* I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book *

One of Australia's premier writers of novels and of non-fiction, Helen Garner turns her hand here to the short story form. This is a collection that captures the vulnerability and doubts of a series of protagonists at key times in their lives.

Some of the stories are linked by recurring characters. A woman and her lover, Philip, have had a complex relationship over time. These stories, told from the woman's point of view, suggest the Philip ended their relationship and that she has not dealt with the issue, although she has brought herself to forgive him. This relationship first appears in the story Postcards from Surfers and is revisited in other stories.

Garner is at her best when writing in this fashion. Her occasional attempt to write from a man's point of view is much less successful. I found the story All Those Bloody Young Catholics to be crude and grating. But, apart from those occasional mis-steps, this is a very good collection.

It should be noted that quite a few of these stories were published in an early collection called Postcards From Surfers and readers familiar with that book may not find much new here. ( )

Garner is an impeccable writer, in my opinion. She’s one of the few people who manages to have me laughing out loud at the absurdities of life one minute, and quietly pondering it’s meaning the next. These stories are fictional accounts from different times throughout her life, some stories I loved more than others, but I will certainly be reading them all again, it’s always a pleasure. Recommended for those who enjoy life’s lesser noticed quirks. ( )