A Hard Witching & Other Stories

by Jacqueline Baker

Book Overview

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0002005344
• ISBN13: 9780002005340
• Release Date: January 2003
• Publisher: HarperFlamingo Canada
• Length: 180 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Finely Wrought

A Hard Witching is a finely wrought and wrenchingly beautiful collection -- indeed, so finely wrought it's difficult to believe it's her first. Each story opens a portal into the human soul -- that stained and sorry bit that exists in all of us. Baker shares with us, creates for us, imminently believable characters who only want to love or be loved, but cannot, because of that desert within -- each carry with them bits and pieces of the great and desperate Sand Hills of Saskatchewan. Your heart sings as you read. Jacqueline Baker shows such promised with this posed and mature collection. She evokes comparisons with such greats as Flannery O'Connor, Alice Munro and Kent Haruf and she deserves these accolades.

The beauty of open spaces

Ms. Baker's collection of short stories is beautifully written, her characters perfectly rendered. Like fine woodwork of old where the joints are carefully dovetailed, Baker has the ability to write seamlessly. The comparisons to Flannery O'Connor are apt. She is that good. If you enjoy the works of O'Connor, Walker Percy, Wendell Berry or Wallage Stegner, get this book and when you're finished reading it a few times, put it right next to those masters.

If you like Alice Munro, buy this!

I loved this book. I recommended it to my friends, and gave a copy to my mom. It's a startling debut from a writer who has potential to be one of Canada's most outstanding writers. These stories are clear, restrained, and very emotional. It's refreshing to find a new voice in Canadian writing who actually knows how to write! These stories remind me of Alice Munro's best work; briefer, perhaps, but trandscendant and illuminating. The only annoying thing is that I maybe found the book too short. But apparently she's working on a novel I can't wait to read.A must read!