Born Again at the Laundromat: And Other Visions of the New West

Although mostly set in Montana, these disjointed and often pointless essays by a first-time author could take place anywhere. The title piece covers four unrelated spiritual experiences, including Carty's hippie years and a former classmate's retirement from dopedealing. The inherent allure of ice-fishing, a Grand Canyon hike and the opening of antelope season in a small town are lost as Carty hogs the spotlight and poses as an urban outdoorsman partial to pretty women, booze, his dogs and male camaraderie. Descriptions of attempts to build his own home near Bozeman, Mont., prove tedious. In the end, shallow, unfocused thought defeats Carty's engaging writing style. (Nov.)