In these 26 lyrical stories, the author not only captures the essence of a vanished rural past, but also the hearts and minds of country people Most of the stories, like 'Waiting Room', 'The Gleaner' and 'Cloudburst' celebrate human resilience and courage, while 'Little Fish' ridicules pomposity 'Never' embodies a timeless dilemma the yearning for freedom, and the fear of achieving it 'Story Without An End' and 'The House With The Apricot' are about the joy and poignancy of love, evoking a bittersweet nostalgia that suffuses all of these stories