The first story and the last story are amazing. Like you are eating a sandwich and the bread is the best part. This book would not be a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

I could easily identify with the couple in the initial story who are reconnecting during the power outages. They have to deal with these communication issues after going through an inexplicably difficult event. Jhumpa captured what it is like to be in that absolutely sucky situation, but she also wrote beautifully about getting through it. I gasped and tears filled my eyes when I found out the husband had seen and held the little baby boy.

The last story was a wonderful remembrance of going from single to married life. You are living in these little rooms and trying to navigate through life on your own. Suddenly, you are married and responsible for this other life. You hit a point when you realize you are going to be affected by the other person's death and it is usually during a small, insignificant moment.

The interior stories were good as well, but not as memorable. Jhumpa writes really well from a child's perspective in the second story and does a good imitation of Gabe Marquez in the second-to-last... that's all I remember. See, not too memorable.