I first discovered Rhoda Manning in Gilchrist's book, Net of Jewels, from there I was captivated. What happened to Rhoda...what made Rhoda the complex character that she is? This book explains it all from when she was a small child to her adult years.

I was particulary impressed with her teenage years leading up to her tumultuous, first marriage. Gilchrist has vivid and colorful descriptions for all of her characters, and will not leave you disapointed.

Rhoda Manning is easily my favorite Gilchrist character and this book contains all the Rhoda stories from all Gilchrist's other published short story collections. That makes this the book to own for Rhoda fans, in my opinion.

The author has written before how she is/is not like Rhoda, but regardless of how much Rhoda's character may be autobiographical, Rhoda sparkles and comes to life in these stories.

Recommended also is "Net of Jewels", a novel starring Rhoda, but Gilchrist does much better at short stories than novels, in my opinion.

Ellen Gilchrist is, along with Alice Munro, one of the best short story writers alive. The point of view in these brilliant snapshots of "the irrational, the inconsistent, the droll, even the insane" glides easily from a young girl to a middle-aged man to an abused wife. It's all done with such grace and humour and, above all, attention to the craft of writing that it's hard to understand why Gilchrist isn't up there with the "masters" of the short story such as Carver and Poe. I thoroughly recommend this book, for yourself or as a gift. Fabulous.

I loved these novellas. Each one could have been published as a "little" book (the size of HOW TO MAKE AN AMERICAN QUILT or ELLEN FOSTER) and most certainly "passed" for a novel.

"Winter" was a gripping tour-de-force of Anna Hand, the late author, on a madcap trip to Europe, trying to gather evidence on her evil sister-in-law. "Olivia DeHaviland Hand" introduces us to Olivia, the long lost daughter of Daniel Hand, and niece to Anna and Helen. I must say I loved "A Summer In Maine" because all of the characters talk, drink, make love, and stir up mischief.

I just hope Ellen Gilchrist writes as fast as she can. She's a poet, she's a philosopher, she's a genie, she's underrated!!! Some of her characters border on alcoholism, but they are so deftly drawn, they come across as flesh and blood; in lesser hands, these women would have come across as melodramatic vixens. Her work is loud and subtle, wild and innocent. I noticed on Amazon that she has another book coming out in 2000.

Rhoda Manning is five years old when readers meet this recurring character in this collection of short stories by award-winning author Ellen Gilchrist. Rhoda Manning owns the stories and reveals them as a five year old child in the title story.

She also reveals herself as a mature adult and divorced mother of three and as an elderly woman clinging to all that is good from the past. Parents of teens will have no problem identifying with Rhoda's tale of woe as she parents three teenage boys who are wreckless and wild, spending their days crafting ways to defy their mother and their authoritarian grandfather.

It is a tale of pot and lies and the overwhelming job of parenting in the 70's. The brash and bold Rhoda is almost equaled by another Gilchrist regular, Nora Jane Harwood.

In this tale written prior to September 11, the protagonist finds herself in the locker room of an athletic club in Berkley, Ca when an earthquake jolts Nora and her two year old, Little Freddy. ...

...This is a story that ends too soon with characters so real you want them to live on.

Another story, "The Abortion", Gilchrist's characters reveal their courage and character ...

Gilchrist's stories and characters are above all else real. Their trials and tribulations are woven loosely in some cases, but always with an echo of familiarity.

This is a must for any Gilchrist fan. It's her first collection of short stories everyone will be delighted to read about the beginning of Nora Jane, Rhoda and other fabulous characters. All the stories are wonderful, but my favorite is the short wistful piece, "1944." It's not really a story so much as a beautiful fragment of memory.

It's frightening that a book like this can go out of print. Shivers are going up and down my spine this very second! I am going to buy all hardcovers by this marvelous author lest this happen again. I am buying them right now. Thank goodness Amazon can locate these "lost" gems.

I actually read this novel without knowing that it followed a previous work of Ellen Gilchrist's. However, I STILL enjoyed it immensely. Starcarbon is intellectual and interesting and moves at a quick over-lapping pace. I often fold over a small corner of a page when I read an interesting bit of prose to go back to later - page after page is dog-earred in my copy of this book. Don't be alarmed by the family tree outlined in the first few pages; it is easy enough to follow along. You'll find yourself in several heads during the course of this book - even if it gets confusing, enjoy the writing and ride it out.

This book is fabulous. This was the first book I read about her crazy, intertwined Southern clan. Once I read this, all I wanted to do was sit down and read every book she ever wrote about these people. What impressed me the most was the descriptions of the emotions people felt throughout the story. Each of her characters has a distinct and slightly zany personality. Equipped with a wide range of strong emotions, they all are pondering major life decisions throughout the book. She blends the three stories together masterfully. As I read her other books, I am impressed with how she creates an entire world that revolves around a massive network of characters who are all related by blood or situtation. In case you can't keep up, use the family tree at the front of Starcarbon.

I have just discovered how to connect onto Amazon.com and I am thrilled to be able to get (and give) so much information on READINGS! One of the first authors I looked into wasd one of my very favorites, Ellen Gilchrist. I typed in Starcarbon randomly (I have read all of her works) and was amazed to find that noone had reviewed it. Although it's been a fre years since I read it and had tro go back to my notes to refresh my memory, the enthusiasm I felt (feel) for this book is current. The story is a continuation in the vibrant and evey so interesting lives of the Hand family (We were introduced to them in earlier books). The protagonist is Olivia deHavilland Hand, a young woman, whose mother is a Cherokee Indian. Although the better part of the book deals with her dropping out of Carolina and her going back to Oklahoma (where her tribe lives) to get a better handle on who SHE is , we are reintroduced to other menbers of her family Before Rebecca West had th! e Yaya's, Ellen Gilchrist has the Hand Family. Someos its various settings are New Orleans, Boston, Charlotte - and all of them come alive, as do the wonderful Hands. I particularly appreciated the family chart in the front of this book so that I could connect to the family faster when new books come out. Anyone wanting a sample of Gilchrist's should try her short stories in IN THE LAND OF DREAMY DREAMS. Y'all enjoy!

I was enjoying this book a lot--Gilchrist is a fine writer--and then suddenly, in the chapter titled "On the Problem of Turbulence" (pages 52-83 in the hardcover edition) the author launches into a session of gratuitous bashing of Arabs and Moslems. I am a trained reader, and I reread this section several times looking for irony or some other reason for this, to me, offensive section, and I could find no explanation for it. It ruined the book for me. I wonder what the author was thinking?

In "The Courts of Love", Ms. Gilchrist transports us to a world where beauty, love and knowledge are the guiding tenets of existence. The characters throughout the stories are whacky to the max, but insanely likable for just this reason--they marvel at the wonder and beauty that life offers, clumsily reach for meaningful connections with others, and seek answers to life's larger questions.

The writing flows and characters emerge full-blown, their emotions so finely and wisely explored that you just want to sit down with Ms. Gilchrist and have a good talk; you know she knows a lot.

I've been a big fan of Ms. Gilchrist since I read, "Drunk With Love" in college more than 10 years ago and have devoured nearly every one of her novels and collections of short stories(some not as perfect as this)since. I'd love to get as many of you out there hooked on her work as possible; it's literature at it's best--transforming!

I am always searching for a new "find" - authors-wise - and Gilchrist is it! I love her clear writing style. I feel like I am the other half of a conversation with her - with funny remarks like "The rest is private" when she is describing an intimate moment between two characters. Her stories are "by the way" stories that stay with you after you put the book away. I can't wait to read more of her stuff.

Net of Jewels was the sixth Ellen Gilchrist I've read and again I was unable to put it down. Tales of Rhoda never cease to amaze me. Her self destructive tendancies lead to all sorts of on-goings and craziness. You will absolutly fall in love with her. Opening this book is like opening a bottle of good wine, you'll want to savor every last drop and share it with your closest friends.

Rhoda (Dee) is one of the most intriguing characters that I have ever read aboout.

Ellen Gilchrist is one of my favorite writers, Rhoda Manning is my favorite of her characters, and Net of Jewels is Ellen Gilchrist at her best. Rhoda Manning is her usual delightful, irresistable, impulsive self in this book. This captivating novel tells of her writing talent, her falling in love, marriage, children, and many painful and tragic events in between. I have read this book many times and endorse it wholeheartedly.

Gilchrist is a good, frustrating writer. She has a sharp eye for detail and a keen ear for dialogue, but sometimes she has a dull mind for constructing plots. "The Cabal" begins with a sensational hook that would drag in the most jaded reader; then it rambles along in a droll manner, and finally collapses in a bog of pink cotton candy. The lead character (Julia Roberts) is sassy and amusing. Her gay best friend (Rupert Everett) is tart and amusing. The wacko shrink (Kevin Spacey) is undeveloped and unamusing. The fairy tale ending might satisfy a lot of readers; it struck me as a trite disappointment. Rather than confront the dramatic tensions of her initial premise, Gilchrist casually tossed away her plot, choosing to smooth the hair of her little darling and put a pretty bow on top of its now pointy head. Instead of feeling warm and fuzzy, I was left cold and grumpy. Feh! And again I say: Feh! Did you hear me? Feh!

I liked this book (which I listened to on audiotape) a lot but agree with the reviewer who complained about the ending. Overall, the writing is wonderful, the characterizations sharp, the intermingling of many stories effective. BUT, at the end you are still left wondering about motivations, particularly of the central character. Though things were tied up neatly, I at least was left somewhat unsatisfied. It won't stop me from reading her other books though.

What do you do when the town psychiatrist , the one man you and many other of the town's elite, have trusted with you deepest darkest serets ...suddenly shows signs of going off the deep end? You gather at the funeral of the town's great lady and conspire. You watch as the family of the deceased wait to divide the spoils and you pray that Dr. Jim Jaspers doesn't open his mouth about you. This novella and collection of short stories center on a tight knit community that revolves around the local theatre and university. Almost all may have something to hide. The death of a leading townsperson and the turmoil that ensues is perfect backdrop for the unwinding of Dr. Jasperson's mind. There is enough deciet and truthfinding to go around. This is southern storytelling at it's best