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tennantfamily (United Kingdom) (2010/09/15):
Like La's Orchestra this collection of short stories is out of the expected genre for AMS, but then he has continually delighted by taking new directions in his writing, whilst retaining the subtlety and depth of insight he has into the human condition and character. There is a great breadth of character and subject matter here, linked very loosely by the title, each story is a vignette encapsulating a place, a time, a type of person. Some will appeal more than others, but all show the range and detail of his observation of people and behaviour. I very much enjoyed this collection of short stories. My husband - when I outlined one story to him and read him the ending said "What's the point?" but that question is not one that I can answer beyond saying at the philosophical level that reading them increases my understanding of people and their motivations in a wide range of situations. They make me laugh, or cry or smile or be amazed, but I am not looking for a point. Collections anyway will not suit the person looking for a beginning, middle and a satisfactory conclusion, as they tend to be fragments and ideas rather than 'plots', but for AMS fans this will be a choice tidbit.
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