Penny Candy and Other Stories

<p>In <em>Penny Candy and Other Stories </em>Trisha Batchelor<em> </em>exploits the strengths of a literary form rarely published today—the short story. The title story captures the longing of a child affected by her father’s absence. In “More Than Lovely” two families though divided along class lines are bonded by a long-hidden secret. “Righteous” explores the familial entanglements that can exist within small towns and how seemingly irreparable mistakes can be made right. In “Millie’s Song” a young woman emerges intact from a life of recklessness through an unexpected divine alliance. “Paul and Silas” shows how tragedy can force us to face our past. “Jealousy” depicts the connection between siblings in a family fractured by their transient fathers. In “The Station” reality is questioned through the mysterious journey of a group of strangers.</p><p>With insight and sensitivity Batchelor addresses in these seven stories the themes of redemption matters of the heart and how the vulnerable extend love within complex family systems. </p>