After the Rain

After the Rain is a linked collection of short stories by Dina Sokal, a Baltimore-based psychiatrist who self-published this book for her MFA thesis at the University of Baltimore. These stories reveal the resilience of the human spirit and the "restorative magic" of creativity. Dina uses her experience in psychiatry to craft characters who feel startlingly real, characters who navigate the messy and uncertain times in their lives. Henry and Sally: The Analyst Unraveled >Jenny and the Magic Sunglasses >Valerie and the Loop of Control >Janet and the Elevator >The stories don't shy away from the harsh times in life but emphasize the path toward "the after" and the power of creativity-its brushstrokes, rhythm, and musical notes-the restorative magic in these characters' lives. After the Rain is an essential read for anyone interested in psychological fiction or short stories emphasizing character over plot. It is a quiet, powerful book which doesn't offer easy answers or "happily ever afters." Instead, it validates the struggle of the caregiver, the fear of the child, the confusion of the survivor, and more. ____________________________________________________________________________________