Barbara Stowe

This book snuck up on me. As I began reading, Tippett seemed to be painting with such a light touch that I simply enjoyed the stories for the expertise she brought to her material. I like learning about different worlds through fiction and Tippett's insider knowledge about everything to do with the world of art intrigued me. I also found her sense of humour most welcome. Then came a few stories where the relationships of the characters to each other, and their relationship to the world of art, drew me in deeper. "Flight", where she draws on her dual expertise in the art world and the world of publishing, was particularly enjoyable, and then came "Against the Grain", which had me laughing out loud, reading passages to my husband, and, unexpectedly, crying. Needless to say, I'm looking forward to the last three stories. Very impressive when an author known largely for her non-fiction books turns her hand to fiction so successfully.