I generally don't finish books of short stories but I devoured this one. The author somehow makes you care deeply about the characters in the space of a few paragraphs- a feat no short story author has accomplished with me, save Raymond Carver.

I found the stories refreshing on another level- modern literature can so often be THE MOST DEPRESSING, especially as it concerns family. It's often FAMILIES ARE EVIL and MOTHERS ARE SELFISH AND WISH THEIR BABIES WOULD GO AWAY, etc. So when I came across the first story about a mother-to-be in this collection, I drew my breath (as a new mom, I'm especially sensitive to I-hate-the-choices-I've-made-and-will-now-take-it-out-on-my-children-ness), but it wasn't like that. These stories are about LOVING your family, making tough choices FOR your family (and not just kids- the title story is about a character's relationship with her aging father). But the stories aren't saccharin. They're just hopeful, about good, flawed people.