Readable but a somewhat dark memoir of growing up rurally in Minnesota. Both the parents are a bit disturbed or have a hard time coping with a hard life, so the family is dysfunctional. The author is the oldest in a family of 6 girls. ( )

From the title and cover, this book seems like it should be a simple farm life memoir, but it is much more complex than that. Throughout the work, Helget recounts terrifying experiences with her father's temper, such as killing a cow with a pitchfork, and her mother's instability, such as demanding thirteen puppies be drown. The tone is bleak, but appropriate. She also weaves family and local stories into her own, providing a break from her own immediate family dynamics and some humor, as in the case of the story of the old bootlegger, Moonshine. On top of that, her prose is beautifully crafted, deftly conveying emotion and presenting a solid setting. Some readers may have trouble following her non-linear narrative, while others will feel this adds to the work. Highly recommended for all collections. ( )

summer book; Minnesota