Forty Acres Deep

By: Michael Perry

Narrated by: Michael Perry

When farmer Harold wakes to find his wife dead beside him in bed and snow threatening to crush the last life from his dwindling farm, he takes drastic steps toward a fresh start. Set in a world of stark wintry beauty, Forty Acres Deep is the brief, unrelenting tale of one person's attempt to make sense of a world he no longer recognizes while pitilessly calling himself into account. Seamed with grim humor and earthy revelations, it is an unforgiving story...and yet leaves open the idea that we might surrender to hope.

©2023 Michael Perry (P)2023 Michael Perry

The details

It was interesting how the topic of death and suicide were handled. The writers details made it easy to visualize and understand why the story ended the way it did. It will stay with me for a while and I will think about it when driving out on the Wisconsin countryside and seeing farms in different stages.

Self reflection

This book Really made me reflect on the wonderful relationship I have with my wife.

Devastating. Honest. Real.

Don’t be fooled by Perry’s other more light-hearted works. This mighty little book is deep & heavy. It’s a fast read, but you’ll probably need to pause & mull a poignant truth, consider an all-too-familiar pattern… heck, maybe just cry. Read it, but warn your heart first - especially if you know rural life, isolation, or depression.

Even if you don’t know those realities first-hand, prepare yourself before cracking into this one. You’re going to walk away looking at the world a little differently and with new compassion. It may be a work of fiction, but you’ll be seeing Harold at gas stations and coffee shops for a long time. You’ll find yourself giving him your most kind and warm smile - and wondering about him after you leave - and hoping beyond hope that you provided some warmth… which is really just something this world needed more of anyway.

Unexpected

Michael Perry’s works are usually filled with bits of often self effacing humor. Not so with this dark story of a man feeling alone, isolated, and regretful. Perry’s skillful turn of phrase portrays the downward path of despair powerfully. An important read.

A good story by any author, but amazing by Michael

Dark, deep, and complex. I am from a small town in Wisconsin and relate so well to Perry's writing. In this book, which is such a departure from his others, Perry weaves the complexities of change, loss, sadness, thoughtfulness, stubborness, honesty, and about a dozen other life challenges, into a haunting portrayal of coping with our world, our choices, and our mental health. This was such a wonderfully sad and beautiful book.