This anthology of nine stories is by Elizabeth McCracken, who is known for her gentle and offbeat writing. There is a story about a son whose mother was in a circus sideshow as she was born without arms and now gives a home to other performers who are homeless. Another story features a family with nine children. When the children grow up, they still socialize only with each other and push everyone else away, including spouses. My favorite story is about a couple who receive a visit from a distant aunt of the husband's. Only after she has been with them for months do they discover she isn't related to them at all.
Elizabeth McCracken is known as a writer's writer. She is close friends with Ann Patchett and is the person who reads Patchett's books before they are published. She has had three books longlisted for the National Book Awards. Her stories feature the mundane lives of people with fantasy thrown in as an everyday occurrence. I try to read everything she writes as I find her whimsy and insight into our lives memorable. This book is recommended for readers of anthologies and literary fiction.
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