Welcome to Higby
{{short description|2002 novel by Mark Dunn}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{infobox book |
| name = Welcome to Higby
| title_orig =
| translator =
| image = File:WelcomeToHigby.jpg
| caption = First edition (US)
| author = Mark Dunn
| illustrator =
| cover_artist =
| country = United States
| language = English
| series =
| genre = Comedy
| publisher = MacAdam/Cage (US)
Methuen (UK)
| release_date = 2002 (US), 2004 (UK)
| english_release_date =
| media_type = Print & eBook
| pages = 352[http://www.bookpage.com/0210bp/mark_dunn.html BookPage Interview October 2002: Mark Dunn] or 339{{cite web|last=Dunn |first=Mark |url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/1931561176 |title=Welcome to Higby (9781931561174): Mark Dunn: Books |publisher=Amazon.com |date= |accessdate=2011-04-19}}
| isbn = 1-931561-17-6
| oclc=
| preceded_by =
| followed_by =
}}
Welcome to Higby is the http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/6536-macadam-cage-introduces-its-inaugural-children--s-series.html MacAdam/Cage Introduces Its Inaugural Children’s Series second novel by Mark Dunn published in 2002 by MacAdam/Cage.[http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/d/mark-dunn/welcome-to-higby.htm Fantastic Fiction] and dedicated to his twin brother Clay.
Plot introduction
The novel concerns the interconnected lives of the inhabitants of Higby, a fictional town in northern Mississippi,[http://centerforthebook.nebraska.gov/news/archive_issues/NCBNewsSummer2005/NCBNewsSummer2005-6.html Summer 2005 NCB News Page 6] during the Labor Day weekend in 1993.http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-1-931561-17-4 Fiction Review: WELCOME TO HIGBY by Mark Dunn Five separate story lines are woven together featuring 25 main characters which include the Revd. Oren Cullen, struggling to cope with the death of his wife and behaviour of his son Clint (who starts the weekend by falling off a water tower) who is drawn to the manageress of the local massage parlour and Talitha Leigh, kidnapped by an extremist vegan cult and renamed 'Blithe'.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/reviews/paperbacks-we-need-to-talk-about-kevinbrdr-johnsons-womenbrwelcome-to-higbybrdeep-survivalbrselected-storiesbremperors-of-dreams-757230.html |title=Paperbacks: We Need to Talk About KevinDr Johnson's WomenWelcome to HigbyDeep SurvivalSelected StoriesEmperors of Dreams - Reviews, Books |publisher=The Independent |date=2005-03-20 |accessdate=2011-04-19}}{{dead link|date=August 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
Reception
- A review from The Independent says the novel is 'undemanding but often hilarious', 'a cross between John Irving and the Coen brothers'.
- Publishers Weekly describe it as a 'witty and intricate book', 'both laugh-out-loud funny and sweetly touching','Dunn, a playwright, has a wonderful ear for dialogue; his rich and enticing prose, elegant structuring and wonderful attention to the smallest of details make this novel a delight.'
- Leif Enger compared the book to Modern Baptists by James Wilcox and Texasville by Larry McMurtryfront flyleaf of 1st UK edition, 2004 publ. Methuen