A review by alisonburnis
Multitudes: Stories by Lucy Caldwell

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

This collection of short stories kicked me in the ribs, on the best way. I cried through a number of these stories, and alternately felt hope and joy. Caldwell is one of the best short story writers I’ve read - not Alice Munro, of course, but up there near to Munro. The worlds Caldwell builds are full and immersive, all set in and around Belfast, typically. The secret first love of two teenage girls, a mother with a child in the NICU, a closeted trans girl longing for a Belle dress (this one was one of the most beautiful in the book). Caldwell is a tender writer, and these were incredible.