Short stories are notoriously difficult to write, and this is a cover to cover collection by the same author. I have to say it is really rather good. The stories have a melancholic air, bittersweet and touching, they leave you thinking about the messages they give about family and relationships. They look at different relationships and the way that people react to one another and to the actions of others.
The voices that develop in each story is individual and the stories can be read one by one or together. It is a collection that I would read again and find different facets in the story. They are written simply but contain deeper meanings.
My personal favourite in the collection was The Balloon Party. I think the most striking thing about the collection was that the protagonists were ordinary people you could meet anywhere in situations you could imagine yourself in. Well worth a read as it was a fascinating read.
5/5
