“This Jealous Earth” is Carpenter’s first collection of short stories even though he’s written and published almost 30 short stories and his debut novel, “Theory of Remainders” (2013). This book is his first piece to launch with Midwestern Gothic, a literary journal and micropress with the value of spotlighting on Midwestern authors who exhibit all aspects of life in their work.

Carpenter is insistent on the theme of the “question of choice”: where in each story the characters will arrive at a fork in the road of life and will choose a path to impact their lives and futures in important and unbelievable ways.

In the title story ‘‘This Jealous Earth,’’ the main character Catherine presents an unusual perspective, one of a child in the midst of her families rapture preparation. She isn’t young enough to even understand the concept of god but just to put her blind faith in her parents. At a point she wants to take her some of her possessions up to Heaven and soon she realizes, “Her pocket felt heavy now. It weighed her down. This jealous earth didn’t want to let her go.” Even though her parents plan to leave her unworthy brother back down on earth. Even at the cost of her place in heaven she decides to stick with him since a truly loving family would not leave one of their own behind. If the rapture were to happen it would have severely altered her life, though she took the chance for the person she loved since in her heart she knew the right thing to do.

Another story of his, “Future Perfect,” is a letter by a nameless 15-year-old boy writing to his 30-year-old self as an assignment for school. Oddly he writes his own personal letters to himself for when he’s 30 and 60 to remember. He wants to be able to remember his youth with all the pros and cons so he could always know who he was – since even he knows he will change as he ages – and that he gave up on himself as an adult. He reminds himself of his future broken promises – promises to travel, learn, and stay true to himself. It is our destination to end in compliance when taking the tour of life, he just caught on quicker than most.

Even though Carpenter’s stories vary greatly in plot, character, and themes, I could have picked any one of these stories and still find something regarding it to recommend in this review. There isn’t enough time and space to express the hilarity and cruelty that Carpenter can express in every other story. “This Jealous Earth” is packed full oddball stories that at first glance you wouldn’t expect to be written by the same person due to the immense amount of creativity and effort that went into creating such a bold narrative.