Bad Dirt: Wyoming Stories 2

Bad Dirt: Wyoming Stories 2 is a collection of eleven short stories by Annie Proulx, published in 2004 as a follow-up to her earlier Wyoming Stories collection. The stories take place across Wyoming's rugged landscape, where Proulx made her home in the 1990s. Five of the tales center on Elk Tooth, a fictional Wyoming town of 80 residents where the local population takes pride in their resistance to mainstream society. The characters navigate life in an isolated community marked by economic hardship, fierce independence, and complex relationships with the surrounding wilderness. The collection includes both realistic and magical elements, featuring characters who range from game wardens to ranchers to amateur musicians. Several stories first appeared in prestigious publications like The New Yorker and The Paris Review before being collected in this volume. The book explores themes of survival, isolation, and the tension between traditional rural life and encroaching modernization in the American West. Through these stories, Proulx captures the stark realities and unexpected mysteries of contemporary Wyoming existence.

Readers found these Wyoming-based short stories darker and less engaging than Proulx's previous collections. Many noted the stories felt more like sketches or fragments compared to Close Range. Readers appreciated: - The authentic Wyoming setting and atmosphere - Dark humor throughout the stories - Commentary on environmental issues - Sharp observations of rural Western life Common criticisms: - Stories lack the emotional depth of her earlier work - Too many similar characters and plots - Several stories rely on supernatural elements that feel out of place - Writing style can be difficult to follow Review Scores: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (1,800+ ratings) Amazon: 3.5/5 (50+ reviews) Multiple readers specifically mentioned the story "Man Crawling Out of Trees" as a standout, while "The Wamsutter Wolf" received criticism for its abrupt ending. One reviewer noted: "The writing is still excellent but these stories don't grab you like Close Range did."

Montana 1948 by Larry Watson This novel captures small-town Western life through the lens of a family dealing with justice and tribal relations in post-war Montana.

This House of Sky by Ivan Doig The memoir chronicles life in remote Montana ranching country, depicting the relationship between land and people in the American West.

Winter in the Blood by James Welch Set on a Montana reservation, this novel presents the raw reality of Native American life and the harsh beauty of the Northern plains.

Rock Springs by Richard Ford These short stories depict working-class characters navigating survival and relationships in the contemporary American West.

The Meadow by James Galvin The book follows multiple generations on a Wyoming ranch, documenting their connection to the land and resistance to change.

🌟 Proulx wrote this collection while living in Wyoming's Snowy Range Mountains, drawing direct inspiration from her surroundings. 🌟 The author won both the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award for her novel "The Shipping News" before writing these Wyoming stories. 🌟 Wyoming ranks as the least populous state in the U.S., with about 6 people per square mile, reflecting the isolation depicted in the book. 🌟 The title "Bad Dirt" refers to a local Wyoming term for poor soil that can't support crops or substantial grazing. 🌟 The fictional town of Elk Tooth was loosely inspired by several real small Wyoming communities, including Medicine Bow and Centennial.