The four stars are for two stories.The opener, A Heart Full of Scars and the last story of the book, Drift fence Desperado.
Heart Full of Scars is one of the lovliest, well-written stories out there. There's a tinge of delectable sadness without any self-pity. The characters are taking it slow without having a slow moving story. Every little details glistens. I made a few paper ornaments for my tree this year in memory of this touching story.
Drift Fence Desperado is another fun read, and the perfect counterpoint to Heart Full of Scars. The first story had a feel of bring civilization to the frontier, Drift Fence was all about men finding the windswept and empty frontier to their liking. Gorgeous writing, the icy winter blasts in the setting chilled me.
Too bad the stories in between ranged so wildy. Some were pleasing, others like the two by bearmuffin confounded me with their awfulness. Were they a throwback to porn of old, an inside joke I'm not getting, a style I'm missing. They are reason this collection did not score a five stars.
This book is worth buying though. Heart Full of Scars is not to be missed, and Drift Fence Desperado is fabulous.