Something Rich and Strange

Selected Stories

By: Ron Rash

Narrated by: Christian Baskous

From the acclaimed, New York Times bestselling award-winning author of Serena and The Cove, thirty of his finest short stories, collected in one volume.

No one captures the complexities of Appalachia—a rugged, brutal landscape of exquisite beauty—as evocatively and indelibly as author and poet Ron Rash. Winner of the Frank O'Connor International Short Story Award, two O Henry prizes, and a finalist for the PEN/Faulkner Award, Rash brilliantly illuminates the tensions between the traditional and the modern, the old and new south, tenderness and violence, man and nature. Though the focus is regional, the themes of Rash’s work are universal, striking an emotional chord that resonates deep within each of our lives.

Something Rich and Strange showcases this revered master’s artistry and craftsmanship in thirty stories culled from his previously published collections Nothing Gold Can Stay, Burning Bright, Chemistry, and The Night New Jesus Fell to Earth. Each work of short fiction demonstrates Rash’s dazzling ability to evoke the heart and soul of this land and its people—men and women inexorably tethered to the geography that defines and shapes them. Filled with suspense and myth, hope and heartbreak, told in language that flows like “shimmering, liquid poetry” (Atlanta Journal Constitution), Something Rich and Strange is an iconic work from an American literary virtuoso.

A strong connection to place.

Growing up on the South Cumberland Plateau, the stories connected to my rural surroundings, friends and family. Powerful writing deeply rooted in the Southern Appalachian Mountains.
At first the narrator’s accent grated at me as does the Mountain accents of my home do. The more I listened the accent and pace of narration added to the stories and gave characters greater depth.

terrific

I loved this book. A really cool mix of stories, and I loved the oddball/dark vibe. I thought Baskous was a great narrator for this.

Poor performance

The reader’s attempt at accents was bizarre and distracting. He pronounced the same words with different accents within the same sentences.

Depressing stories

I really had a hard time finishing this book.The stories were very depressing to me.

Outstanding Short Stories

This is a thoroughly enjoyable set of short stories, set in scenes that cover more than a century. Appalachia is the backdrop for all of them, and all of the readings reflect the gentle humility and humanity of the place. The only flaw, and it is a small one, is the slight overuse of the hanging ending at the end of the tales.