Mike Perry\'s extraordinary and thoughtful account of meeting the people of his small hometown by joining the fire and rescue team was a breakout hit that swells with unadorned heroism ( USA Today ) Welcome to New Auburn, Wisconsin (Population: 485) where the local vigilante is a farmer\'s wife armed with a pistol and a Bible, the most senior member of the volunteer fire department is a cross-eyed butcher with one kidney and two ex-wives (both of whom work at the only gas station in town), and the back roads are haunted by the ghosts of children and farmers.
Tracing his calls on a map in the little firehouse, he sees a dense, benevolent web, spun one frantic zigzag at a time from which the story of a tiny town emerges..
Against a backdrop of fires and tangled wrecks, bar fights and smelt feeds, he tells a frequently comic tale leavened with moments of heartbreaking delicacy and searing tragedy.
Unable to polka or repair his own pickup, his farm-boy hands gone soft after years of writing, Mike figures the best way to regain his credibility is to join the volunteer fire department.
He grew up here, and now-after a decade away-he has returned.
Michael Perry loves this place.
Mike Perry\'s extraordinary and thoughtful account of meeting the people of his small hometown by joining the fire and rescue team was a breakout hit that swells with unadorned heroism ( USA Today ) Welcome to New Auburn, Wisconsin (Population: 485) where the local vigilante is a farmer\'s wife armed with a pistol and a Bible, the most senior member of the volunteer fire department is a cross-eyed butcher with one kidney and two ex-wives (both of whom work at the only gas station in town), and the back roads are haunted by the ghosts of children and farmers
