31. Later, at the Bar by Rebecca Barry

Set in upstate New York, Lucy’s Tavern seems to attract a wide assortment of characters. There are the crazy brothers, Harlin and Cyrus Wilder, who seem to always love women at the wrong time in their lives, Harlin’s wife, Grace, who keeps entering and exiting his life, Linda Hartley, who while writing an advice column, is unlucky in love in her own life, and Elizabeth Teeter, who has her husband leave her for a man. All of the characters connect with each other, sometimes only in passing, and sometimes being more committed to each other, but all frequent Lucy’s Tavern on an almost religious basis.

The novel is made up of ten interconnected short stories. My favorites included “How to Save a Wounded Bird”, which focuses on Elizabeth’s cat hunting baby birds while Elizabeth’s life unravels when her husband leaves her, and “Not Much is New Here” which features the wonderful character Linda Hartley, reminiscing on past loves while she watches her Polish neighbor become a new bride. Local readers will get enjoyment of the obvious Ithaca area setting and even a mention of the Royal Court. If you like short stories with connected characters and humor, try the excellent short stories of Ellen Gilchrist - especially her Rhoda Manning stories.