Also Selected Short Subjects, as the title suggests, contains short stories, eight stories to be precise, including mysteries and seasonal conundrums. You'll encounter witty and urbane octogenarian sleuths, Mrs. Marble and Inspector Capocci, who resolve local and global dilemmas, respectively. You'll also meet a variety of characters attending to seasonal expectations gone awry. Meteorologists and the media are stunned when, one sunny day in February, the groundhog can't find his shadow, but no one is as perplexed as the groundhog. A young American in search of easy money visits Ireland in search of the pot of gold and finds leprechauns. A creaky septuagenarian takes on a project to enhance her summer relaxation in a Sisyphean tale of perseverance furthers. While humans are off to the orchards harvesting apples and berries, their canine companions plan their own harvest. Selecting a Christmas tree is no easy proposition when one size does not fit all. Even though the final short subject is neither a mystery nor a conundrum, it is a page-turner, as Esmeralda discovers her insatiable appetite for books. Also Selected Short Subjects is a bountiful buffet complementing the main feature, the life we lead. But when it comes to popcorn, you're on your own!