Barthelme's second collection of short stories seems to cast an eye at his own history and the characters he's known, making Hush Hush a twisted, heart-breaking and hilarious account of how to quit while ahead. His stories expose the surprising dignity in lying on one's belly in the pouring rain, in ringing an ex-girlfriend's doorbell at 4am and in sleeping with a dead wife's best friend. Together, the stories present a compelling picture of individuals who staunchly refuse to give up, even when they should.
