After September 11, 2001 many authors felt it necessary to respond in some way. But how? Joyce Carol Oates has chosen to write a novel, not about that historical event specifically, but about the nature of hate and evil. She chooses to concentrate this exploration in the intimate environment of a celebrated, reclusive writer named Joshua Seigl. He has reached a point in his life where he realises that he can no longer block the world out and needs human company. Searching for an assistant to help him organize his enormous body of work and attend to the menial chores of his large house, he encounters a drifter who calls herself Alma. Her body is covered in what may be scars, birthmarks or tattoos. Alma uses these mysterious marks on her body to fashion a personality for herself which can confront the uglier aspects of the world that her more sensitive self cannot combat. After hiring her there follows a working relationship in the intimate space of Seigl's house that unearths hidden aspects of both their identities. The unspoken antithesis that exists between them is built through months of a seemingly harmonious working relationship. Yet the hatred that exists between them is brought physically to the forefront by the exaggerated attitudes of Alma's dangerous, anti-Semitic lover Dmitri and Seigl's mentally unbalanced, passionately upper class sister Jet. Inevitably, the central characters own prejudices must come to the forefront where a tacit understanding is formed amidst tragic events.

The ultimate question this novel raises is: what place does art have in illuminating the past and dispensing with hatred? The answer is not as simple as it appears because fiction does not deal in truth. One can't help feeling that Oates herself is attempting to work out her own feelings over the matter in a heated argument toward the end of the novel where Joshua defends his writing:

"'Alma, I think of myself as writing stories for others. In place of others who are dead, or mute. Who can't speak for themselves.'"

This argument for the exhumation of buried events and people is the same that Oates has used in interviews to explain why she has written some novels such as Black Water and Blonde that reinvent historical situations. Alma's rebuttal is that he pretends to know these things, but doesn't actually know. However, one could argue that the point of fictional writing isn't to get at the "truth" but to convey an "idea" and in these "ideas" we discover the reality that has been hidden. The Tattooed Girl isn't a political novel in any obvious allegorical manner. It does, however, haunt your thoughts in the way it illuminates the divisions (economical, social, racial and religious) between people to such a startlingly intense degree. It is an incredibly important book that ought to be read now.

These are the things we all feel and think at times in our lives about everyday life experiences. These women let us know we are not alone.Great reading to close your day contently.

Daryl Ott Underhill has done a fabulous job! This collection of heartfelt, intelligently-selected essays by women from all walks of life should not be considered a "women's book." Everyone over the age of fourteen -- if not younger -- can derive pleasure and benefit. Because it is a collection and the stories are short, it can be read at odd moments, but the reader is apt to find hi/rself continuing to the end out of pure enjoyment. Phyllis Green, Chapel Hill, NC [Author of Spinning Straw: the Jeff Apple Story]

"EVERY WOMAN HAS A STORY" is a delightful read. I was impressed with the clever and yet simple idea of compiling a collection of personal stories, crossing socio-economic, ethnic, levels of education and age bounderies. The stories are as different as the women who wrote them, and yet the common thread is that of poignancy, honesty, a struggle to survive and grow, and a touch of humor thrown in for good measure. Some of the stories are simple, others more complex. I found them all to be human, tender and touching. I was particularly moved by Paula Silverberg's "LEAP AND THE NET WILL APPEAR". The charming tale of a young woman whose courage and determination in addressing a childhood disappointment, prompted her to face the "failure", muster the challenge, and, as an adult, emerge triumphant. A lesson for us all - "Feel the fear, but do it any way". As an added bonus I found the size and shape of the book to be reminiscent of a personal journal, and reading its content made it so much more endearing. Bravo to the ladies as well as the compiler! May we expect another collection soon?

I recently discovered Karen Robards. I really liked "Walking after Midnight" , "Hunters Moon" & Nobody's Angel. Unfortunately I didn't like this book! I have to like the characters in a story in order to really enjoy it. I didn't like Rachel Grant . I didn't think she handled her personal life in an appropriate manner. I was really put off by the way she handled her break up with the man she was seeing when she started to have feelings for Johnny. I could understand her hesitation at jumping into a relationship with him,but I find it apalling that she seemed content with continuing to string Rob along while she found herself. I think this story would haved been a lot better if Ms. Robards would have given Rachel a little more substance. I got the impression from reading this story that the author was trying to shock us with Johnny's past and his vulgar language. Yet I found myself respecting him for his honesty and maturity. I feel considering his past and everything he had been thru he wasn't so bad. The mystery and suspense was very good. I was surprised by the outcome of the story. I give the author points for that aspect of this book. If you are interested in a good suspenseful read this is your book, but if you want true romance I would suggest you try another one of Ms. Robards books.

I almost didn't buy this book because I wasn't sure how I'd feel about a teacher and a former student being lovers. But I am so glad I read it! For me, Johnny Harris as a romantic hero ranks right up there with Dane Hollister (from DREAM MAN by Linda Howard) and Tyber Evans (from HIGH ENERGY by Dara Joy), and that is the highest compliment I can give to any author! Karen Robards did a great job of making Rachel and Johnny real human beings--insecure at times, ashamed, proud, scared, but also compassionate and passionate. Wow, great job, Karen, I can't wait to read all your books.

WOW! I LOVED this book, in part because I love older woman-younger man romances (this has long been a fantasy of mine!). I'd even go so far to say it is the BEST novel I've ever read, and I read a lot! I felt a huge let-down when I finished it. This story will stay with me forever. I wish Karen Robards would write a sequel, with Rachel and Johnny having a child! Johnny came across as incredibly gorgeous, sexy and REAL! But he's also had a tough life, which shows on the outside (he's rough, tough and walks on the wild side), but underneath is a beautifullly polished gem: he's caring, sweet, loving, and both wants and needs someone to love him. That someone is Rachel, who sympathizes with Johnny and believes in him. She too, is not what she appears to be on the outside (quiet, almost mouse-like) - she has great inner strength and courage; she cares about and stands by Johnny despite the surrounding heavy negativity. Theirs is a wonderful, sensual love story, exquistely written.

I think it's safe to say that this will be one of the most popular Aberrant supplements. Featuring the stats for some of the biggest featured NPC's, like Totentanz, "Elites" finally reveals the lifestyle that players are usually drawn to: that of the "Badass for hire".

While a large portion of the book is dedicated to military campaigns and the agencies that engage in them, Elites also expands it's definition to include more benign Nova's for hire. There are guidlines for players who wish to create their own Elite organization with all the advantages and pitfalls. It also explains the code of the Elite and how they have created a sort of "Bushido" that includes a code of conduct and even licensing arrangements. I like the idea of a mask as a trademark. Batman wouldn't be Batman without that mask and the big bat on his chest.

The coolest thing about the book is some of the more realistic portrayals of warfare and the ethical delemma's. The mercenary lifestyle is something common in almost every RPG, but as always, White Wolf tries to take a thoughtful and complicated approach. Stories of Post-Traumatic-Stress-Disorder and the horrors of war are handled with class. It's a nice approach to an old, and in my opinion, pretty tired idea.

A book like this you tend to suspect to be well boring. Since it deals entirely with people that kill for a living it's not unreasonable to think that this we'll just be another supplement with Bigger Guns Bigger Powers and Bigger Penises. But it's not! I'm not denying that there is some of that in here (if there wasn't at least a few people would through a hissy fit) but this isn't the focus of the book. What this is about are the effects of war. What's more (and for a game about superheroes this is odd) it's brutally realistic. This is a vital resource for anyone who plans on running an elites series, or wants to be an elite, because it tells what its like. The day to day wearing when you fight morally gray enemies for morally bankrupt superiors. What can happen to people caught in the middle? This is book is a lot more than you think it is.

I have seen negative reviews of this book, but I loved it. My teenage daughter's margin notes made it even more special.

While the story may be unrealistic, it is fiction, and why do we read fiction? I read it for escape, and this book "escapes you" to a place where women are strong, where your grandma can tell you everything you need to know, where there are some bad, lost, and abandoning men, but not all men are bad, where life is full of hope and magic is possible.

It is literate, with references to many authors we should all read. There is some social commentary, some sadness, some things everyone should know (papaya tablets for digestion, aloe for burns, etc.)

Charms for the Easy Life ("depending on your definition of easy" should have been a subtitle) was wonderful. I will be reading more of Kaye Gibbons books in the future.

A lovely novel.

This book has more substance to it than some of the readers have recognized. If midwives and stories about medicine in the early to mid 1900's interest you, try this story. Or, if exploring mother-daughter relationships that are positive and make you feel good, try this story. If you love learning how people who love each other interact and take care of each other, read this. If you have ever longed for someone that could have the insight to tell you what is best for you and have a riotous sense of humor, read this. If you enjoy a read that takes a difficult time (WWII) and weaves it through the lives of some incredible women, try this story. You can make it very complex, if you must, or simply take the story as it is, and as it was meant to be. You will find yourself thinking back to these characters often, and wishing for that charming life that made living with each other easy. When you have that, you just may have what it takes for an "easy" life. This book can help in the meantime.

I have wearied, in recent years, of reading novels by authors whose characters are interesting only by virtue of their being from the South, and whose plots depend on rural Southern details and the characters' Southern eccentricities. I feel this is a cheap ploy, so I wasn't particularly interested in picking up Gibbons' book, Charms for the Easy Life. But I'm glad I did! OK, the novel benefits from its "Southerness", but I got the sense that such a skilled writer as Gibbons could make proper Bostonians glow in realism. This book is not only a delightful read, but it also touches on the not-so-easy relationships between mothers and daughters, and the equally difficult relationships between women and men. Gibbons also exhibits a detailed (but not obvious) research of the Depression Era, and, on top of it, she makes a sturdy comment about the value of non-traditional medicine. My only complaint is about the book's resolution, which came too quickly and tidily for me. Although I read it in one afternoon, the characters have stuck to my ribs and, the more I think about the book, the more its layers are revealed to me.

I'LL TAKE YOU THERE was my first exposure to Joyce Carol Oates so I had no idea what to expect when I initially opened the front cover. At first glance the unnamed protagonist struck a nerve with me. She seemed so...strange and bizarre. But as the plot unfolded I became more entranced by her and began to comprehend her motives and actions. She was no longer strange but indeed a real and complex human being. Lacking any type of supporting family network she ventures through life trying to make emotional connections with others that she never experienced before. Set in upstate New York in the early 1960's the protagonist tries her best to integrate into Syracuse University social life. Unfortunately the harder she tries the more isolated she becomes. Her sorority sisters and classmates view her as a loser and social outcast. Her self-esteem suffers. Taking refuge in her studies she becomes enthralled by philosophical inquires. While in class one day she becomes acquainted with an advanced graduate student who shares her passion for philosophy. Social mores dictate that they should not become friends, let alone lovers, since she is white and he is black. Determined that she has enough love for both of them she begins to follow him around campus and stand outside of his apartment building. In the midst of the Civil Rights movement both characters face the harsh realities of race relations that are determined to split them apart. I'LL TAKE YOU THERE is a captivating novel that seeps into one's subconscious even while not reading. Oates' unnamed protagonist is unique and captivating. I enjoyed reading this book and I found myself often looking forward to the next time I can pick it up again.

I'll Take You There is a story divided into three sections concerning crucial stages of a girl's development and narrated in the first person by the girl, Anellia, herself. This is the same structure Joyce Carol Oates uses in her 1986 novel Marya: A Life though the stories of the two novels differ in some crucial elements. The first section, The Penitent, is primarily concerned with Anellia's torturous time spent in a sorority called Kappa Gamma Pi and her relationship with the foreboding and ultimately tragic English headmistress Mrs. Agnes Thayer. Her entrance into the sorority sparked by a timid desire to gain acceptance from her peers, gradually reveals the shallow nature of the sisters and the vacuous symbols of their elite collective. The second section, The Negro Lover, explores Anellia's complex relationship with brilliant and troubled Vernor Matheius. Her obsession with the philosophy student blooms into a tumultuous relationship based on passion that is stirred by feelings of alienation. Each of them are fiercely intelligent and trapped by a societal definition based on the exterior that they cannot escape. But unlike Vernor, Anellia embraces this identity distinction, her Jewish heritage, in order to exile herself from the repugnant normality she has discovered. The third and slightest section, The Way Out, finds Anellia extracted from the developmental struggle of university and unexpectedly driven to a reunion with her estranged father. As he is slowly dying, she develops a relationship with his caregiver and fiancee Hildie. The feelings of opportunities lost and emotions wasted are gradually excavated over their time together as they come to terms with losing a man who will always remain an aloof mystery.

This novel is brewing with complex ideas all delicately arranged around an intricate plot. The sections of the novel could stand quite independently from each other. But together they draw an intriguing picture of Anellia's development and her discovery of the woman she wants to become. The frame she has set around her life is designed to mollify her qualms with existence but it is also a trap that limits the freedom of her individuality. The language she composes to liberate herself is also an unbearable burden. This is revealed in the telling line: "In fear I seemed to be plucking at, with childish fingers, a consolation of philosophy." Anellia's relationship with Vernor is akin to an artist gazing upon her muse, drawing inspiration and guidance to create an artwork, an identity for herself. Unhesitating in her confrontation of the troubles of racial relations as Oates always is, the denial of the language which defines Vernor's color provokes the collapse of any true connection between them. This, paired with Vernor's own inability to divert from the path he has limited himself to, makes their coupling wildly antagonistic and dangerous.

It is significant that Oates has dedicated this novel to Gloria Vanderbilt, the visual artist, on who's work Oates has written: "It may be that Dream Boxes represent an elliptical, subversive reclaiming of identity by one who has, unlike most of us, been over-defined - 'over-determined' in psychoanalytical terms-by the exterior world." Anellia is also unique and this confession to an unknown companion is her psychological triptych. Engagingly emotional and philosophical, I'll Take You There is a deep study of a difficult climb to adulthood. Its artful composition produces a compelling novel. It is a skillful accomplishment that can be enjoyed by both the passionate thinking and the romantic reader.

This is a book about love: The narrator tells us about her attempts to belong. She wants to belong to the sorority, be one of those smooth, lovable girls - but all too soon she realizes that this cannot be: she's different. Maybe this feeling of being different from the "normal" people around her attracts her to the graduate student Vernor, although she falls in love with his clever voice before she sees his African American face. Vernor hates himself; he is drawn to philosophy because it seems to be a spiritual realm untainted with self; so it is no wonder that he cannot accept the narrator's love. The narrator's family seems to be devoid of love. Her mother died shortly after the narrator was born, who finds herself accused of being the one to blame for her mother's death. Her father, brothers, grandparents are taciturn, elusive strangers; and yet... This powerful novel shows how you create yourself, trying to be who you want to be; at the same time it proves that there are basics - roots? - from which you cannot escape.

Oates is a master at evoking physical and spiritual reality. The reader can smell the nightmare of the sorority house; the physical encounters with Vernor are so shocking because they are so real.
Maybe some readers' judgments are clouded by their expectations which come from reading other novels by Joyce Carol Oates. This is the first novel by her I have read, and I am deeply impressed by her mastery of the English language, by the beautiful rhythms and vivd descriptions which reminded me of Woolf and Mansfield.

I love this author. I have all her books and have watched her grow in breadth and skill. When she has a new book, I buy it immediately - new and in hard cover or revisions of earlier books.

This one was a "small disappointment" - those who have read her STARS books will recognize the quote. Actually, it was a big disappointment. I found the main characters unsympathetic and somewhat boring. The concept of the book is great, making its reality somehow worse.

SEP has a sense of humor about the realities of life, the challenges of growing beyond where a character currently is - fun, sexy, human and positive. BREATHING ROOM disappoints.

It's orgasmic, addictive, and just makes you want more when you're finished. I bought the book the day it came out and let it sit on my shelf for a week. I couldn't bring myself to read it because I knew I'd finish it in one reading and then I'd be craving more. Each one of SEP's books is interesting and written pretty well, but her last two hardcovers..."This Heart of Mine" and "The Breathing Room" are her best work. "The Breathing Room" isn't a conventional romance, it's a novel that comes alive and wraps itself around your heart. SEP sinks her hands into the depths of the human soul and truly captures every emotion in words that come together like poetry.
Both Ren and Isabel are well-developed, a truly complimentary couple. I love the fact that all of SEP's novels feature characters that are almost polar opposites, usually very stubborn, independent and righteous. Even the sub-plot between Ren's ex-wife and her husband is fully developed and thoroughly enjoyable. I'm the kind of reader that usually flips through sub-plot scenes but you can't really pull this one away from the rest of the story. It fits in there perfectly and without it the book really couldn't be whole.
You won't regret buying this one, don't wait for the paperback! Buy it. You'll probably be reading it more than once.

I couldn't wait for the release of Susan Elizabeths Phillips new book 'Breathing Room". She is one of my favorite authors and like all her books before this one did not disappoint me. The characters are great. I love Ren, the bad boy movie star and Isabel,the self-help doctor. Most of all i loved being in the Tuscany countryside. The description of the towns and the townspeople made me feel like I was there. The worst thing about a Phillips book is when it is finished. I can't wait for her next one. I am truly a hugh fan of hers.

Finding Laura is the third book I have read by Kay Hooper. From reading the back, the story did not appear to be as intriging as After Caroline and Amanda, and I was in no hurry to read it. However, my mother accidently revealed a secret from the book, and I decided it might be more interesting than I thought. At any rate, I read it, and found it to be just as good as Ms. Hooper's other books. I suggest it to everyone.

I read Finding Laura and found it to be a very good read. Other reviews have noted that there were to many characters and the plot was too easy. Sometimes, this is the way I like them. Not too fussy, just easy reading. This one surprised me and I found the mystery in it very clever but not overwhelming. There are those of us who don't want to be frightened out of our wits or inundated with such depth of plot that it takes away from the story. I truly enjoyed it!

In "Finding Laura" Kay Hooper has mixed romance, mystery and fantasy for a great read. Our herione, Laura is mysteriously drawn to mirrors of all kinds and to one man, Daniel, for reasons she does not understand, but she can not resist these two things even though they both seem to be drawing her into danger including murder. The chemistry between Daniel and Laura jumps right off the page and grabs you and you will be envious of their passion and love. But will this overcome all the secrets that hide in Daniel's family, including a recently murdered brother and a family that does not appear to be mourning him? In the meantime Laura has moved into Daniel's family home which is ruled by the family matriarc, Amelia, whose husband (Daniel's father) was killed in an "accident" many years ago. Can Daniel be trusted? and why won't he tell Laura what he knows about the mirror that brought the two of them together. I'm not going to tell you because this book is definetly worth the read to find out. Very exciting and very satisfying ending.

I'll read anything written by or about Kaye Gibbons. She's quintessentially southern, lyrical, insightful, etc.
And she suffers herself from bipolar disorder, I've read, so this book must have been written from the bottom of her gut. It's hard to discern where reality gives way to fiction and vice versa.
Heart-wrenching, redeeming, and definitely worth the read.

In the past few years Southern Fiction has exploded into the mainstream. Recognition for Southern writers has risen to new heights and readers, especially Southern readers, are the beneficiaries of some of the best fiction anywhere. Contemporary Southern Fiction has a unique and timeless perspective. One of the most promising new Southern writers is Kaye Gibbons. Ms Gibbons is a shining light and her novels are exceptional. Like the characters she so carefully and precisely creates, her style is compassionate and spirited. She offers an especially unique and fresh portrayal of women in the South. Her most recent novel, Sights Unseen is a haunting story, dealing with the difficult problem of manic depression. Retrospectly told from the point of view of Hattie, the daughter of a manic depressive, this story focuses on one family's struggle for normality. Hattie longs for a mother who will read bedtime stories and bake cookies, but her reality is austere. Young, confused, and excluded Hattie makes painful attempts to understand and accept her mother's illness. While her family tries to protect her, Hattie finds herself the objective center of the situation. While the rest of her family seems immersed in her mother's illness, Hattie watches and absorbs. It is as if she is ghost of sorts, ever-present but uninvolved. Hattie tries desperately to belong. Her nurse and her brother are her only viable connections to the family. However, it is a relationship with her mother for which Hattie longs. Hattie's mother is incapable of such a relationship and as a result Hattie finds that passing her mother in the hall is like passing a stranger on the street. Amazingly, this is a story about depression without being depressing. This novel is a must read for mothers and daughters. In the same way many mothers and daughters flocked to the theater together to see Steel Magnolias, they should read this book together. Undoubtedly, Kaye Gibbons intended to illuminate the ups and downs of all mother-daughter relationships. It is a special bond that even the most extreme circumstances can not break. In Sights Unseen, Ms. Gibbons gracefully confronts a subject that would be difficult for most writers. It is perhaps most remarkable that Ms. Gibbons is able to write about this subject despite her own personal struggle with severe depression. This is Ms. Gibbons' fifth novel. All her novels place women as the central characters, and these women are clearly Southern. What is wonderful about her characters is they are extraordinary in an ordinary way. They are not tragic heroines. They are real women with real problems and real triumphs. They strike an unusual balance between wisdom and imprudence, strength and frailty. Ms. Gibbons' characters are like women we know; they are not Scarlett O'Hara. Ms. Gibbons' portrayal of Southern women deserves praise and recognition. Other books by Kaye Gibbons include: Ellen Foster, A Virtuous Woman, A Cure for Dreams, and Charms for the Easy Life.

As a woman who is fiercely close with my mother, my heart broke repeatedly for Hattie. She wanted the most basic thing every child craves: Love, and she spends her whole young life trying to understand her mother's illness and in the process she comes to understand herself and later her own children. Hattie is wise beyond her years at times, other times she is like a baby you just want to pick up and carry away from the situation.

Hattie is funny and tragic and careful and complex all at once. She longs for what many of us take for granted--a mother to laugh with, shop with, talk about boys with. This was the first book I read in a long time that actually made me cry.

Kaye Gibbons is a master of telling stories that are so real you think you are the main character. EVERY word she writes is necessary to the story. I have read every one of her books and I think she is excellent. It's easy reading too. I read Sights Unseen in a day.

After reading Sights Unseen I appreciate my mother and the life she gave up for me that much more. In fact, after I read it I wrapped it up and gave it her with a note of thanks on the inside front cover.

Both this book and this author were completely unfamiliar to me when it was loaned to me earlier this week by a friend. There's a special quality to the pleasure experienced in reading a fine book to which one has brought absolutely no expectations. It's a combination of delight and surprise that isn't possible if you're already familiar with an author's previous work, have read a review or have heard people talking about a book before you begin it. I enjoyed that special pleasure in reading THE EVIDENCE AGAINST HER, by Robb Forman Dew.

This is a stately tale told in formal, precise, carefully detailed prose, but it is by no means a reserved telling. It is surprisingly passionate in chronicling the history of one extended, privileged family in Ohio during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The amazing complexity of even a fairly ordinary existence is superbly rendered. The idea that something as small as an inadvertant gesture or an impulsive word can have lasting repurcussions within a family rings so true.

Why four stars instead of five? There was something about the author's style that tripped me up for about the first quarter of the book. I can only equate it to seeing a film with actors speaking in thickly accented English...it takes a while to accomodate yourself to their rhythm of speech. The same here: I had to work a bit, just a bit, at the beginning, but it was well worth it.

I saw this book displayed, and the cover is so seductive that I picked it up and began to look through it. I was captivated by the first sentence which is one of the great openings of any book I've ever read, including A Tale of Two Cities. This is a complex tale about familial myths, and how they evolve, that shape the way we look at the narrative of our lives. And this is one of the only books I've ever read that explores the lives of girls at school, among many other things. At times it's endearingly amusing and at times it's searingly sad and sometimes heartbreaking. This is a book into which you walk as if you're sinking into a dream. It is slow paced and visual and increasingly mesmerizing. I emerged from it so sorry it was over. It's a whole world Dew gives us, and the writing is transcendent! It illuminates the fact that any person is always living his or her regular life while managing all sorts of emotions simultaneaously, and the author never judges the characters but leaves that for the reader to do if we choose. The ending is a shock and is entirely earned. I loved this book and think it will become a classic. I'm trying to find this author's previous books but they seem to be out of print.

In her latest novel, National Book Award-winning author Robb Forman Dew delineates how, at the remove of time and space, the intricacies of existence assume the aura of truth.
Dew begins this first volume of a trilogy by discussing the births of three central characters, born hours apart, in late- nineteenth-century smalltown Ohio. These children, two of whom are cousins, grow up as friends until two of them marry each other, causing their childhood alliances to shift and shatter and seek resolution by means that may resolve their sense of loss and soothe their insecurities but that also, in so doing, cause their loved ones to suffer. Indeed, the dilemma presented both by and to Dew's distinct, equisitely drawn characters is that of the human condition. Over time, feelings translated into actions assume the aura of the truth by which people judge themselves and each other. However, the truth that translates as history is as tenuous and unreliable as are relationships themselves.
But Dew is not a pessimist; her vision, like her language, is transcendent. The last sentence of The Evidence Against Her reads, "And always there was a moment when it seemed to Agnes that it wasn't the case that darkness fell; it was really the light, all the voices, and complaints--the doings of any particular day--slowly evaporated, leaching upward into the wide, absorbent sky." Such masterful command of the language combined with the profundity of Dew's themes causes The Evidence Against Her to be among the best books of the year.