Laura ’s Reviews > The Penguin Book of Modern Women's Short Stories > Status Update
Laura
is finished
A really miserable story - from the perspective of a 9 year old who knows his mother is dying. He expects to be told of her death any day. The story is unique in how well Bowen conveys the child's anxiety - he's afraid he will break down when told and that's even worse than the death itself - but the story is misery - on a page.
The Visitor - by Elizabeth Bowen, 1980 from Collected Stories.
— Apr 23, 2026 09:56AM
The Visitor - by Elizabeth Bowen, 1980 from Collected Stories.
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Laura ’s Previous Updates
Laura
is finished
Margaret Drabble - Hassan's Tower. Set in Morocco - couple on honeymoon - husband doesn't like his new wife. It's an early work - 1966 - and not so good as the first three stories. A lot of interiority type narrative - husband's thoughts - he does have a revelation - but it's a typical judgemental, condescending attitude. I'm not sure he even deserves that insight !! Cynical me.
— Apr 17, 2026 09:57AM
Laura
is finished
So good - Clare Boylan "Some Retired Ladies on a Tour" - a story about loneliness.
All three stories - I know the writers - their short stories just enthuse and inspire me to buy more of their work.
Taylor, Mackay and Boylan - such good writers!!
— Apr 16, 2026 08:52AM
All three stories - I know the writers - their short stories just enthuse and inspire me to buy more of their work.
Taylor, Mackay and Boylan - such good writers!!
Laura
is finished
Slaves to the Mushroom - Shena McKay - another good one. Mckay causes us to question our acceptance of the narrator's point of view. We trust Sylvia's narration and her moral stance - and then she does something right at the end. We realise that the tedious work leaves no room for any kind of moral superiority.
— Apr 16, 2026 03:59AM
Laura
is finished
The Devastating Boys - very good - very enjoyable. Taylor captures the husband/wife tensions and the reality of small boys - the characters of the children are v well done.
— Apr 12, 2026 01:55AM
