Relationships
Relationships are at the heart of every single story in this collection. Marriages, casual flings, and family bonds are present throughout the collection, and they are often the primary focus of the stories. These stories both celebrate and mourn these relationships, whatever form they might take. "Total Cave Darkness" is the story of an alcoholic woman and her reverend lover, "The Language of Sorrow" is about the familial relationship between an older woman and her grandson, and "Joelle's Mother" concerns the relationship of a high-society Italian girl with her poorer Mexican half-sisters. Interpersonal connections are the meat of this collection, and they explored and probed with great care and wonder.
Pregnancy
Pregnancy is a major theme in this novel: out of eleven stories, five of them include pregnant women as major characters, and most of the others deal with it in some way (i.e. the results of an unwanted pregnancy, the prelude to pregnancy, etc.). Being the subject of many different stories, Hood uses a variety of angles to come at the topic, both from the perspectives of pregnant women and those dealing with them. It is usually seen as a good thing, although sometimes it is undesirable, but either way it as nearly an omnipresent theme throughout this collection. In the mental words of Majorie, protagonist of "New People," "Is everyone pregnant these days?" (148).
Acceptance
Most of the main characters in these stories also deal with issues of acceptance. They have been rejected by former lovers, other people, and even themselves, and these stories generally chronicle their journeys toward acceptance again. In "After Zane," for example, the pregnant main character, Beth, has been abandoned by her ex-husband, who has gotten back together with his ex-girlfriend. The story follows along as Zane chooses to return to Beth, but Beth decides to think his offer over - reunion is possible, but not ensured. The ambiguity and arbitrary natures of acceptance are also explored in this collection, but it is nevertheless portrayed as a necessary facet of an enjoyable human life.
