Harry Middleton (1949–1993)

Harry Middleton's memoir of growing up in the Ozarks floored me. Middleton, like memoirists, does not sacrifice style or beauty for the sake of objectivity and renders the lives of his great-uncle Albert and grandfather Emerson in a humble and reverant style. Middleton brilliantly structures the text, circling around his memories and the actions of the narrative like a hawk waiting to dive. And your heart gets the talons.