"A glorious achievement. . . . Infinitely satisfying. . . . A triumph." -The New York Times Book Review

"A fine collection, with a resonating and particularly rewarding novella." -San Francisco Chronicle "Impressive . . . brilliant . . . engrossing. . . . This is a book that will last and last." -The Philadelphia Inquirer "Thrilling to read. . . . The prose has about it the effortlessness only effort can produce." -USA Today"Thoroughly familiar moments are captured by Ms. Smiley with such immediacy and precision that we are left with a sense of having participated in her characters' lives." -The New York Times

In this collection of five short stories and one novella, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of A Thousand Acres presents a contemplation of the sometimes mutually exclusive matters of love, friendship, and marriage. Reprint. 12,500 first printing.