So I was inspired to pick this up after reading about Katherine Mansfield in Uncommon Arrangements. She was praised for the "economy" in her short stories. I understand that now. She clearly manages to convey more emotion and drama and character into 5 or 10 pages than some authors do within an entire novel. However, to some extent these stories date themselves a bit. The intro says how her characters are quintessential Englishmen and women who are pushed out of their comfort zones. But the mores of the times have changed, and I don't entirely understand the strict propriety and the violations didn't bother me so much. The other thing about these stories is that many of these characters are brought out their comfort zones by "shocking revelations" that inevitably lead to rather depressing consequences. I think that if I were getting these stories in small doses, like the New Yorker, I'd probably appreciate them more. All at once, make sure you're in a good mood before you start... And read something of Mansfield's life beforehand. It gives many of her stories quite a bit more meaning when you think that that's probably an excellent description of part of her life with her husband. Although I suppose that's then back to the depressing aspect.