RaveUSA TodayThe prolific author has crafted a series of well-written stories about the what-if wonders of a life that’s been, well, lived. You should also know that it is brutal ... Choices are at the heart of what the talented author labors over in this series of 15 stories: how they shape us, change us, leave us wondering and, often, full of regret. Oates is a master of tension and form, her writing dashing across the page to an often devastating conclusion. Her singular style works well here, fueling the stories even as you oftentimes dread them. The author rarely tells a story with a happy ending, because that is not what life is. But the ruminations held within her narratives are worthy, if familiar, reads for a time begging for a bit more introspection.
