Briefly sketching a life-changing event that has brought the main character to the present moment, each piece provides a glimpse into the lives of the central characters as they grapple with problems, joys, and disappointments ... These stories from National Book Award and Los Angeles Times Book Prize finalist Walbert are poignant and compelling; each is complete in itself but will leave the reader wanting more. Recommended for all short story readers.
This collection of 12 stories from Walbert creates a taut, clever, and disturbing portrait of motherhood ... Set from the 1950s to the present, Walbert portrays mothers beset by worry, fear, and dissatisfaction as they try to accentuate joy in their children’s lives. This is a piercing, intimate, and exquisite collection.
