Stumbled across this new--to me--author when I saw this book on the remainder table. Bought it and was entranced as I read from cover to cover in a matter of a couple of days. Since then I have read several of the novels and recognized him as one of my favourite authors. My tendency is to get wrapped up in novels and ignore short stories, on of the most foolish things I could possible do. There are many treasures in this collection of stories. Probably many of them could have been successfully stretched out to novel length, but that is not the point. You can read 14 pages or 340 pages, and if it sticks with you for a long time, that is all that matters. Living outside of the United States, I am curious to find out what real life is like for regular people. Because I don't like all the presentations in movies and sitcoms, and even in dramas, for that matter, that I see in visual media. I think I need the printed word to see what American life is really like. (Or I could just go there and visit in person.) These stories allow me to visit over a dozen different milieux. Definitely worht it.