This collection of 15 of Dave Eggers's stories includes some that have been highly acclaimed and several that have never been published before. Climbing to the Window, Pretending to Dance is about a young man coping with his cousin's suicide attempt. After I Was Thrown in the River and Before I Drowned (narrated by a dog) was anthologized in SPEAKING WITH THE ANGEL, edited by Nick Hornby(2001). Up the Mountain Coming Down Slowly got an honorable mention in the 2003 BEST AMERICAN SHORT STORIES (2003). The stories range in setting from California to Tanzania to Costa Rica to Ireland, and back again to Interstate 5 in California. Copyright (C) Muze Inc. 2005. For personal use only. All rights reserved.