Midland: Reports from Flyover Country

by Michael Croley

A collection of revelatory stories from leading journalists between the coasts, offering a perspective on immigration, drug addiction, climate change, and more that you won’t find in the national media.

After the 2016 election, the national media fretted over what they could have missed in the middle of the country. Journalists in the middle of the country shook their head at these narratives about Trump Country and the forgotten. Ted Genoways, one of the prominent contributors here, foresaw how close the election would be and in its aftermath put out a public call on Facebook, tagging writers from those midland states, to answer the national media’s puzzlement with their own stories of what had been lying in wait all along.

Representing a true cross-section of America, both geographically and ethnically, these writers prepare us for another election cycle by highlighting the true diversity of the American experience. Esther Honig describes the effects of the immigration crackdown in Colorado; C.J. Janovy writes about the challenges of being an LGBTQ+ activist in Kansas; Karen Coates and Valeria Fernández show us the children harvesting our food; and Sydney Boles chronicles a miner’s protest in Kentucky. For readers willing to look at the American experience that the pundits don’t know about or cover, Midland is an invaluable peek into the hearts and minds of largely unheard Americans.

Genres: Nonfiction, Essays

256 pages, ebook

First published September 8, 2020

About the author

Michael Croley was born in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. The recipient of an NEA Fellowship in Literature in 2016, his work has appeared in a number of publications. His debut collection of stories, Any Other Place, will appear in 2019. He teaches creative writing at Denison University.

Reviews

[Sara Broad · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Midland" by Michael Croley and Jack Shuler is largely a series of essays about the people, places, and events that are often not discussed or possibly misrepresented in the news. The introduction to the essays and the description of the book state that these are stories that take place in the middle of the country, but some of these stories take place in areas like Detroit and southern Texas. There were several essays in here that I found really thought-provoking, such as the essays on child farm workers and the Arkansas dollar store opening. Overall though, I found that many of the essays ended abruptly, and I struggled to find a unifying theme consistent with the title, introduction, and description of the book.

[Cavak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thought-provoking insight into lives beyond the mainstream media's image. Perhaps you can argue that it's just people living their lives the best they can. That's the point though: to break through negative and bland stereotyping. Oof, did I fall in love with some of these.

Loved the Native essays, the realities of voting, and the funky and wholesome car trip with the Trump loving cousin. Timely ones, sometimes ones without concrete answers. Excellent writing by all. The ones that sounded more journalistic didn't leave a strong mark with me. Strangely.

Midland is breezy writing that informs and proposes. Might not be news to you, depending on where you live. Terrific collection overall.

I received the book for free through Goodreads Giveaways.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received this book from Good Reads as part of the First Reads program.

It seems the media is always talking about the Midwestern USA as Trump Country, and a disproportionate number of red states lie in that part of the country. But as this book points out clearly, the area is no more homogenized than any other place. I know that the are I'm from is considered a blue area, but I've seen a very large number of Trump posters on lawns in my travels around. In this book, which is a disparate collection of essays from a disparate collection of people, a better picture of the central part of this country is portrayed. Sure, there are Trump supporters, but there are also plenty of people that don't support him. The area isn't as pure white as the news makes it seem. In fact, there are quite a large number of black, brown, red and yellow people throughout, just like everywhere else in America. This book is an eye-opener for those of us who haven't visited the region and don't know any better. It's also fascinating and thought provoking, and I'd recommend it to everyone.

[MaryBeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an advance digital review copy of this book from Tiller Press via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Midland is a collection of articles by local journalists focused on small towns, rural areas, and demographics often overlooked or subject to sweeping generalizations. These writers seek to push back against these soundbytes by offering deeper nuanced looks into personal stories. The most compelling essays in the collection were those that directly engaged with political polarization in the age of Trump, seeking to move the conversation from politics to a focus on shared humanity. The collection could be strengthened by some additional editing and the addition of an afterword that draws together more concretely some common substantive themes.

[Luis Cuesta · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book as a Goodreads giveaway. Midland is a collection of essays highlighting the diversity of the American experience. Michael Croley and Jack Shuler focused on small towns, rural areas, and demographics often overlooked or subject to sweeping generalizations. They cover subjects such as guns, Trump voters, coalitions between people with opposing views, the meaning of socialism and more. As journalists, both usually offer compleing looks into personal stories, seeking to move the conversation from politics to a focus on shared humanity being my favorite the one that depicts a miner's protest in Kentucky.

[Teri L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this compilation of essays by and about people from the Midwest and other small towns. About half of the essays have been published previously. The quality of the writing is a bit uneven but the essays thought-provoking. They cover subjects such as guns, Trump voters, coalitions between people with opposing views, the meaning of socialism and more.

[Cindy DavisClark · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a collection of essays. Not just about the midwest but about the middle of the USA. Stories about political issues that don't often make the national news. Very current read before the upcoming election. Had to skim some.

[Maddie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The essays were excellent but from an editing/publishing perspective I found it difficult to overlook the glaring typo in the Table of Contents (page viii, line 7: "Costoco" instead of "Costco" in the title of Ted Genoways's piece).

[Zach DuFran · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great collection of stories from journalists around the central portion of the country, highlighting often overlooked perspectives.

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting collection of essays, and overall a lot nicer than I expected. Worth reading.

(Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book through a Goodreads Giveaway.)

[Madison · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great collection of stories. Some of them were less interesting than others, but all were very well-written. Thank you for the Goodreads ARC giveaway!

[Logan Crews · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5; essays are hit or miss but the ones that are good are really good