Description: Kinfolks is a novelistic collection of short stories centered around Wilgus Collier, a young boy growing up in rural Kentucky during the 1940s and 1950s. The stories follow Wilgus from childhood into early adulthood, exploring his relationships with his extended family and Appalachian community.
Review Quotes: "A collection of stories portraying the adventures of Wilgus Collier and his relationships with his family in eastern Kentucky in the years following WWII. Unlike Norman's first novel, Divine Right's Trip, a story of the American counterculture, Kinfolks is about growing up in the Kentucky coal country. However, it does resemble Norman's earlier work in its protagonist's gradual progress toward self-discovery. Only nine years old in the first story, Wilgus grows in understanding about himself, the complex personalities of his relatives, and his ties with them. . . . Norman's characterizations are sharp and clear, his stories well paced, and his themes should have significance for a wide range of readers.
', Choice