Swann’s strength as a writer rests with her characters. Instead of thrilling action, it is the insight we are given into her uncertain, scared, and essentially flawed characters that is most compelling. This is most evident in the novella, ‘Silver Hands’. The premise is familiar: Rachel’s husband has recently left her, she has an escalating illness, her work is suffering, and her usually ordered life is unravelling. The real interest in this story is not found in the resolution of these threads, but in Rachel’s growing self-awareness. The reader is not led to question how her life will be repaired, but, rather, why it was damaged to begin with. As in real life, most of Rachel’s problems stem from her own personality. Swann invites us to question how Rachel can identify its more poisonous elements, let alone mend them.

The theme of confronting the self is also taken up in several of the short stories. Particularly striking are ‘All Your Mothers’ and ‘The Ringwood Madonna’, both of which track characters with deep-seated fears and prejudices as they take steps, sometimes timidly, sometimes recklessly, towards a more open, calm mindset.

Bearings, with compelling characters, situations, and themes, is a solid foray into short fiction. Swann works well with the form, leaving readers to find their own bearings within her prose.

CONTENTS: JULY–AUGUST 2011