The Path of Totality: New and Selected Stories

Susan Patrick is a librarian at Ryerson University in Toronto.

The path of totality is the road on which the characters in these
evocative stories have embarked. Most are at an emotional crossroads as
they seek fulfilment in their lives. Some stories deal with relations
between parents and children. Others feature women alone, reflecting on
deaths and lost loves, marriages gone sour, and their own (self-imposed)
isolation. These themes are echoed in reminiscences of their parents’
lives and the ignominious fate of seniors in nursing homes. Though the
subject matter might be considered grim, Thomas, an award-winning
author, uses language that is rich with childhood rhymes and song. Her
fast-paced stories are replete with interesting characters, local color,
and descriptions of exotic places ranging from the Greek Isles and
Mexico to Ireland and the Ivory Coast.