“One of my favourite occupations is to dawdle along a street at dusk … for the tantalizing glimpses of other lives…”

This is a very fitting introduction by Lesley Glaister to this collection of eight “glimpses of other lives” by four female writers that are each different in subject, but united in the subtlety of their writing style. A good example of this subtlety is in Myra Connell’s ‘Hero’, which tells the tale of a New York fireman working on September 11th, and his grief following the tragic events. This story was desperate to be told as a syrupy slush of sentimentality and I was bracing myself to gag, but she managed to restrain it into something that was both poignant and realistic.

Several other stories in this book gave a snapshot of what might be a greater story: such as Mandy Sutter’s ‘Lasiren’, which told the tale of a child with a fear of water learning to overcome that fear. I found myself wanting to know more: what had happened before that point? What was the family’s past? I finished some of these stories with a hint of that feeling you get when you watch a David Lynch film – confusion, frustration at the confusion, and an intense urge to be creative. This could be perceived as either good or bad – it depends on whether you like David Lynch. I do.

Of all the stories in the book, my favourite is possibly ‘Shropshire Gold’ by Polly Wright. This captures the story of a woman who is reflecting on a shoe incident from her childhood, and re-living the regrets from this and from more recent events. This story is easy to relate to for anyone who remembers a time in their childhood when they felt hard-done-by, or when new feelings have opened up old wounds. It also seems a particularly insightful exploration of how people can use their emotions about one event to express their more raw feelings about something else.

And for anyone who is having a blue day and is after a bit of pure optimism, flick straight to Sidura Ludwig’s two tales of romance in later life. Strangely it didn’t actually fill me with feelings of hope, but then I do have a heart of stone. I’d encourage the more softhearted of you to give it a go.

Therefore, if you’re after the sort of absolute escapism where you start reading at ten o’clock at night and re-emerge when it’s already light again with no idea of the time, then this book isn’t it. But if you’re up for some taut, unpretentious, good quality writing; for inspiration, and – quite frankly – for a break from the usual, I’d recommend “Are you she?”

Megan is an Occupational Therapist, originally from rural Shropshire, but now working in Manchester. She enjoys stories about peoples' relationships, and stories with a bit of a dark side. She gets many of her ideas from loitering around the centre of her hometown, where there seems to be a disproportionately high number of three legged aliens and other disturbingly dysfunctional characters. She awaits contact from Tim Burton, asking her to script his latest film. To read 2 short stories by Megan on the Showcase section of this site, click here