The writing drips with compassion. This book changed my life and spoiled me for every other piece of literature to come my way . . . while reading it, my heart literally stopped for beats and left me breathless. In finishing the last story, with no other to follow, I felt as pained as the characters in Haslett's stories. I'm eagerly waiting for his next novel--very few writers can plumb the spirit with as much bittersweet presence as Haslett.