Give Us a Kiss

In Daniel Woodrell's gripping novel, *Give Us a Kiss*, Doyle Redmond, a writer whose imagination frequently leads him astray, finds himself entangled in a dangerous reality. Returning to his desolate hometown of West Table, Missouri, in the red-dirt Ozarks, Doyle is on a mission to bring in his brother, Smoke. However, Smoke, along with his partner Big Annie and her precocious daughter Niagra, are far too preoccupied with their plans to harvest a substantial marijuana crop to be easily swayed. Caught between his own skewed perceptions and the harsh realities of his family's criminal enterprises, Doyle must navigate a treacherous landscape where the lines between fiction and deadly consequence blur with every turn. *Give Us a Kiss* undoubtedly belongs on any list of the best books by Daniel Woodrell due to its quintessential Woodrellian charm. The novel masterfully captures the author's signature blend of grim atmosphere, darkly humorous dialogue, and unforgettable characters rooted in the forgotten corners of America. Woodrell’s prose is as evocative and unvarnished as the Ozark landscape itself, painting a vivid picture of desperation, loyalty, and the enduring struggle for survival in a world that offers little in the way of easy answers. The story delves into the complex dynamics of family, the allure of illicit gains, and the inescapable pull of one's past, all hallmarks of Woodrell's exceptional literary talent.