RaveEntropy... [a] knockout ... the book does not fall into a clichéd rags to riches story and delights in the many beautiful moments and lessons without overdosing on sentimentality ... the book’s spirit and detail connects on many more levels than just geographic recognition. There is an abundance of stories for people of all types to connect with—whether it be family tension, institutional discrimination, or dealing with loss ... Tackling the idiosyncrasies of the Midwest is a complicated endeavor, but Smarsh leaves out no detail ... As economics drive young people out of the countryside and the Internet streamlines our speech, this rural dialect may be erased completely. But not in Smarsh’s book. It’s there and it always will be: a monument to Midwestern life.
