West of the River, North of the Bridge: Stories from Michigan's U.P.

by Richard Noel Hill

In trying to define Michigan's Upper Peninsula (the U.P.), and its people, words like grit, solitude, and resiliency come to mind. Enjoying brilliant summers and enduring inescapably long winters, the hardy souls who live here have much in common. In "West of the River, North of the Bridge," Hill reflects on issues from personal relationships and family traditions to hoarding and compulsive gambling. From the wild ideas and rebellion of youth to the regrets and hard-earned wisdom of old age, these stories reflect the experience of living in such a challenging environment.
Overall, Hill presents a cross-section of hopes and fears, courage and cowardice, all set in the rugged but starkly beautiful landscape that is the U.P.

240 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2020

About the author

Born on Christmas Day in 1952, Rich Hill grew up in Sault Ste. Marie in Michigan's Eastern Upper Peninsula. He lives along the southeastern shores of Lake Superior with his wife and a cocker spaniel named Maxwell. In his free time, he works on his log house, jams with fellow musicians (drums), reads, shovels snow, and plays tennis. Over the years, Rich has worked at a variety of unusual jobs from apple picker, balloon salesman, house painter, and custom furniture finisher to deckhand on various Great Lakes freighters. Along with his wife, he has owned and managed various retail stores from a gift shop to an art gallery and ready-to-finish furniture store. He loves nothing better than telling a good story. Which is where his love for writing began.

Reviews

[Lorie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book and couldn't put it down. I loved each story and couldn't wait to read the next. I finished the book in a day!

[Ron Frampton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stories of the people of the upper peninsula of Michigan.