Mothers, Tell Your Daughters: Stories

Bonnie Jo Campbell is recognized as a keen observer of life and trouble in rural America. Named by the Guardian as one of the top ten writers of rural noir, Campbell creates working-class protagonists who are vulnerable, wise, cruel, and funny in equal measure. Mothers, Tell Your Daughters is a collection of stories centered on strong but flawed women navigating a sexually charged atmosphere as they love, honor, and betray one another against the backdrop of the men in their world. The mother-daughter relationships depicted in these stories function variously as lifelines, anchors, or destructive forces. The collection includes "My Dog Roscoe," in which a new bride becomes convinced her dead ex-boyfriend has returned as a mongrel; "Blood Work, 1999," about a phlebotomist whose desire to give away everything awakens her sensuality; and "Home to Die," featuring an abused woman who takes revenge on her bedridden husband. These darkly funny tales showcase Campbell's spirited American voice.