‘’The weakness in the soil first appears at dusk in the centre of a ring of stones in a field. A small copse of trees weave around banks of raised earth, and the exposed roots of a yew tree frame the slabs of an ancient portal tomb.’’

An exquisite collection that focuses on the seemingly simple and mundane instances of life that hide a vast darkness within. Relationships, hope, love, death are depicted through stories that gracefully balance the lyrical and the grotesque. Sheila Armstrong is a new name to watch and this volume is one more token of the power and ingenuity that are easily found in today’s Irish Literature.

hole: In a village full of legends and threats, villagers and visitors come across a strange yew tree. And then, they disappear…

how to gut a fish: In a powerful, heart-breaking story, a fisherman guts a mackerel and reminisces about his relationship with his family, anxiously waiting to see them again. But Life has other plans for him.

the skellington dance: It is impossible to summarise this story, this lullaby of motherhood and courage and determination. A tale beautiful in its haunting sadness.

‘’The moon is always a second old.’’

haptic: A squad of friends meet at a birthday party, each one enclosed in their own thoughts of past loves and present worries. A VR set becomes a metaphor for the unattainable and the desired, in a story that is as quiet as it is tense. And full of hope.

red market: In a countryside market, a strange kind of trading is taking place with all sorts of heterogeneous goods that must satisfy extremely particular demands. But the main ‘’attraction’’ is a girl, bound and put on display, a ‘’good’’ to be sold to the ones in need. This story is as horrific as it sounds, but it is a masterpiece.

Harlow: The death of his mother brings a man back to her home, her adventurous past and his own heritage. The image of a monkey permeates the story while the son’s life is glimpsed through various encounters and temporary relationships…

dado: A community centre is being renovated. A man tries to come to terms with the death of his wife. An accident occurs due to a driver’s negligence. Instances of life. Happy and tragic. Dark and hopeful.

lemons: A quiet story of youth, motherhood, womanhood and life’s surprises that have the power both to disarm and empower us.

‘’When she was first asked by an adult what she was going to be, Anna said she already was.’’

cautery: Such a lyrical, beautiful story! Starting with his grandfather’s various accidents, we follow Anna’s childhood, her journey to adulthood, the frustrations, and her decision to teach English in Spain as the cicadas wake…

mantis: A powerful story of rage, parenthood and death told in the demanding stream-of-consciousness style.

hold fast: He is in Glasgow. She is in Iceland, on the journey they were supposed to go before his betrayal. And now, we see how both of them are trying to hold on to memories, to their surroundings, and possibly, to hope. A Herculean task in itself. A poetic, melancholic, immersive story that transports us to Iceland, its mystery, and the fragility (and stupidity…) of the human soul and mind. In my opinion, this was the finest story in this beautiful, haunting collection.

instinct: I think that this story took things a little too far. It seemed shocking just for the sake of it. With a brilliant start and quiet musings, it wins you over until the horrible end. And I am all for darkness and weird storylines but this one I couldn’t accept…

star jelly: In a story that seems to hide much more than it shows, five hikers follow a forest trail and come across a strange finding on their way to the summit. The glimpse into their backgrounds is limited but eloquent.

dome: Snippets of tourist life by the sea, under the moon and the stars. Stupendous writing!

‘’Above the field, the December light streaks off into the red horizon, and the horizon after that. Grass plinks as the longest night of the year begins.
The centre of the stones darkens, and the collapse of the topsoil into a deep sinkhole comes all in a sunset rush. The air trembles like a bent sheet of tin.’’

My reviews can also be found on https://theopinionatedreaderblog.wordpress.com/ ( )