Moss

Title: Moss
Author: ​Mary watson
Reviewer: Gail Gilbride
The secret moss garden is where Evie and her father walk after dark. The ‘virgin Jessica’ and the
Warlock girls hang out in the metal scrap yard and play strange games. The Brethren and their
fanatical congregation, force an adulteress to drag a boulder up a hill, while they judge and jeer.
These exquisitely written short stories about good and evil, blur the boundaries at times and
question the definitions of wholesomeness, passion and religious belief.  
Mary Watson’s command of language and attention to detail, results in subtle, lyrical prose which needs to be savoured. This is not a collection to be raced through, but rather read at leisure, in order to absorb the many layers of meaning and intensity, in each inter-related piece.
The mythical, nuanced stories weave into each other and yet stand on their own at the same time, touching on themes of innocence and loss, strength and vulnerability, and the human condition in general.
If you are after a light read, I would say this is not it. But if you are looking for a deeply
meaningful collection, don’t miss Moss.
Reviewer: Gail Gilbride
Author of Under the African Sun

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