On the Outskirts of Normal
Language: English
Published by Engine Books, 2011
Series: Book 1 of 35 - Crux: The Georgia Series in Literary Nonfiction
- Softcover
- Used

Seller: World of Books Inc, Montgomery, IL, U.S.A.World of Books Inc
AbeBooks seller since March 23, 2026
Condition: Used - Very good
£ 8.03
Quantity: 1 available
Add to basketItem description from seller
After moving to a humble cottage outside of a tiny Texas town, Debra Monroe rids herself of an abusive husband, battles sexist contractors and workers as she renovates her home, and finally, after several disheartening letdowns, is able to adopt her beautiful baby daughter, Marie. Though elated that her dream is coming true, Monroe faces trials that befall her not just as a single mother but as a white mother of a black child. In On the Outskirts of Normal, two-time National Book Award nominee Monroe's heart creaks like china with hairline cracks each time a racist comment rolls their way or stares linger a little too long in their direction. Though she and her daughter face serious undiagnosed illnesses leading to innumerable, painful doctor visits, Monroe remains steadfast in her dedication to Marie and their small but tight family. Reading On the Outskirts of Normal at times feels like driving through an unwieldy thunderstorm at night on the unlit country roads that snake their way to Monroe's house in the woods; readers will feel her exhaustion but will be buoyed by her ever-present faith and fiery love. Pulitzer Prize winner Madeleine Blais writes that On the Outskirts of Normal is the real deal: both a literary triumph and a triumph of the heart.…
Seller Inventory # CIN098354770XVG
- Title
- On the Outskirts of Normal
- Author
- Debra Monroe
- Publisher
- Engine Books
- Publication year
- 2011
- Condition
- Very Good
- Binding
- Paperback
- Language
- English
- ISBN 10
- 098354770X
- ISBN 13
- 9780983547709
- Series
- Book 1 of 35: Crux: The Georgia Series in Literary Nonfiction
"If On the Outskirts of Normal were a country song, Lucinda Williams would sing it."?The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
In a small town where mothers with careers are rare, let alone a white mother who's adopted a black baby, Debra Monroe confronts her past in order to make a life for her daughter, and rebuilds a half-ruined cabin and her sense of what makes a family.
Debra Monroe is the author of four books of fiction. She teaches in the MFA program at Texas State University.
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World of Books Inc
Montgomery, IL, U.S.A.
AbeBooks seller since March 23, 2026
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Founded in 2002, World of Books is a leading online destination for buying and selling both preloved and new books, committed to making sustainable reading accessible to all. With a mission to help people read more and waste less, World of Books offers a huge range of affordable, high-quality books — giving both new and preloved titles a second life. The company also operates World of Books – Sell Your Books, an easy-to-use platform that allows customers to trade in unwanted books for cash, helping to keep books in circulation while promoting sustainability. As a Certified B Corp, World of Books is driven by a vision to become the world’s largest and most sustainable dedicated online bookstore. The company measures its success through the positive environmental impact it creates, the value it provides to customers, and its ability to operate profitably while supporting its sustainable mission …
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