In years past, reviews of "New Stories from the South" -- Shannon Ravenel's annual collection of tales tied to the South by birth or by marriage -- have pondered whether these collections really reflect the South. One might argue that it doesn't matter, as long as the stories are worth reading. And Larry Brown's introduction to the 17th annual edition of "New Stories" sets up the reader to expect this, what with his talk of apprenticeship and the importance of storytelling. But, happy day, Ravenel has gathered stories that are both good and Southern. The collection is chock-full of Southern archetypes: faith healers, good ol' boys a la "Deliverance," the Civil War, even Elvis (OK, it's Elvis Costello, in Corey Mesler's "The Growth and Death of Buddy Gardner" -- but it's set in Memphis, home of The King's Graceland).
<Order At Amazon> (submitted by John Foyle)
8:39:27 PM 
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