Randolph is a Nebraska author. I’m passionate about where I come from and (apart from my scifi and fantasy bend) I love stories of everyday life and characters from every age/walk of life. As such, I really wanted to like this collection. Generally speaking it left me “meh.” The stories were usually mildly depressing without ever going full fledged traumatic - leaving me waiting for a shoe to drop that never came. It felt reflective of real life (yay!) but in tone the stories were bleak at worst and often a bit too slow bordering on boring. She tackled small town life to the unique “city life” in Nebraska’s only cities. I think this book is an accurate portrayal of many Nebraskans and our homes, but I also believe it failed to explain why living here is remarkable. The subtle beauty of the plains. The sturdy, reliable people. She touched on everything that makes us hard to love while failing to show our strength.