Bad Dreams and Other Stories Hardcover – Deckle Edge, May 16, 2017

There is a very clear and common theme to Hadley’s stories in this collection—a character moves from innocence to a necessary though often upsetting at first glimpse into experience and the reality of things. Many protagonists are young girls in guarded families or communities who meet up with the surprise appearances of boys out for a joy ride, or a rebellious teacher, or a suddenly widowed family friend. The sudden introduction to the complications of relationships, or the struggles of womanhood, are committed on them personally, or they observe such things and are changed by the knowledge of what they’ve seen.Though interesting, this theme proves redundant after a while, making the pursuit through Hadley’s writing style a bit of a strain. Hadley’s method very much echoes that of Alice Munro—stories are often set in an antiquated time associated with innocence, where tradition and manners are sacrosanct, a veneer Hadley challenges, but while Munro often proves unskimmable, as her flowing style often proves so subtle a character’s death can even pass you by if you’re not reading closely, Hadley’s redundancies can be foregone once you see what she’s up to again.

All these stories are excellent. Some of them really stay in the mind. I particularly like "The Abduction," which I had read a few years ago in The New Yorker and was very happy to revisit. I'd recommend this book strongly.

Write with the detail of Alice Munro about the small gestures and action that lead to deeper understand of domestic situations.

The separate stories each curiously unfinished in mesmerizing ways allow one's imagination to carry them on to a variety of conclusions.

As always, from Tessa Hadley, beautiful and haunting details -- ordinary lives that aren't ordinary once illuminated.

I’m totally not worthy to review this excellent collection of stories, but I’m trying to reach the twenty word mark to say at least that much. This book is so so so good, and I’m thankful to have found a new author to read.

These wonderful stories transported me to a dozen other lives. Each one is a delight. I shall immediately search for more by Tessa Hadley.

A compelling collection of short stories. Hadley is masterful at the written word and insight into people’s emotional make-up. A must read.