Talk Back

[alyson]

This is a charming collection of short stories, written entirely for the entertainment of the author (as far as can be told). She never published anything in her lifetime, but her stories were in a drawer, and one was published by the psychiatry magazine she edited, as a memorial. That story, "The Rotifer," was selected for "The Best American Short Stories of 1967."

They almost all have to do with motherhood, and are really pretty feminist for her time. There's not much sap, and there's even a bit of bitterness, but the prose flows so smoothly and there's so much fine observation and fondly ironic humor in them, I really liked them.

I hope to eventually own this collection, because I know I'll want to read it again.

My favorite is one of two: the mildly bitter "Baucis," about a wife and mother who has been relegated to a position of condescension with the passing of the years and who looks forward to her widowhood; and "Sober, Exper., Work Guar." which is about a plasterer who starts out doing side jobs for extra money and finds himself liking his first odd client.

I hope you read this, and like it.

[Bea]

your review almost makes me think she's a bit like Dorthy Parker if she'd have ever been a mother. It makes me want to read it.

Thank-you.