"Looking at her characters as if through a pair of binoculars Ann Hood captures the extraordinary in the ordinary, the surreal in everyday occurrences. A pregnant woman left by her husband bakes obsessively to cope, but never tries a morsel. In an attempt to stay sober, a young alcoholic seduces her minister and embarks on a tour of caverns with him. An adolescent girl picks up bird watching as a hobby. In her newfound habit of observing others, she discovers a budding romance between her mother and her neighbor." "These stories are full of characters - so current and real they could be fellow passengers on a train or a neighbor mowing the lawn - seeking escape from their lives while often uncovering small moments of insight and understanding. They are voyeurs and observers, often finding peace once they stop searching for a way out."--BOOK JACKET.