THE LANGUAGE OF LOVE AND OTHER STORIES
THE LANGUAGE OF LOVE AND OTHER STORIES is a diverse collection that delves into the many facets of love. From the tender bonds between parent and child ("Claire Juliana," "The Ferris Wheel") to the deep connections between adult children and their elderly relatives ("Mama," "Listen to Me," "Remember Mama"), the stories explore love in its many forms. Romantic love takes center stage in tales like "Charley and the Cupid Caper," "With Any Luck," "Bingo," "Henry, Hortense and the Halloween Party," "For the First Time—Again," and "Love Dancing." Some stories, such as "Doors and Windows," "The Message is Understood," "The Equation of Love," and the title story, "The Language of Love," examine the struggles love faces when tested by life’s challenges.
The collection also poignantly addresses love intertwined with grief and loss in stories like "Earth to Moon," "Goodbyes," "Seeing Jim," "Thinking About Melanie," and "Love Letters." Across 20 stories, the collection captures every stage of love, from the exhilarating beginnings to the quiet, routine phases, the uncertain times, and the heartbreaking endings—whether anticipated or shockingly sudden. It’s a journey through whom we love, how we love, and how we cope when love is returned, unrequited, or lost.
Praised as “a unique collection of short fiction about the various types of love that hits the sweet spot between quirky and heart-rending” (Dawn Reno Langley), “a tribute to the many forms of love” (Ann Henry), and “poignant, compelling, and clear-eyed” (Deborah Kalb), THE LANGUAGE OF LOVE AND OTHER STORIES masterfully illustrates the complexity of love and its enduring power, even in the face of loss. Each story stands alone, yet together, they weave a rich tapestry of the ways love shapes our lives.
THE LANGUAGE OF LOVE AND OTHER STORIES is a diverse collection that delves into the many facets of love. From the tender bonds between parent and child ("Claire Juliana," "The Ferris Wheel") to the deep connections between adult children and their elderly relatives ("Mama," "Listen to Me," "Remember Mama"), the stories explore love in its many forms. Romantic love takes center stage in tales like "Charley and the Cupid Caper," "With Any Luck," "Bingo," "Henry, Hortense and the Halloween Party," "For the First Time—Again," and "Love Dancing." Some stories, such as "Doors and Windows," "The Message is Understood," "The Equation of Love," and the title story, "The Language of Love," examine the struggles love faces when tested by life’s challenges.
The collection also poignantly addresses love intertwined with grief and loss in stories like "Earth to Moon," "Goodbyes," "Seeing Jim," "Thinking About Melanie," and "Love Letters." Across 20 stories, the collection captures every stage of love, from the exhilarating beginnings to the quiet, routine phases, the uncertain times, and the heartbreaking endings—whether anticipated or shockingly sudden. It’s a journey through whom we love, how we love, and how we cope when love is returned, unrequited, or lost.
Praised as “a unique collection of short fiction about the various types of love that hits the sweet spot between quirky and heart-rending” (Dawn Reno Langley), “a tribute to the many forms of love” (Ann Henry), and “poignant, compelling, and clear-eyed” (Deborah Kalb), THE LANGUAGE OF LOVE AND OTHER STORIES masterfully illustrates the complexity of love and its enduring power, even in the face of loss. Each story stands alone, yet together, they weave a rich tapestry of the ways love shapes our lives.
THE LANGUAGE OF LOVE AND OTHER STORIES is a diverse collection that delves into the many facets of love. From the tender bonds between parent and child ("Claire Juliana," "The Ferris Wheel") to the deep connections between adult children and their elderly relatives ("Mama," "Listen to Me," "Remember Mama"), the stories explore love in its many forms. Romantic love takes center stage in tales like "Charley and the Cupid Caper," "With Any Luck," "Bingo," "Henry, Hortense and the Halloween Party," "For the First Time—Again," and "Love Dancing." Some stories, such as "Doors and Windows," "The Message is Understood," "The Equation of Love," and the title story, "The Language of Love," examine the struggles love faces when tested by life’s challenges.
The collection also poignantly addresses love intertwined with grief and loss in stories like "Earth to Moon," "Goodbyes," "Seeing Jim," "Thinking About Melanie," and "Love Letters." Across 20 stories, the collection captures every stage of love, from the exhilarating beginnings to the quiet, routine phases, the uncertain times, and the heartbreaking endings—whether anticipated or shockingly sudden. It’s a journey through whom we love, how we love, and how we cope when love is returned, unrequited, or lost.
Praised as “a unique collection of short fiction about the various types of love that hits the sweet spot between quirky and heart-rending” (Dawn Reno Langley), “a tribute to the many forms of love” (Ann Henry), and “poignant, compelling, and clear-eyed” (Deborah Kalb), THE LANGUAGE OF LOVE AND OTHER STORIES masterfully illustrates the complexity of love and its enduring power, even in the face of loss. Each story stands alone, yet together, they weave a rich tapestry of the ways love shapes our lives.
Praise for THE LANGUAGE OF LOVE AND OTHER STORIES
“To an Eskimo, snow is not just a one-noun show. There is paput, snow on the ground. Which differs from piqsirpoq, drifting snow. Which is not the same as qimuqsuq, a snowdrift. And on, and on. And yet, we English speakers give love only one word? Just one syllable? Not according to Ms. Christie, whose remarkable collection of short stories traces the many paths love may take or abandon: grief, joy, confusion, loyalty, frustration, friendship. Thankfully, Nancy Christie is fluent in all of love’s many languages, whether between couples, friends, family members, or the person left standing after the love has gone. Allow Ms. Christie, with her documentarian’s eye and a poet’s pen, to take you by the heart and show you what love is in the real world.”
Alan Sharavsky, author of Boarding School Bastard
“The Language of Love is a unique collection of short fiction about the various types of love that hits the sweet spot between quirky and heart-rending. Christie’s ability to write about the tender and painful moments of love should speak to all types of readers, both young and old: those at the beginning of relationships and those struggling with the end. Her deftness with character and dialogue brings the stories alive and her ability to tuck in life lessons makes this the perfect book to come back to again and again.”
Dawn Reno Langley, author of Analyzing the Prescotts
“The Language of Love is a beautiful collection by a wonderful storyteller. Nancy Christie explores love in all its forms, from romantic to familial, and in all its stages, from finding it to sustaining it to losing it. Sometimes with humor and often with poignancy, Christie’s stories will have the reader examining what they want from their various relationships and what they’re willing to give for them.”
Dorothy Rosby, syndicated humor columnist and author.
“The Language of Love is a deep exploration of the toll and long-lasting effects that caretaking can impose on a relationship, be it parent-child or between lovers. In this collection, Christie deftly moves her characters closer to empathy — toward each other, but, most importantly, toward themselves.”
Gwen Goodkin, author of A Place Remote
“A tribute to the many forms of love, The Language of Love and Other Stories presents a thought-provoking collection that looks at life through a lens of irony, compassion, and often humor. Christie’s literary prowess once again shines through.”
Ann Henry, author of Sailing Away from the Moon
“In her new story collection, The Language of Love, Nancy Christie expertly explores love in all its guises. A harried new mother tends simultaneously to her fractious baby and her ailing grandmother. A son realizes that what his aging mother needs is a listening ear. An overburdened woman moves to a small town and becomes involved with a kindly handyman. Poignant, compelling, and clear-eyed, this collection will keep you turning pages until you reach the end.”
Deborah Kalb, author of Off to Join the Circus
“Language of Love and Other Stories is a real-life account of the different types of love told in a series of short stories. The stories are creative and memorable, and anyone can relate whether it is the love between two supernatural beings, or parent-child-grandparent relationship. Nancy Christie does a fantastic job of pulling readers into her short stories without wasting words. A master of character development, Nancy does a fantastic job of making the characters relatable in a short space of time. Each story takes you on a different emotional experience. For me the underlying theme is patience and grace which is what the world needs right now. These short stories are definitely worth the read and will leave you feeling satisfied.”
Gillian Felix, author of The Family Portrait Series and Adriana
“This collection of short stories touches on the amazing ways we express love. Ms. Christie puts her characters in situations that drive human emotion…where they burst into laughter, are besieged with happiness, accept their stage in life, deal with grief and gratitude, and so much more. Each story is unique and a joy to read.”
Jan Romes, author
“The Language of Love and Other Stories by Nancy Christie brims with love of all sorts: platonic, familial, romantic, the newly found, the enduring and fleeting, and, sadly, the forever lost. All the stories pull in the reader with a style that is heartfelt, lyrical, and often humorous. Christie’s empathy for her characters is apparent, and this compassion gives them a heartbeat. Her keen eye allows the reader to experience life’s lessons, along with the character. We rejoice with the characters who discover new love, and when a story deals with loss of love or a loved one, the story still manages to soothe. The love stories between adult child and aging parent are especially poignant, as Ms. Christie deftly explores the circular nature of life and how it alters relationships. But philosophy aside, the stories are always entertaining. In ‘The Ferris Wheel,’ the narrator asks if love stops ‘when there [is] no one there to give it to?’ This reader finished the book entertained and with something to think about.”
Lucrecia Guerrero, award-winning author of On the Mad River
About NANCY CHRISTIE
Nancy Christie is the award-winning author of the Midlife Moxie Novel Series, which includes Reinventing Rita and Finding Fran, with Moving Maggie set to release in mid-2025. She has also penned four short story collections (The Language of Love and Other Stories, Mistletoe Magic and Other Holiday Tales, Traveling Left of Center and Other Stories, and Peripheral Visions and Other Stories), two books for writers, and the inspirational essay collection The Gifts of Change.
Her short stories and essays have been featured in various print and online publications, earning several contest placements. Nancy is the host of the Living the Writing Life podcast and the founder of the annual “Midlife Moxie” Day and “Celebrate Short Fiction” Day. She also teaches writing workshops at conferences, libraries, and schools. Nancy is a member of the American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA), the Florida Writers Association (FWA), and the Women’s Fiction Writers Association (WFWA).
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Genre: Fiction (Short stories)
ISBN: 978-1-963115-28-4
Publication Date: February 4, 2025
