James A. Misko

The Cut of Pride: A Novel James A. Misko

In his novel THE CUT OF PRIDE, Jim Misko does something that is rare in modern literature - he writes about hard, brutal, unpleasant physical labour. And he does so with such vivid detail that the labour itself becomes one of the story's major entities. His cast of complex, dysfunctional characters - owners and employees of a mink-raising farm in coastal Oregon - is nearly destroyed by the seemingly endless toil. Maintaining a sense of human worth is a constant struggle. The brotherhood of men who work well together, like the brotherhood of fellow soldiers, is shown through the friendship of old West Helner and Jeff Baker, a young hired hand. Toiling alongside each other, both are nearly unmanned by Rose - West's domineering wife and owner of the mink enterprise. Here is a story with unforgettable characters, whose pride, distrust and bitterness make for a grim, yet gripping, drama.