Now in paperback, internationally bestselling author Indu Sundaresan presents a poignant collection of contemporary short stories about the challenges and consequences faced by women in Indian life today. Like Jhumpa Lahiri’s Interpreter of Maladies, Indu Sundaresan’s In the Convent of Little Flowers gives readers an eloquent and illuminating collection of stories about contemporary Indian life, exploring the cutting-edge issues that surround the clash between ancient tradition and modernity. In the collection’s title story, a young woman adopted by an American family in Seattle receives a letter from Sister Mary Theresa, a nun at the Convent of Little Flowers in Chennai, where she stayed as a child. Unbeknownst to the Indian woman, the nun is her biological mother’s sister. In another story, the grandmother of an Indian journalist begs her grandson to intervene and stop a young widow from being burned alive. And when a teenaged daughter bears a child out of wedlock, her entire family is thrown into turmoil. With their lush prose, vividly rendered settings, and complex characters, these and the other stories in this elegant collection bring readers into the experience of Indian women at home and abroad, where modernity offers them lives their grandmothers could never dream of, while at the same time taking away parts of their history. With a delicate touch, Indu Sundaresan weaves the pieces of the conflict together, presenting a nuanced and unforgettable tapestry.

Women writers from the Central American nations of Costa Rica and Panama have distinguished themselves in the fields of short fiction and poetry during recent years. Their triumph mirrors their countries' struggles to overcome poverty and political violence. The quality and sheer number of their stories testify to their ongoing pursuit of artistic perfection. The women whose stories have been especially translated into English for this special issue have found the key to effective communication by searching their hearts and minds, and by exploring the intricately textured web of life that surrounds them. Costa Rica and Panama are linked by culture, geographical location and political history. A recent earthquake that struck sections of both countries at once underlined their similar vulnerability to natural disaster. A deep and continuous theme running through these writings is a note of hope for a calmer future.

'Rosamunde Pilcher has the unique ability to transfer the reader into her lovely world. So vivid, simply mesmerising!!!!' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ An emotive and timeless collection of short stories by the much-loved Rosamunde Pilcher Through thick mist and a cold east wind, Lavinia returns to Scotland. Up at the big house Mrs Farquhar is dying. Seeing Lachlan again, Lavinia remembers her childhood holidays there: swimming in the loch, the picnics, bottle-feeding the lambs down at the farm and the evenings when they danced reels. Most of all, she remembers Mrs Farquhar's grandson Rory. As the old lady lies serene and beautiful in the bed she has slept in since coming home to Lachlan as a bride, Lavinia meets Rory once again. Flowers in the Rain is one of sixteen stories, each giving another magical glimpse into Rosamunde Pilcher's world. READERS LOVE FLOWERS IN THE RAIN: 'I loved this collection. It was absolutely delightful. It's a set of sweet, heart-warming little reads. It felt like being transported. I wished it wouldn't end' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Rosamunde Pilcher's language is so descriptive, the reader is immersed in the time and place, sharing the emotions of the characters she portrays' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'A beautiful book, composed of short stories one after the next all equally so full of positive love it was hard to put down. If you want a book to lift your spirits, pick this one' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ PRAISE FOR ROSAMUNDE PILCHER: 'Her genius is to create characters you really care for' Daily Express 'Pilcher's storytelling skills are serene and beguiling' The Times 'It is never too soon to discover Rosamunde Pilcher' Good Housekeeping 'Whether she is being poignant, wry or perceptive, Rosamunde Pilcher is always gentle' Woman's Realm

Unsettling, haunting short stories in the vein of Yoko Ogawa and Brian Evenson.

It won't take you long to see why Jane Tyson Clement's short stories have become perennial favorites for adults and children alike. Written with a measured beauty that recalls Tolstoy and Tolkien, these tales are rich in allegorical symbolism and evocation of mood. They are infused throughout with the thrill of expectancy, a sense that something new is on the way, and a certainty that God is seeking us, just as we seek him. In an age where cleverness often counts more than substance, Clement's stories offer a break from all the noise.

A collection of fourteen folk tales about flowers from many different cultures.