It’s the same drill every time with Nell Zink. I read the synopsis and think, this doesn’t sound like something that would interest me. And then I start reading and immediately remember oh, that’s right, Nell Zink’s writing can get me interested in absolutely anything.

Such is the case here, where the “adopted” child of cruel homesteader types attempts to make her way in a world that doesn’t recognize that she exists.

Zink is good at getting a lot out of little, whether that means deriving meaning from a very niche topic or cramming a lot of literary heft into a relatively short novel using sparse prose. Her writing is sharp, gorgeous, and poignant, and could probably keep me interested in just about anything.

The book has a sly sense of humor that helps mitigate some of its sadder aspects, and the characters are excellent-even the terrible ones. (I’m looking at you, Peter).

This is the fourth Nell Zink book I've read and I'll continue to seek out new titles when they come out. This book is so sharp and fresh and unpredictable. Will definitely recommend to friends.