In his second collection of short stories, Kevin Barry captures both the pangs of first love and the humiliations of middle-age.
His Irish men appear amiable types but their breezy confessionals are often interrupted by unexpected outbursts of passion and anger.
In the opening story, "Across the Rooftops", a student's abortive post-party kiss ruins an entire summer, while in the nicely sour story, "Wifey Redux", a tormented father rages against his teenage daughter's newly-discovered sexuality.
Barry's best stories combine playful irony with high emotion.
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