Do Midwesterners have a peculiar way of looking at the world? Is there something not quite right about the way they see things? For such a normal place, the heartland has produced some writers who take a most individual approach to storytelling. And the result to the delight of readers everywhere has been stories that reveal the mystery, joy, and enchantment in the most ordinary and incidental moments of life. These 33 exceptional tales showcase the peculiarly wonderful vision of some of the region s best-known or soon-to-be-celebrated writers. Each invites its readers to see the world through different eyes and see it anew."

This is the first collection to appear in twenty years from one of America's best short story writers. His thirteen stories are marvelous--funny, heartbreaking, and wise by turns, and on occasion all three at once.

Praise for Max Apple:

"Apple may not be as well known a humorist as Russell Baker, Calvin Trillin, or Garrison Keillor. But he should be. He belongs in the same crowd."-- "Newsday," reviewing "Free Agents"

"Apple is an amiable, good-hearted, sweet-tempered writer whose short pieces occupy an agreeable territory somewhere between fact and fiction."-- "Washington Post Book World," reviewing "Free Agents"

"A tender, tough, and totally compelling account."-- "USA Today," reviewing "Roommates"

"The slim, sweet slices of this particular Apple pie are always served warm and contain generous amounts of humor, off-the-wall inventiveness, and down-to-earth intelligence."-- "Cleveland Plain Dealer," reviewing "Free Agents"