First published 1993
Each woman in these stories feels trapped by circumstances beyond her control. One creates a fictional identity to break free from her mundane existence. Another spins tales that transform her from outsider to someone worth noticing. These protagonists don't belong in their worlds, whether due to social class, personal history, or simple bad luck. They respond by constructing alternate versions of themselves, crafting deceptions that feel more true than reality. The lies start small but grow into complete mythologies. A waitress becomes an actress between tables. A lonely teenager invents a glamorous past. Each fabrication offers temporary relief from feeling powerless. Kennedy writes with restraint, letting the weight of each woman's situation emerge through quiet moments rather than dramatic confrontations. The stories reveal how people protect themselves when honesty feels too dangerous, and how imagination becomes a survival tool when reality offers no exit.
Genres: fiction, short-stories, literary-fiction, contemporary
Vibes: atmospheric, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: alternate-identity, outsider, survival
Period: 20th-century, 21st-century
160 pages · Paperback · Serpent's Tail