Young Woman in a Garden: Stories Paperback – November 11, 2014

Delia Sherman is one of those writers whose stories range from the deeply moving (see her novels "The Porcelain Dove" and "The Freedom Maze" to fascinating and humorous. Whatever she writes is cleverly, masterfully, and beautifully done. I will admit to being a huge fan and I was delighted to see many of my favorite short stories gathered in one place.Whether it's fantasy, speculative, historical, etc., whatever Ms. Sherman writes is an absolute delight.

I don't normally write reviews, but wanted to after seeing there was only one other listed here. I got this book based on an NPR recommendation, and found it to be very enjoyable. If you like fantasy and getting lost in a story, you will not be disappointed. It deserves more attention and recognition!

Such a treat to find more stories from Delia Sherman. Thank you for collecting these all in one place!

Impressive, convincing world building, and what an array of worlds we enter in this collection.

I was already a fan of Delia Sherman, author of The Freedom Maze, when I picked up Young Woman in a Garden, but now I am a rabid fan. Sherman can write a Victorian steampunk Welsch ghost story ( “The Ghost of Cwmlech Manor”) every bit as convincingly as a Texan tall tale (“Nanny Peters and the Feathery Bride”) or a demonic folk tale from the Louisiana bayou (“The Fiddler of Bayou Teche”). I’m sorry, but that kind of skill isn’t normal. Many, indeed most writers I admire hit a certain pitch and stay roughly there. Sure, they may stray a bit in syntax or dialect, even genre, but Sherman’s versatility is astounding. More than once, she made me wonder if she herself made some sort of otherworldly deal with a wayward spirit in order to render her stories so, well, damned otherworldly. I can’t recommend this collection enough. I know I’ll be returning to it again and again over the course of my life as a writer to try to learn how the hell she managed it.

Among the stories there is a richness and variety of topics and styles, with warmth and chills and humor. Look for lovely use of language, as in the color yellow in "Sacred Harp". An art historian, a jeweller, a selki, a would-be engineer; ghost and faerie and steampunk tales, sweet and sad and joyful.

Although an avid reader and English Lit major, I haven't willingly picked up a book of short stories in 15 years. I love this return to the genre.I am loathe to return *Young Woman in a Garden* to the library. It is a rich, savory experience that I want to keep.Buy. Taste. Delight in this book.I'm going to buy a copies for my teacher friends so that I have people with whom to share the stories!