiana.
Sheryl St. Germain. What You Can See Mid-Winter in the Midwest; Walking the Prairie Rail Trail, Thinking About Loss

Transit
Bonnie Jo Campbell. A Train Runs Through It.
S.L. Wisenberg. Connections.
Rosanne Nordstrom. A Chicago Story.
Sharon Solwitz. Abra Cadabra.

California, Midwest
Maxine Chernoff. Michael Jordan's Lips.
Erin McGraw. Not From Here.
Cris Mazza. Displaced.
Robert Grindy. Desperately Seeking Blue Mound.

Workers
Anne Calcagno. Still onlóÅ