Things That Pass for Love

This is an exceptional group of stories by an exceptionally gifted writer. The characters are marvelously drawn and very diverse. Thank you Allison Amend. Don Borzak

These stories are so diverse that the collection almost has the feel of an anthology. The voices, settings, lifestyles and plots of the individual pieces allow the reader to step into many different worlds, and each feels equally convincing. What unites the stories, though, is their theme of striving for some kind of connection and, as the title indicates, "love" in a modern, isolated world. Some stories deal with romantic love, but most delve into other areas of life that cause people to feel their lives have meaning and purpose: family, work, faith, bonding with nature and the animal world. Amend's characters keep missing the boat on these connections, but keep longing for them and pursuing them with a fragile hope and an incredible amount of wit and keen intelligence. It's amazing that this is Amend's first book! She is a great new talent, especially for fans of the kind of savvy, super-smart but intensely enjoyable short fiction books that used to abound in the 80s and 90s. A great find!

The book is fabulous and capturing. A must read. I never put it down. She is an amazing writer.