Hard to Be Good

'Barich's first collection of seven short stories, which takes a look at the lofty standards people set for themselves, is not just good, but very good. Barich has a rare ability to create quirky, likeable characters with a few deft strokes. That, and the fact that his short stories are complete, compelling narratives in which problems proceed toward resolutions, make this collection especially appealing' Publishers Weekly 'Bill Barich's HARD TO BE GOOD is so large and complete that you tend to look up at the end and find yourself surprised that it's still the same day' Anne Tyler in THE YEAR'S BEST AMERICAN SHORT STORIES A wonderful stylist... Sharp, witty, wry, his short story snap-shots of the American West and Italy are marvellously evocative, wedding the past (the archaic lives of two Florentine spinsters) to the present (a Californian lude freaked teenager) trying - and failing - so hard to be good' Time Out