My response to this collection of short stories by Bonnie Jo Campbell was visceral--her words and characters penetrated right into my being. The stories are heart-breaking and gut-wrenching. Her characters are the people on the fringe of society who are just barely making it--meth addicts and alcoholics; men and women at the end of their ropes earning or scraping together just enough to survive. There is love to be found here among these people, as well as hate--and guns. Lots of guns! Campbell lives 20 miles from here--we see these people every day in the library, so her stories seemed especially relevant. Her writing is stunning, and we won't soon forget the characters she introduced us to!