The Worldwide Church of the Handicapped

In her first collection of short stories, Williams introduces Joan, a vibrant, frank narrator who works at a rehabilitation center for blind people. In 15 pieces, The Worldwide Church of the Handicapped provides an irreverent glimpse into the lives of Joan's ""disabled"" clients and dedicated co-workers. Sensitive and sincere without ever approaching sanctimony, these stories are linked by memorable characters, bold descriptions and an appreciation of the humor in even the most dire situation. In the title story, a ""deaf-blind, psychotic dwarf with leprosy"" becomes a cult hero for the handicapped: ""Pretty soon lots of people were claiming some sort of handicap: overweight, varicose veins, heart conditions, flat feet.... Pretty soon everybody had something, some physical or mental liability, going for them."" In ""The Prettiest Girl in Eau Claire,"" Joan discusses making sure her clients get home safely after a day at the agency. But more than just a discussion of the logistical difficulties, it is also a lens for exploring the combination of fascination, fear and disregard that colors the public's perception of the handicapped. Describing the careful choreography of being a sighted guide for a blind person in ""Wilma Bremer's Funeral,"" Williams, perhaps unintentionally, summarize what it is about her style and about the collection as a whole that makes it so successful: ""It is an act of pure service, economical, absolutely appropriate, not too much given, not too little."" (June)