The stories in this collection were carefully selected to represent contemporary Irish literature. They are by young authors whom The Guardian has ranked among the most important voices of modern Irish literature, comparing their style to that of James Joyce. These stories are quite different from one another, presenting the reader with characters facing difficult and pivotal situations that will change their lives and their understanding of the world. The settings vary from the countryside to small towns and urban areas. The voices are equally diverse: from a teenager to a young adult to older people, and from characters whose lives, experiences, pain, and disappointments have been forged into resilience. Despite all this, there is also hope and happiness. Often, by the end of each story, the characters achieve some kind of self-reconciliation or a significant change in the protagonist's life.