Stepsisters

This collection of new voices from contemporary Ireland introduces sixteen stories written in the original Irish language by eight different women authors, translated by Irish literature scholar and author, Katherine Duffy. In spare and realistic prose, STEPSISTERS reveals the lives and hardships, mix-ups and misgivings, minor family skirmishes and devastating tragedies that befall ordinary people--a teacher from the northern "provinces" must confront her unruly charges at a high school in Northern Ireland and dire death threats ensue; a woman realizes the object of her beloved's affection is only skin deep when he lusts after her tattoo; a guardian of her mentally unstable brother must confront the decision to have him sent away to a home now that her husband has passed away; an old woman and her dog share the ultimate human/animal bonding in a winter storm. All stories provide a unique and fierce perspective on the day to day struggles and triumphs of the characters, their families, friends, lovers, husbands, children and siblings, with humor, grit, and steadfast eloquence.