Octogenarian Jane Campbell may be 'new' to the publishing industry, but her first book is refreshingly accomplished. The 13 exquisitely drawn short stories in the collection are woven with wit and bold enlightenment. Each meticulously crafted gem focuses on the lives of aging women who grapple with their shrinking places in the world while coming to terms with feelings and failings, choices and losses ... Aspects of regret, mourning, fantasies and lost love infuse these eloquently rendered, skillfully plotted stories that pack a wallop ... in Campbell's wholly original, late-in-life stories, the limitations compelled by age become surprising sources of wisdom and empowered liberation.
... plumbs the lives, longings, and ongoing intellectual turmoil of older women in language that’s light but tart and penetrating; Campbell is a master of the apt phrase ... A charming and incisive study of women in late life that will be revelatory to all readers.
Campbell’s writing is intimate and enveloping, and while main characters may share commonalities, their stories are quite eclectic. The rare perspective of Campbell’s collection makes this a breath of fresh air.
