This collection of short stories deals with family dynamics, human resilience, loss, and acceptance.

In the first section the stories take place in the big woods of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, where death, sadness, humor, and life's fragility are on display.

The second section deals with urban environs, where the characters struggle to cope with human wants and needs.

There are stories of love, betrayal, murder, suicide, and other vicissitudes of human existence.

The title story tells of a young child born without sight or speech. During an approaching storm his mother watches as he turns toward the roar of thunder and growls. She struggles to come to grips with what she sees as her failure as a mother.

Another story tells of a close grandfather/grandson relationship wherein the grandson inadvertently helps his grandfather prepare for his planned suicide.

One story deals with erectile disfunction in a humorous fashion. Another tells of a father whose daughter was raped and murdered, and how he decided to avenge her murder.

There is a story wherein a man is injured while alone, cutting firewood in a forest. He's visited by a dwarf who sets his broken leg after drugging him. The dwarf then builds a signal fire to call for help.

All in all, an eclectic mix of stories.