Later The Same Day by Grace Paley

This collection of stories is described as being peopled with "characters familiar to readers of her previous volumes [who] have grown older". Which is precisely what strikes me first about this book; it centres on the lives of women who have been around the block a few circuits more than me. They've all been through divorce, extra-marital lovers, and their kids are all raised and grown, for example. In addition, Paley's women, Faith, Ruth, Susan , and Ann maintain political ideals and world-concern that (sorry about this) places them in the generation that came before. While I can't say these women are like my mother, they could be almost be her friends if she were more interested in politics and men. But there is lots in this book that transcends its particulars, lots and lots. Like in the story "The Expensive Moment", when the visitor from China says to Faith "Do you notice that in time you love the children more and the man less?" I felt a shadow cast of future wisdom, I can tell you. And I don't even have children. Or the little moments, so accurate to an ageless male/female condition: "You're right, you're right. I'm with you there, I said. Now all you have to do is be with me." Paley doesn't use quotation marks in her dialogue, which can be a bit disturbing at first. But it actually works to get across the boiled-down essence of her meaning; what would sound stilted and pretentious as real dialogue is acceptable brevity in reported speech.

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