Stealing time

the long version

Since her stories were first published in The New Yorker and other magazines, Mary Grimm has won exceptional critical acclaim and a devoted following among readers of fine fiction. Now, with her stunning debut collection, Stealing Time, Grimm proves herself a superb new master of the subtle art of short fiction. These stories brilliantly explore extraordinary moments in the lives of ordinary people. Their characters could be found on any block in any suburb or city, yet through Grimm's literary alchemy they become singularly unforgettable. In the award-winning "We," two young housewives try various diversions to fill up the hollow centers of their lives until they realize they must grow up enough to fill that center with themselves. In "Mommy and Doris," an older woman finds entertainment watching passersby and imagining the dark secrets of their lives. In these and other stories, Grimm writes poignantly and humorously of characters on the verge of a new awareness: a father who really sees his wife and children for the first time when his wife walks out; a pregnant woman who must come to terms with the fact that she will not be able to carry on with the life she has always led. Stealing Time is dazzling in its lyricism, humor, uncommon insight, and truth.