This little volume of short stories about women is varied, energetic, honest and vibrant. Margaret Atwood begins wih a story about giving birth that is sensitive and special in the telling.
"Maime" bu Carolina Mancuso tells the story of an oppressed woman who finally takes her destiny into her own hands.
In "Christmas Eve at Johnson's Drugs N Goods" Toni Cade Bambara uses dialect most effectively in telling about a young lack girl who wonders about the woman she is going to be.
The reader will find a variety of voices and issues in these stories and the quality -- of the writing, the plotting and characterization -- is excellent.

This collection of mystery stories by women is entertaining and challenging. They're mysteries by women and about women and I enjoyed them immensely.

In the first story, "The Adventure of the Perpetual Husband," Gertrude Stein and Alice Toklas solve the mystery of the Bluebeard of Paris, a real-life case that stumped Parisian Police in 1921. In another story, Christine Craighton overhears two men plotting a murder. She attempt to foil their plot, but it's hard to do without knowing who the intended victim is.

In still another story, housekeeper Anna's wealthy boss is murdered and she becomes his avenger. Another tale is about a mother/daughter detective team who find a body in a spa and search for the murderer in an aerobics class.

This is a collection of intelligent and well-crafted mysteries, perfect for a beach read or a cozy evening by a winter fire.

Besides the story with the rabbit, "Bunrab" which was very amusing, the rest are moreless boring. It was a dissapointment after "Tasting life twice", which I have found absolutely 5 stars. I guess I was hoping for something "heavier"...

I bought this book because I wasn't interested in the "Erotic Lesbian" anthologies that seem to dominate the gay and lesbian fiction section. It was a pleasant surprise. I have devoured this book like ice cream on a hot day. Every story (I can think of only one exception- "Shelling Peas"-too much "telling" and too preachy) had a unique voice and honest tone. I have found something to relate to in each separate story. "If This Were..." was exceptionally clever, "Swing Shift" was timely, "The View From Inside" had me laughing out loud, "Members of the Wedding" had me crying, "Wood" was a moving novella. Most lesbians will find something in each story to take with them. If you enjoy reading lesbian stories that are subtle, yet have many layers to them, this is the book to buy.