great book

A few years ago, I read a book that changed the way I look at literature from Southern writers.

It's title: One Foot in Eden. It's author: Ron Rash.

I love the book because I can picture exactly how it happened. What makes it stand out is the fact that he wrote the book from several peoples' points of view. The reader advances through the story by seeing it from those different perspectives. It's my favorite book, which means that it has to stand up against other great American novels like The Color Purple, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Last of the Mohicans, Gone With the Wind, To Kill a Mockingbird and The Catcher in the Rye.

Rash's repertoire doesn't stop there. He's published several other books, including two novels, short stories and volumes of poetry.

I'm also a little biased toward him because (like me) he's a Gardner-Webb graduate.

We received media copies in the mail about a week ago for his newest book of short stories, "Chemistry and Other Stories." After reading it, I decided wholeheartedly that it lives up to my (extremely high) expectations of Rash's work.

I read it in several sittings because it's like fine chocolate - you want to savor it and make it last.

I don't want to give away too much of it, but the first story about the old men is one of my favorites.

The other advantage to these short stories (and his other work) is that it has a local setting. He actually mentions Shelby in one of the stories in the book.

Here's the link to his publisher.

Here's a link to some of his poetry.

Notably, Rash will be in the area on tour in the next few months. Read my column on Thursday's Spot calendar page to find out when and where.

Have you read Rash's other work? Did you like it? Hate it?

If so, leave comments.