Customer Reviews

This Is Not the Tropics: Stories (Library of American Fiction)

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This collection is so well-written. I love the craft of each story, and I love the characters who are as tightly wrapped up as the woman on the cover, but with that flash of passion--whether it be love or sadness that drives them. Her writing is so visual--I've got all the scenes in my head--I'd love to see these up on the screen. The stories can be haunting, but they also have flashes of humor. The stories can be quiet--they require a patient reader--but the payoff is worth it. I love this book.

This is an outstanding, well written collection of short stories. They can remind me a little bit of Adrian Louis' writings - same bleak, desolate landscape set in the far west of the Midwest with characters making the best out of things where everything is stripped down to the barest essentials of life. Her stories can only take place in this region of the country; it is clear that Ladette Randolph has a deep understanding of this land nd the folks who live there. Her stories are like old crooning country songs. The writing flows melodiously, and Randolph depicts the various voices of each character right on cue. My favorite story is the one about the student house/dog sitting for her professor. It's such a strange story that has some creepy undertones, the reader can get a little spooked, unsure what the final outcome is going to be. The unknown gets explored and the main character discovers a truth from the whole ordeal. Some of her stories have very ethereal tones.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and am very pleased to finally find an author who has a deep understanding of her characters and is adept at storytelling.

This little book is a surprise to me. I was not very impressed by the cover picture, but as soon as I started reading the first story, I lost myself in it. Ladette Randolph is an excellent writer and a keen observer of life in the Midwest America. Having lived in this region myself for many years, I enjoyed every story and often had the feeling that I might have met some of the characters in these stories in the past. I have recommended this book to all of my friends and will not hesitate to recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading a classic writer.

Ladette Randolph's book of stories is a very interesting read. Her characters capture the Midwest in a unique and thoughtful way. So much seems to exist below the surface of her characters, yet the reader feels as if they have known them for years. She captures the complexity that often exists beneath the surface of the lives of Midwestern (and all) people. I highly recommend this book.

Ladette Randolph writes stories of depth and passion about characters and places that matter to her. She has a sense about her that evokes greatness in writing. These stories should be read and reread by anyone who enjoys great stories.