Another tome from someone who's paycheck comes from a University rather than readers. And she teaches the same. These type of writers should get out of their ivory towers and into the trenches and learn their craft, especially before they set out to teach others. This book was strong on emotion, but weak on craft.

This is one book that cannot be judged by its title and cover. These strongly focused and insightful stories are both penetrating and lyrical -- revealing emotional landscapes of men and women people dealing with important issues. Some stories reflect the disquiet of interpersonal relationships; others deal with the harsh realities of lives interconnected in a global context. I attended a reading where Ms. Krysl read one story, about a man coming to terms with his role in the social injustices of his business dealings in a third world country. The audience was stunned. Instead of a cover of hazy red and gray, with an atom bomb explosion at the top and a reclining bikini-clad woman on the bottom, this book deserved a title and cover representative of the fine quality of the stories within it. This is a book to read, contemplate, and then re-read.

i have always loved krysl's short stories -- and hope her other collections become available again -- but with this book, she's hit her stride. she tells it like it is...and in such beautiful language! let's have MORE from this author, who outdoes most short-story writers publishing in the larger mainstream.