<p>In the eleven kaleidoscopic stories that make up <em>Bright Shards of Someplace Else</em>, Monica McFawn traces the combustive, hilarious, and profound effects that occur when people misread the minds of others. The characters--an array of artists, scientists, songwriters, nannies, horse trainers, and poets--often try to pin down another&#39;s point of view, only to find that their own worldview is far from fixed.</p><p>The characters in McFawn&#39;s stories long for and fear the encroachment of others. A young boy reduces his nanny&#39;s phone bill with a call, then convinces her he can solve her other problems. A man who works at a butterfly-release business becomes dangerously obsessed with solving a famous mathematical proof. A poetry professor finds himself entangled in the investigation of a murdered student. In the final story, an aging lyricist reconnects with a renowned singer to write an album in the Appalachian Mountains, only to be interrupted by the appearance of his drug-addicted son and a mythical story of recovery.</p><p>By turns exuberant and philosophically adroit, <em>Bright Shards of Someplace Else</em> reminds us of both the limits of empathy and its absolute necessity. Our misreadings of others may be unavoidable, but they themselves can be things of beauty, charm, and connection.</p>