The relationships of mothers and sons in these stories are not cozy and cuddly, the focus is often on either the mother as in Famous blue raincoat or on the sons, i.e. life after losing her (Three Friends).I loved A priest in the family because of the theme it explores and A Song which was deeply moving.A long winter is the best story in this collection but could have been cut.Tóibín is a fine storyteller and deftly captures loss and longing.