More so than Atwood, I am struggling to write about Strout’s work. The world is clear and intensely developed, but it isn’t fantastic. Strout has copied our real world, with all of its complexities and layers, and has copied it onto the page. I feel like this will become even more true as the stories continue and the links expand.

“Windmills” is poignant, and so was “The Sign,” but it is never sentimental. These characters are not living fully wretched lives. Patty misses her husband and her father, has a complicated relationship with her aging mother, and was verbally assaulted by a teenager at school, yet she still makes time to meet with Angelina. Patty has empathy, and knows that Angelina doesn’t want to hear about Patty’s problems, but she is okay with that. Patty is content with helping. It is repeated in her character with her husband, her mother, Lila Lane, and Angelina. Patty still recognizes the coziness of her home, even though she has had an awful day. She is okay.

These stories read like mysteries, and sometimes mysteries are revealed of which we weren’t even aware. The incident with Patty’s mother is not told until we are two-thirds through the story. Patty seems to be damaged by something when she is speaking to her husband on their wedding night, but it is unclear at that point if it is sincere or if she is just being kind. On page 38, it is mentioned that the Barton parents attended Patty’s older sister’s wedding, but it is never explained why. Perhaps it will become clear in a following story.