Stories Lingering in Mind

Book # 47 is You Know When the Men Are Gone, by Siobhan Fallon.  Ordinarily, I veer away from short story collections because it's easy to abandon them after one or two stories are resolved.  After hearing Fallon's interview on Fresh Air, however, I knew this would be a must-read.  If I have any criticism, it's that the wives as a whole are elevated in terms of educational background.  For that matter, though, so are many of their husbands.  Each story crafts a unique heartbreak for the reader.  Each story presents a previously unexamined perspective on military life.  Each story is well-written and literary.  Along with The Goon Squad, this will be one of my frequently recommended books of 2011.