Synopses & Reviews
Looking at her characters as if through a pair of binoculars, Ann Hood captures the extraordinary in the ordinary. A pregnant woman left by her husband cooks obsessively to cope with her loss, but never tastes a morsel. In an attempt to stay sober, a young alcoholic seduces her priest and embarks on a tour of caverns with him. An adolescent girl picks up bird-watching as a hobby and, in her newfound habit of observing others, discovers a budding romance between her mother and her neighbor. These stories, many published in , and , are full of characters seeking an escape from their lives while uncovering small moments of understanding that often have huge implications and consequences. They discover that they can only find peace once they stop searching for a way out. Through a set of diverse voices and lively storytelling, Hood creates authentic, personal, secret worlds full of eccentric detail.
Review
"[Hood] writes with electrifying frankness.... what's most arresting about these stories is their ferocious sexuality, an animality wryly noted in the collection's title and explored in each finely crafted tale with candor, wit, and high regard for women's resiliency and spirit." Booklist
Review
Shines with beguiling but ordinary characters....As always, her writing works its magic. --Sue Monk Kidd, author of The Secret Life of Bees
Review
Gorgeous and haunting.Ann Hood's short stories go down easy, like a cool, refreshing glass of clear water. -- Sam Coale,
Review
Hood's tales are sexy, silly and full of sympathy for trapped creatures of the feathered or human variety.One of those collections that is a pure pleasure to dip into. -- Meg Wolitzer, author of
Review
"I've been reading and writing for around 65 years now....I've never read anything by...somebody as wonderful as Ann Hood." Carolyn See
Synopsis
Ann Hood's edgy short stories, reminiscent of Lorrie Moore and Antonya Nelson, find the surreal in everyday occurrences.
About the Author
Ann Hood is the editor of Knitting Yarns: Writers on Knitting and the best-selling author of The Knitting Circle, The Red Thread, Comfort, and, most recently, An Italian Wife, among other works. She is the recipient of two Pushcart Prizes, a Best American Spiritual Writing Award, a Best American Food Writing Award, a Best American Travel Writing Award, and the Paul Bowles Prize for Short Fiction. She lives in Providence, Rhode Island.