Population

485

By: Michael Perry

Narrated by: Michael Perry

After a 12-year absence, a real-life prodigal seeks to serve his hometown, New Auburn, Wisconsin, population: 485, by joining the volunteer fire and rescue department. In a place where men post claims of manhood on bug deflectors, where the local vigilante is a farmer's wife with a pistol and a Bible, and where the most senior firefighter is a cross-eyed butcher with one kidney and two ex-wives (both of whom work at the only gas station in town), writer Michael Perry sets out "to meet my neighbors at the invitation of the fire siren".

This audio also includes eight wise and witty essays selected from Perry's new book, Off Main Street. Whether fighting fires, playing nurse to a murderer, hitting the road with a truck driver, or meditating on Elvis and osmosis, Perry shows us that his small-town roots have not limited his worldview; in fact, they've enlarged it in some of the subtlest, most observant, and memorable ways possible. This collection is a diverse and generous survey of the author's talents as a journalist, penetrating observer, and rural-bred storyteller of Wisconsin.

©2002, 2005 Michael Perry (P)2005 HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.

Critic reviews

• Book Sense Book of the Year Award Finalist, Adult Non-Fiction, 2003
• 2005 Audie Award Nominee, Classic and Short Stories/Collections

"This is a quietly devastating book; intimate and disarming and lovely." (Esquire)
"Tragic at times, funny at others, Perry's memoir will appeal to anyone curious about small-town life." (Booklist)

The perfect perspective!

This author has a great perspective on life for the time frame when this book was written and it applies just as much if not more now. The book is easy to listen to and soothes the soul as well.

Enjoyed

First book read by this author, turns out it was from the area where I grew up so I can attest to the truth of some of the stories. Even had relatives named in it though the actual names were not used. The corner in the second chapter is where my aunt lived. Great humor interjected into a serious story, well done although some might not get the humor in the reality of the story

Thank You

I grew up on a dairy farm in Missouri and was a 4-H exchange member and lived with a dairy family in Menomonie Wisconsin. I was a Navy Corpsmen in Vietnam and then a nurse and then CRNA. I have never fought fires but have sure done my share of trauma. Mike tells it like it is but much more plainly and eloquently than I ever could. I FELT more than enjoyed your work. Thank you.

Touching, heartwarming, and humorous

Michael writes with such vivid imagery that you can almost see the place he describes unfolding before you in real life. I grew up in WI on the opposite side of the state from where he did, yet I felt I was transported back listening to his descriptive words.

Goes great with bourbon

Moving writing and reading. Audible chapter breaks are misplaced. The book begins at 15 minutes into chapter two.

This man is a genius

nailed it. this is what small towns in wisconsin is truly like. the family the fighting the communities the heart of the midwest.

Lovely and affecting

I believed that he lived this. You can’t get something this evocative out of an imagination, no matter how fertile. As a new volunteer with a small town squad, I wanna show it to all the guys, but probably won’t because they’re like the characters in the story, and might not take it as I do. The end switch is too abruptly to a talk by the author. Please be prepared to stop it at that point and process the end. Not cloying, but profound, if that’s the word.

Classic tales of rural Americana

Very riveting read and good view into rural northern Americana. Perry is a great story teller with a unique style.

I went back in time

Loved the entire story . My father and cousins grew up in New Auburn , WI. I recognized roads and names. It was a visit back in time.

Great book

Absolutely loved this book especially because most places he talks about I’ve been to. He really hits the small town feel on the head and is a great storyteller. His short stories in the beginning of the book just add more good stories for your buck. Also it’s Another book that made my tearing up in a semi truck list.