Amy Hempel is a goddess of short stories. This 2006 volume, now out in paperback (and as of this posting only $7 on amazon so go buy it), simply straps her four short story collections into one handy 400-page book.

I can’t recommend this enough. Hempel is a master of her craft, her stories each hold their own with a dark grace, a straight-forward and overly observant voice. She casts reality in a level and layered light, she brings her own humanity into every story, and you read each bracing for the impact of an abundant dose of humanity.