These stories were perfectly "okay" but none blew me away, or conversely, were super distasteful. I sometimes wonder, with stories like these, do humans really dislike each other as much as this? It seems like these characters all had such a hard time, or acted, in front of others, to hide their hate and dislike. I don't feel I felt, learned or experienced anything new with this collection, but I did like the way the author handled burgeoning issues of alcohol abuse, kind of how it creeps up on people and how it affects others. I also do think the author writes well. I just could not muster up any feeling for most of her characters, or their situations. ( )

I read and loved her first novel, The Report, so when I saw this new book of stories by her I just had to pick it up and read. Her stories deal with women, ordinary everyday women, they could be your neighbors, they could be your friends and they all have the same problems we do. They death with infidelity, they deal with death and they are worn down by life. Some of these stories have interlocking chapters, some have a few of the same characters and Kane treats them all with compassion and respect. I enjoyed these stories and hope that she writes another historical in the future. ( )