Crimson Ramblers of the World, Farewell

For a book that's almost 30 years old, Jessamyn West's collection of short stories is still relevant, amusing and inspiring today. I became interested in Ms. West when my parents saw fit to saddle me with the name of someone already famous in her own right and when I got over the adulation I received by English teachers and began exploring her fiction I found her to be the forthright feminist author I had always been looking for. This book contains many stories including one about a birdwatcher who gets devoured by buzzards, a woman living in a TB ward and, my personal favorite, The Condemned Librarian. Despite these often depressing topics, West's characters have a sense of personal dignity that brings them through the oddest and most difficult situations. Readable, interesting and compelling. Read this book!