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368 'WesternAmerican Literature Home Truth. Byjanis Stout. (NewYork: Soho Press, 1992. 278 pages, $19.95.) Native Americans frequently employ a four step approach to problem solving: 1. Show up 2. Payattention 3. Tell the truth 4. Don’t be tied to a particular outcome Janis Stout must have been at least subconsciously aware of this procedure as she allows Meg, her 27-year-old Dallasite protagonist, to tell her story in Home Truth. Meg shows up as daughter of parents who abandon their family; sister to Michael, an out-of-work musician, Beep, a selfishlybeautiful sister, and Lisbeth, severely retarded and blind; wife of Stan, an egocentric automobile mechanic; mother of two small children, Gail and Davey; and friend to graduate students Patti and Rob. As is the case with many women who juggle roles, Meg pays attention to the needs of each of these characters while neglecting her own needs. The crowning blow comes the day the school where Lisbeth has been living decides herviolentbehavior can no longer be managed, so Lisbeth issent to the only place available, Meg and Stan’shome. The truthbecomes painfully clear. Lisbeth’serratic and demanding behav­ ior not only “finishes off’ Meg and Stan’s faltering marriage but also resensitizes the scar tissue of Meg’s memories. In the process, Meg uncovers weaknesses (her martyr’scomplex) and strengths (her abilityto establish priori­ ties) that enable her to endure. Stout’s story is realistic. In a larger sense, the situation created by inad­ equate facilities for Lisbeth’scare reminds us ofour responsibilities toward the handicapped. But Home Truth functions on a painfully personal level, too. Meg struggles—alone—yet each move creates another problem. Home Truth ends without a resolution, but Meg is not tied toaparticularoutcome. She survives. There is meaning in her struggle for any reader. JANE BOUTERSE Texarkana College DueNorth. ByMitchell Smith. (NewYork: Simon and Schuster, 1992. 333 pages, $21.00.) “Sara stood on the foxuntil itdied. Ithad hissed ather, shown itsneatwhite teeth, skipped around the number four leg-hold. ...” ...

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