Her Head a Village and Other Stories

Janet Money, formerly the sports editor of the Woodstock Daily
Sentinel-Review, is a freelance writer and editor in London, Ontario.

This is the author’s second collection of short fiction, and it’s a
winner. These are stories about writing, immigration, welfare, the
Caribbean, and Canadian identity—stories peopled by women and men, gay
and straight. Each tale is moving and memorable. The title story is a
brilliant piece about a writer who is besieged by the voices of her
various communities. It deals imaginatively with questions of
responsibility in creativity, responsibility to one’s self and to
one’s surroundings.

“Hush, Chile, Hush” is a compelling tale told from the point of
view of a child who is experiencing incest. It combines first-person
narrative and diary entries to show rather than tell a scary story.
“Baby” is another gripping tale of two women struggling over coming
out of the closet as lesbians, while danger literally stands outside the
door.

“Blue Belle” is the best of a terrific lot in this volume. Blue is
a mother of four children (including a gay man who lives with her)
who’s romanced and swindled by a fast-talking friend. Silvera writes
from the points of view of all three main characters to tell an
absorbing, moving story that leaves the reader wanting it to continue.

Silvera is a busy editor who, thankfully, still finds time to write.