A collection of twelve stories—one for each month of the year—which capture moments in various kinds of relationships in which the true heart is laid bare.

As an example, in one particular story, a middle-aged couple—Jenny and Karl— go on a ski trip. We learn a bit of background in that they have been unable to have children, and have pursued adoption, but after difficulties with the process the two seem to agree to stop. Meanwhile, back at the ski lodge, Karl injures himself in the lodge gym, but encourages Jenny to continue to enjoy the ski vacation on the slopes. While she is skiing, the limping Karl, who doesn’t seem a terribly sympathetic character, makes conversation with another vacationer and his young son. As they converse, Karl casually invents a fictional son to talk about. Of course, when Jenny returns she is not aware of this and inadvertently outs him. Here the reader is, with the characters, in a tense, uncomfortable spot. The temptation might be to think Karl a fool and judge him harshly, but instead one sees his raw vulnerability because clearly, deep down, he still badly wants a child.

I found this collection addictive from the very beginning but rather than racing through it, I read one story each evening. As with other collections, some stories are better than others. The collection is a must read for Olafsson fans; bit also for readers of intelligent, poignant and affecting fiction. ( )