The Hedge, The Ribbon: A Novel is a delightful series of stories, stories within a larger story. They relate to each other and take parts from each other and are woven and put together and they tell parts of the remarkable life of Angela Maxwell and the place she lived. It is a bit surreal and magical in small ways and in big ways. A ghost story seems almost normal and expected by the time you read it. It takes everyday stuff and spins it in a way you wouldn't have thought of. Pure magic is thrown in, but in such a way that you accept that it is just the way it is. Other things that might be magical could have a much more rational explanation perhaps, but it doesn't matter. You see it the way the characters do. The novel increasingly becomes a fantasy, or perhaps what some call magical realism.

These are stories of Angela, her family, friends and neighbors and her town, Millford. Some stories touch her directly, many only indirectly. The first story is of Angela as a young girl and when it ends we are not quite sure how old Angela is, since she herself is a bit uncertain, because she is indeed old and her memories are slipping away but we have had these wonderful stories.

I really enjoyed this book. Each story pulled me in and I became more enamored of the book as I read along. It brought many smiles to my face. This book will be hard to find, but if you happen across it I would not pass it by. ( )