In his latest collection of short stories and poems, Jim Shields yet again portrays his versatility, sensitivity, sense of place, and keen humour.Within the stories you will find a son confronting his incapacity to love his mother;A grandmother offering words of encouragement to lift her grandson out of impoverishment;An innocent game of hide-and-seek that has unforeseen circumstances;A gentleman carer discovering the true meaning of love and the truth that loss oftentimes forces new beginnings. Whilst in the title story, "A Cairndhu Nightingale": Billy, leaning on his bicycle, allows his inquisitive eyes to meander over the vista before him. Everything around is quiet. The birds fall silent. Every nerve in his body is alert. A voice from behind offers to accompany him to the hospital, and together, they walk into a world of wonder. These are the moments of saltiness and sweetness in everyone's everyday life. The characters, authentically honest and raw, share their moments without glamour.
