title: Rhoda: A Life in Stories
author:  Ellen Gilchrist 
description: Gilchrist's fictional Southern belle turned writer, Rhoda Manning, has appeared in all five of her previous short-story collections and in the novel Net of Jewels. Rhoda loves to shop, swear and get her own way; she has always been a vivid and indelible character. This welcome if inconsistent collection assembles all 21 of the Rhoda stories, an excerpt from Net of Jewels plus two new tales. The pieces are arranged in chronological order of Rhoda's age?from eight to 60. There's also an introduction by the author admitting that some of the stories are "made up" while others are "blatantly autobiographical." True or not, the exploits of Rhoda in her youth (which make up most of the book) are generally better than the portraits of Rhoda in midlife or later, and nearly a decade of Rhoda's life?from 27 to 39?is missing. Thus there is no transition between the spoiled, impetuous rich girl who gulps diet pills, drinks a lot and, while reading Hemingway, comments about his "terrible looking" wife and the middle-aged Rhoda who, a few pages later, places her work with the Paris Review as easily as she might buy a new outfit. And as a biography of sorts, there are other inconsistencies?for example, the age that Rhoda runs away to get married differs in three stories. Despite the distractions, Rhoda remains the same sassy and outspoken gal she has always been and always will be. <br />Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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  A NineStar Press Publication
  
  
  [www.ninestarpress.com](http://www.ninestarpress.com)
  
  
  The Queen of Rhodia
  
  
  ISBN: 978-1-950412-78-5
  
  
  Copyright © 2019 by Effie Calvin
  
  
  Cover Art by Natasha Snow Copyright © 2019
  
  
  Published in May, 2019 by NineStar Press, New Mexico, USA.
  
  
  
  
  
  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either
  the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any
  resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events,
  or locales is entirely coincidental.
  
  
  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any
  material form, whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise
  without the written permission of the publisher. To request permission and all
  other inquiries, contact NineStar Press at
  [Contact@ninestarpress.com](mailto:Contact@ninestarpress.com).
  
  
  
  
  
  Also available in Print, ISBN: 978-1-950412-79-2
  
  
  