First published 1993
These stories follow ordinary people navigating their daily struggles in the Southwest. A construction worker faces another day of uncertain employment. A family man weighs his responsibilities against his desires. A woman tends bar while dreams slip further away. Gilb places readers directly into these lives, revealing how economic pressure shapes every decision. His characters work with their hands, live paycheck to paycheck, and carry the weight of supporting others. The stories examine what happens when pride meets necessity, when cultural identity clashes with economic reality. Through precise observation and unflinching honesty, Gilb shows how people maintain dignity while circumstances push against them. These are not tales of dramatic transformation but of quiet persistence. The emotional core lies in recognizing the strength required for ordinary survival.
Genres: fiction, short-stories, literary-fiction, contemporary
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: ordinary-survival, quiet-persistence
Setting: Southwest
Period: 21st-century
287 pages · Hardcover · Univ of New Mexico Pr