I couldn't warm up to these stories even though I have read and enjoyed several of Butala's full length fiction. It always seemed to me that there was some subtext that I didn't understand. Butala does capture the life of farm people very well which isn't surprising given that she lives and works on a working ranch. Having grown up in the country on a farm I could identify with that aspect although it seemed to me that there were a lot of sexual undercurrents that I don't remember. Maybe my Mom and Mrs. Lowdon and my friend Julia's mother were all covertly watching the hired man's biceps but I somehow doubt it. ( )

These are wonderful stories, the Queen of the Headaches is still with me although it has been years since I read this book. This book was published by my favourite small canadian publisher, Coteau Books. I was reminded of this story when I recently read Claire's Head by a new Canadian writer , Catherine Bush. Sharon Butula has of course gone on to write many more books. Her publisher now is Harper Collins. ( )