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Cowboys and East Indians
199 pages; FiveChapters

The Winner That Takes You to Another World


In Nina McConigley's winsome collection Cowboys and East Indians, expect characters as unforgettable as a tough, Western middle-aged man who dresses in drag and an Indian-born woman (from India) who feels more at home in a cowboy bar than at a Hindu festival. This smart examination at how two seemingly alien cultures mesh—or don't—won the PEN Open Book Award given to a writer of color. But the real achievement is the author's mix of hilarity and intelligence. A fresh and insightful read.