Lying Together

From the author of Girl in a Blue Dress—longlisted for the Man Booker Prize in 2008—comes a collection of stories on the problems, secrets, and lies that effect every relationship

Drawing on the experiences of people as they struggle with the day to day issues, prize-listed author Gaynor Arnold explores relationships in unflinching detail—but with a light romance and ironic observation of character, with humor and hope as well as sadness. Bringing the problematic lives of her lively cast of characters an unparalleled level of empathy and insight, story lines include: a wartime waitress attracted to a mysterious customer, admiring his skin and studious ways, but wonders why he is not in uniform. Two volatile drinkers form an unlikely partnership to escape a secure institution. A teenage girl is dominated by her strident mother, whom she nicknames “The Mouth” and who drives her out of the family home. A dance teacher is unexpectedly remembered by a journalist admirer. A commuter buying flowers for his wife is waylaid by a voice from his past. With a sharp understanding of social issues and skill with the short story form, the literary tact involved in these engaging reads merit comparison with Carol Shields and Alice Munro.