The Richer, The Poorer

West’s work is timelessly cinematic, with painterly visual descriptions and pitch-perfect dialogue that ranges across class, region, race, age, and gender - Paris Review

West writes like a social historian, capturing significant moments that seem to alter lives forever or change nothing at all - Los Angeles Times

Unforced perfection … beautifully cadenced. West has shown the power of what is left unspoken - Chicago Tribune

A collection of 17 short stories and 13 essays sure to secure her reputation as a master of the shorter forms. Though this small volume might appear to be two books in one, the 30 pieces create a singular vision … West’s world is the world of black people reaching for the American dream in the wake of slavery and often finding themselves betrayed (or betraying themselves) in their struggle to conform to standards that are only half theirs … the best of these stories sink into the mind like a perfect piece of homemade fudge melting on the tongue - pure pleasure, pure impact. And the nonfiction pieces are just as good - Washington Post