One of the things I hear the most as a writer is that people love stories that revolve around their own homes. For those of us that live in West Virginia, Scott McClanahan is here to deliver.

“The Collected Works of Scott McClanahan” is comprised of his first two books, “Stories” and “Stories II,” and features various tales of his life in West Virginia. The stories range from having a meltdown over a bologna sandwich being thrown at his car by a homeless man to stealing pizza from the picnic of a couple that had their date interrupted by the man’s wife and family.

While most of these stories are humorous, they also depict a more morose side of our culture that we tend to either not mention, or downplay. He shows a moral ambiguity that we like to pretend doesn’t exist here, an easy switch to violence that none of us seem to really take note of anymore.

McClanahan writes about living in Appalachia with both humor and honesty, his minimalist style mimicking the way that most West Virginians speak. Whether it’s his relatability, quirky nature, or apt descriptions of life in the hills, “The Collected Works of Scott McClanahan” will keep you invested.

Gin Jackson can be contacted at [email protected].