Just loved this.I used to avoid short stories but for some reason I've read a few books full of them lately. I usually want more (and I SO do with these) and I feel a little let down. Maud Casey has a wonderful writing style, descriptive, rich characters, just the right amount of metaphors. She writes intelligently without insulting intelligence, but at the same time it's not pretentious. Having read The Shape of Things to Come I recognized one of the stories -- it may have been the first chapter or a prequel to the book -- and it was nice to revisit it. I think that story worked out better as a short story, though. My favorite story was the family in the last story, The Arrangement. I'd love to read a full book about these people (Maud, if you are reading this--get on it!). I'd really recommend this to all women in their 30s-40s. I'm glad to read about smart, slightly flawed, women who are working out just what life is all about. Love it.
