Why She Loves Him

Why She Loves Him

'Captivating glimpses into multiple lives: their scope is extraordinary' - Susan Johnson.

Why She Loves Him, by award winning novelist Wendy James consists of 21 tales of furtive lives: dazzling portraits of woman and men on the run; from their present, their past, their future- from themselves…

Holding a discerning mirror to seemingly ordinary lives, James captures recurring themes of love, betrayal, passion and guilt to show just how vulnerable and intricate the human heart really is.

Whether narrating from the living room of a contemporary marriage, from the wheel of a desperate getaway car or while composing an elaborate diversion in 18th century Salzburg, James has the rare ability to wryly comment on humankind with unnerving clarity and precision.

"Why She Loves Him comprises 20 short stories and one sequence. I was amazed at the difference between each of the stories and the way that they were each able to capture a moment of a life. Some of the stories are extremely short, only a page or two long, while the sequence at the end goes for 61 pages. Still, each of the stories are complete in themselves, although I did find myself desperately wanting to know more about some of them. Wendy James fills each story with background, without making them slow. Why She Loves Him is perfect for busy people who are normally forced to read books in fits and starts. In fact, I actually enjoyed taking a break between each story to savour it and mentally put it together, to clarify the relationship and justify the actions. The sequence at the end fo the book was particularly memorable. Seeing inside this life of a woman called Megan, who left her husband and two daughters behind and is caught up in her new boyfriend's bank robbing, was absolutely amazing. Many of the stories are female-centric, but there is something for everyone in this fantastic book. - Jessica Broadbent- Australian Bookseller and Publisher

Wendy James is the author of two novels. Her first, Out of Silence (Random House) won the 2006 Ned Kelly Award and was short listed fro the Nita May Dobbie Award for women's writing. Her second novel, The Steele Diaries (Vintage), was published in May 2008. Why She Loves Him is her first collection of short stories. Wendy lives in Armidale NSW with her husband and children.

Why She Loves Him
UWA Press
Author: Wendy James
ISBN: 9781921401790
Price: $24.95