The Canyon Cuts Both Ways bookcover

The Canyon Cuts Both Ways

hidden stories

Dan T. Cox 

(Author)
4.9/5.0
21,000+ Reviews
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Description

The size of the sky in the place you're from can have much to do with how you view the world, and often how you choose to conduct yourself in that world. Such is the case for people living in Oregon's North Santiam Canyon, situated amid the raindrops and heavy underbrush of the western foothills of the Cascade Mountains. It's a place where the trees are tall, the sky is small, and many people see their options as limited...unless they escape. This canyon is a crucible of longing. It packs people together in close proximity, forcing conversations of consequence and collisions of will that forever alter lives. The key characters in these stories are intricately rendered in a nearly visual manner. Their voices are authentic and vivid, and often oddly elegant despite their lack of formal education. When experienced within the context of their respective scenes, these characters come alive, each with their own unique idiosyncrasies. But when considered from a distance--looking at the montage as a whole--they become members of a Greek chorus with a Pacific Northwest vibe; one hailing from a place that has an equal number of church pews and barstools, where the truth of things eventually becomes as clear as the pellucid, snow-fed river water that has been scouring out the North Santiam Canyon since the beginning of time.

Product Details

PublisherTrooper Books
Publish DateOctober 15, 2020
Pages218
LanguageEnglish
TypeBook iconPaperback / softback
EAN/UPC9780578626185
Dimensions8.5 X 5.5 X 0.5 inches | 0.6 pounds

About the Author

Dan T. Cox was born in 1953 in Corvallis, Oregon. He grew up in Oregon's North Santiam Canyon, earned a journalism degree from the University of Oregon, became part of Portland's advertising creative community, and now lives in Ridgefield, Washington. His short fiction has appeared in literary journals such as Weber Studies and Skyline.

Reviews

"...Cox is able to deliver narratives that sound original with each new story, while still allowing enough unity between them to permit a reader to feel as though they are more than just a casual observer. I honestly felt like an interloper, and it was fascinating...And I write this review from a sofa in London, longing for a trip to discover the little space in the huge canyon in Oregon." --Readers' Favorite 5-Star Review

"In the style of Steinbeck, with the sharp, rural way of life of Flannery O'Connor. The language is rich and alive...with wonderful descriptions of nature and the natural world; the words possessing a lyrical quality that make it seem like they might be accompanied by music." --San Francisco Book Review (4.5 Stars)

"...Cox's storytelling illuminates human truths and offers keen insight into the human experience. One of the most compelling stories here is A Night by the Fire...Cox's insight into human psychology shines brightest here." --Kirkus Reviews

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