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.
