“Grounded in the gripping art of storytelling, [it] demonstrates Fred Chappell's universal appeal . . . A stirring chorale of women's voices.” —Robert Taylor, The Boston Globe

“A vibrant picture . . . Chappell describes steely, passionate women, the savory foods they cook, and the luscious landscapes they inhabit.” —Margot Mifflin, Entertainment Weekly

“An array of flavorful tales . . . a sometimes boisterous, sometimes lyrical, sometimes Gothically romantic celebration of women.” —David Willis McCullough, The New York Times Book Review

“Haunting . . . Rich, lyrical, and frequently elegiac . . . Fred Chappell has become one of our indispensable contemporary writers.” —Greg Johnson, The Atlanta Journal/Constitution

“Exuberant . . . musically written . . . Chappell here acknowledges fully and equally both the sadness and celebration and honors both, as only a gifted, fully initiated, grown-up writer can do.” —Doris Betts, The World and I

“Marvelous . . . The most affecting work of fiction about place and love . . . since A River Runs Through It.” —Howard Frank Mosher, The Washington Post Book World