From the Place in the Valley Deep in the Forest

By Mitch Cullin

The stories and characters in this diverse collection of stories from the acclaimed novelist Mitch Cullin provide a fascinating gloss on events that have taken place in the second half of the 20th century. They begin at a remote Japanese beach house and end on an unnamed Alaskan island. These are stories about isolation, remembrances of past experiences, and the sometimes inaccurate nature of memory. Cullin's stories examine individuals who have survived momentous, often horrific, social upheavals-where relationships and common day-to-day life are suddenly shaken by unforeseen circumstances. From the Place in the Valley Deep in the Forest' is a collection that deftly suggests we are all emigrants from personal histories we recall only fleetingly-moments which draw us back, but, as we imagine them, seem increasingly difficult to grasp. These polished and graceful stories are further evidence of the kind of work that makes Cullin one of our best young writers. "If something of the experimentalist shows in Cullin's novels, his stories are old-fashioned in the best sense, reporting slices of life as the characters experience them in a language that is economical yet richly evocative because of its precision."-Booklist

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0802313361
• ISBN13: 9780802313362
• Release Date: December 2001
• Publisher: Dufour Editions
• Length: 244 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.5" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

small moments on a big planet

An excellent collection, with exceptionally vivid characters. Not all of the stories struck me with the same weight, but the ones that did--"Voice Of The Sun," "Wormwood," "Viv's Bidding," "Totem"--are among the best short fiction I've read in a long while. Lesser pieces like "Sifting Through" and the title story are still better than most, though they seemed somewhat brisk in their presentation. A minor qualm, and one that may have gone unnoticed if it weren't for the quality, length, and richness of the other stories. A highly recommended debut of short fiction.

Around the world in 8 stories

An incredibly written, insightful, flat-out great collection of stories. Loved the shift of regions and locales, but it's the strong characters that move these stories along. The ending story about the Alaskan boy just concluded the whole thing beautifully. 2002 has just begun, but this one will probably remain high up on my list.