Critics have been impressed with Bobbie Ann Mason's works since the publication of her first book of fiction, Shiloh, and Other Stories in 1982. Most reviews and essays about her work concentrate on one of three areas: her use of simple, "normal" speech and her pop culture references (such as the use of franchise-store locations and television programs); her rendering of complex and inarticulate characters; and her importance as a Southern writer.
Regarding her use of ordinary people's language and artifacts, most critics, like most readers, agree that Mason has created a new and special form since her first published stories. Frank Conroy, a distinguished American author and critic, noted in his review of Spence + Lila (Mason's novel following In Country) that in her earlier works she "has shown a deft touch for the craft.....
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