If we were on a trip to discover American womanhood in all its infinite variety, we might bus up and down the East Coast visiting cities, drive south stopping by farms and small towns, or travel west by train. In Judith Whites collection of short fictional tales and skits, she invites all of us to meet our fellow travelerswomen of all ages and walks of life willing to share their stories of struggles, triumphs, losses, and joys. It has been a decade since Rosella labored over an ironing board as she did for a family for thirty years. After she outlives the parents and survives personal tragedy, she becomes the adoptive mother to the four adult children as her resolute spirit continues to dictate her every move. During an unanticipated life event, a daughter reflects on the unrequited love a devoted admirer still possesses for her mother. After an older woman reveals that she has just had a dream about a romantic liaison with a much younger former president of the United States, she wonders if the dream is a foretelling sign about the end of her life. The Carving shares a glimpse into the challenges and delights of a variety of women as told through poignant, sometimes amusing short stories and skits.