Mary Hagey’s debut collection of stories Castles In The Air introduces us to a cast of characters who are all trying to assert themselves in their own lives, and eventually they come to regard their circumstances in a new light. In each of these stories there is a quiet unfolding of truth.

Holly in “Home Remedy” finds her identity redefined at a family reunion; Karen in “A Simple Request” is determined to reunite her dying mother with her estranged twin sister. In “Lifeline,” Anna Marie pursues the dream of going to university her mother has for her; in “Castles in the Air” a recently downsized Phil tries to navigate the the minefield of his marriage on a visit to meet his mother’s new boyfriend; and in “Human Interest,” Miriam, a copywriter who is unhappy in her marketing work, is searching for something meaningful to write about to launch a freelance career.

These characters carry their burdens and persevere in ways that, while not heroic, illustrate the fundamental courage required of all of us. Many of the characters are caught up in salvaging what’s been lost or maintaining what seems to be slipping away, objectives that are daunting to them—proverbial castles in the air.