FIVE TUESDAYS IN WINTER
by Lily King
How could an author with a name like this be anything but wonderful? All kidding aside, King has written some fabulous novels: Writers & Lovers, Euphoria and The English Teacher are among her best. Five Tuesdays in Winter is her debut collection of short stories. As I’ve shared before, short story collections are not usually my first choice of what to read. But I am so glad that I pushed myself to read this collection.
Five Tuesdays contains ten short stories – every single one beautifully written, expertly crafted and memorable. From the opening story “Creature” about a young woman who takes a summer nanny job and finds herself fighting off sexual advances from her employer; to “Hotel Seattle” about a reunion between college roommates many years after one has embraced his homosexuality; to “Waiting for Charlie” where a grandfather sits by his granddaughter’s hospital bed trying to bring her back to consciousness. Each story contains well-developed, empathetic characters confronting different kinds of love and loss.
Losing yourself in a short story can be the perfect way to relax and transport yourself to another world, even for just a short while. I guarantee that Lily King’s Five Tuesdays in Winter will entertain and move you. I highly recommend it. (Liz)
