nighm's review
5.0
Perhaps the best book on this topic! I did not think there was much to say about literature from Michigan and the unfamiliarity of most of the names in the Table of Contents made suspect that there was not much to see, but Clark does an excellent job telling the stories of authors who lived in Michigan and were inspired by its forests and cities. My favorite chapter was on Robert Hayden and Dudley Randall, where she sampled their works and explained the drama behind their poetry. Though not all of the authors are well-known now, they all achieved some fame in their time, many winning or being finalists for the National Book Award. It is not all “high-brow” literature either: the chapter on Elmore Leonard and Donald Goines tells the reader how much goes into popular crime fiction.
I remain unconvinced by the initial and final chapters which see Michigan as a center of literary achievement: I would love for this to be true, but do not yet see it. Anna Clark is certainly doing her part in gathering the stories behind the literature we now have. Her prose is clear and concise; she keeps things moving but gives the sort of detail that builds a story. I would be interested to read more of her writing.
I remain unconvinced by the initial and final chapters which see Michigan as a center of literary achievement: I would love for this to be true, but do not yet see it. Anna Clark is certainly doing her part in gathering the stories behind the literature we now have. Her prose is clear and concise; she keeps things moving but gives the sort of detail that builds a story. I would be interested to read more of her writing.
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