"Part memoir, part history, the essays in On a Clear Night portray everyday life in the Heartland, reflecting on work, family, friendships, nature, love, and loss. While they are written from a personal perspective, the essays echo the sentiments of many who live in the heart of the country. Divided into six parts, these fifty-seven essays span the course of Mamminga's life: spending summers at her family's North Woods cabin as a child, marrying her high school sweetheart, raising three sons, becoming a mother-in-law and a grandmother, and finally mourning the loss of her parents' generation. These vignettes are both humorous and poignant, highlighting the importance of ordinary moments and the common experiences that unite us"-- |